Yummy Bananas

• 13 cup dark or light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 2-inch piece vanilla bean or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 thin slices fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
• 4 small, just-ripe bananas, 5 to 6 ounces each, peeled

1. Place the sugar, butter, vanilla bean if using and ginger in a 10-inch pie plate or quiche dish.
2. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap.
3. Cook at 100 percent power in a 650- to 700-watt microwave oven for 2 minutes.
4. Prick the plastic to release steam.
5. Remove from the oven and uncover.
6. Remove the vanilla bean and ginger and stir in the orange juice.
7. If using vanilla extract, add it now.
8. Arrange the bananas in the dish, pinwheel fashion, and spoon over the sauce.
9. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap and cook for 3 minutes.
10. Prick the plastic to release steam.
11. Remove from the oven, uncover and serve warm over ice cream or with whipped cream.

light brown sugar, unsalted butter, vanilla bean, thin slices fresh ginger, orange juice, bananas

Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9327 (may not work)