Banana Pancakes with Caramelized Walnuts

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Banana Pancakes with Caramelized Walnuts

Makes 4 large cakes

Ingredients:

For the Walnuts:

1/2 cup walnuts, broken into small pieces
1 teaspoon melted butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 pinch cinnamon

For the Caramelized Bananas:

1 whole banana, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch round slices
1 tablespoon brown sugar

For the Banana Pancakes:

1/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 very ripe banana, mashed with a fork into small chunks
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 pinch salt
maple syrup as an accompaniment

Preparation:

Mix the melted butter, brown sugar, walnuts and cinnamon. Place on a baking sheet and under broiler, shaking frequently until sugar caramelizes, for about 3 minutes.

Place the banana slices on a baking sheet, sprinkle brown sugar and place under broiler until sugar caramelizes and bananas are soft.

Beat the milk, butter, vanilla, banana and egg lightly in a mixing bowl. Mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt and add them all at once to the first mixture, stirring just enough to dampen the flour.

Lightly butter or grease a skillet and set over moderate heat. Pour about 1/4 of the mixture to form one pancake. Bake in skillet until the cakes are full of bubbles on the top and the undersides are lightly browned. Turn with a spatula and brown the other side.

Place cakes on plate, top with caramelized walnuts and bananas. Serve with maple syrup.