UPSIDE-DOWN TOFFEE DATE AND BANANA CAKE:

INGREDIANTS:

CASTER SUGAR -330 GM
WATER -375 ML
STAR ANISE -3
MEDIUM BANANAS,SLICED THINLY -400 GM
DRIED SEEDED DATES -140 GM
WATER,EXTRA -180 ML
DARK RUM -125 ML
BICARBONATE OF SODA -1 TEASPOON
BUTTER ,CHOPPED -60 GM
FIRMLY PACKED BROWN SUGAR -110 GM
EGGS -2
MIXED SPICE -2 TEASPOON
SELF-RAISING FLOUR -150 GM
MASHED BANANA -1/2 CUP
THICKENED CREAM -300 ML


METHOD:

PREHEAT OVEN TO MODERATE [180C/160C FANFORCED].GREASE DEEP 22 CM-ROUND CAKE PAN;LINE BASE WITH BAKING PAPER.

STIR CASTER SUGAR ,THE WATER AND STAR ANISE IN MEDIUM SAUCEPAN OVER LOW HEAT,WITHOUT BOILING,UNTIL SUGAR DISSOLVES.BRING TO A BOIL;BOIL SYRUP,UNCOVERED,WITHOUT STIRRING ,ABOUT 5 MINUTES OR UNTIL THICKENED SLIGHTLY .STRAIN ½ CUP OF THE SYRUP INTO SMALL HEATPROOF JUG;RESERVE TO FLAVOUR CREAM.DISCARD STAR-ANISE..

TO MAKE TOFFEE,CONTINUE BOILING REMAINING SYRUP,UNCOVERED,WITHOUT STIRRING ABOUT 10 MINUTES OR UNTIL TOFFEE IS GOLDEN BROWN.POUR HOT TOFFEE INTO CAKE PAN;TOP WITH SLICED BANANA.

COMBINE DATES,THE EXTRA WATER AND RUM IN SMALLSAUCEPAN;BRING TO A BOIL THEN REMOVE FROM HEAT.STIR IN SODA;STAND 5 MINUTES.BLEND OR PROCESS DATE MIXTURE WITH BUTTER AND BROWN SUGAR UNTIL ALMOST SMOOTH.ADD EGGS,SPICE AND FLOUR;BLEND OR PROCESS UNTIL JUST COMBINED.STIR IN MASHED BANANA.

POUR MIXTURE INTO PAN;BAKE ABOUT 40 MINUTES.TURNCAKE ,IN PAN,ONTO SERVING PLATE;STAND 2 MINUTES.REMOVE PAN THEN BAKING PAPER.

TO MAKE STAR ANISE CREAM,BEAT CREAM IN SMALL BOWL WITH ELECTRIC MIXER UNTIL FIRM PEAKS FORM.STIR IN RESERVED SYRUP.

SERVE CAKE WARM OR AT ROOM TEMPERATURE WITH STAR ANISE CREAM.