FLUFFY BANANA PANCAKES WITH CARAMEL PECAN SAUCE AND RICOTTA CREAM

Steps:

• Caramel Pecan Sauce: In a small non-stick saucepan, melt caramel pieces gently with the cream, stirring occasionally until smooth and blended.
• Add pecans and flaked coconut (and rum or brandy if desired), stir to combine with sauce, then remove from heat.
• Serve warm over pancakes.
• Can be prepared the night before, then heated in the microwave until warm.
• Ricotta Cream: Place ricotta cheese, confectioners sugar, orange juice and orange zest in a bowl.
• Beat with a whisk until well combined.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Can be prepared the night before.
• Fluffy Banana Pancakes: Sift the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a bowl.
• Place buttermilk in a 2-cup glass-measuring cup and add butter.
• Microwave on high for 2 minutes, until butter melts.
• Lightly beat yolks, then combine with the buttermilk and butter mixture, whisking to incorporate.
• Then add vanilla essence and caster sugar (superfine sugar) and stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Add buttermilk mixture to the flour, and whisk together until batter becomes thick and smooth.
• Batter can be prepared to this stage, the night before.
• Beat egg whites in a clean dry bowl until stiff.
• Fold whites carefully into batter until evenly mixed (and the sliced bananas can be added at this stage, too, if you wish - otherwise, see step 20).
• Heat a 6-inch diameter fry pan or skillet and brush lightly with melted butter, or spray with vegetable oil.
• For each pancake, pour 1/2 to 3/4 cup batter into pan, and swirl around quickly to distribute evenly over bottom of pan.
• Cook until bubbles begin to appear on the surface, then lay some banana slices over the top.
• When pancakes are lightly browned on the bottom (about two minutes), flip over and cook other side.
• When cooked through, transfer pancake to a baking tray and keep warm in a low oven while you cook the rest of the batter (Each pancake should take about two minutes per side).
• To serve, drizzle warm caramel pecan sauce over each pancake, and top with a generous dollop or two of ricotta cream.