Yes, it's been a while.....!! After a long absence I have to say so nice to come back and see many familiar "faces", and read/remember how lovely this forum is and how helpful many of the long-time (and newer) members are!   I have often popped in for a quick recipe search, but never time to linger longer  .   Still going strong with my TM after 7ish years! Life got busy with selling house, moving, building new home, working full time, then changing job location and general hectic family life.  After a workmate recently bought a TM5, I went to a cooking class this week with her for the varoma (yes, it has sat in the back of the cupboard for some time!!  ) and so here I am again, trawling the boards for varoma recipes! Anyway, just wanted to say "love your work" moderators and contributors  and it's good to be back xxx

BANANA CARAMEL UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Sauce:
50g unsalted butter
55g brown sugar
60ml maple syrup (or can use golden syrup)
3-4 bananas, sliced (in rounds, or can slice longways if preferred)

Cake:
230g caster sugar
100g unsalted butter (softened)
4 eggs
1tsp vanilla extract
155g plain flour
1tsp baking powder
pinch of salt


Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.  Line a 23cm springform tin with baking paper and lightly grease.
To make the sauce (will become the topping), place the butterfly in the TM bowl and add the butter, sugar and maple syrup.  Cook 5 min at temp 80, speed 2-3 until sugar is dissolved.  Pour the hot caramel into the lined tin and arrange the sliced bananas over the base of the tin.  Scrape the TM bowl well (no need to clean).  To make the cake (keep butterfly in place), place the butter and caster sugar in the TM bowl and cream at speed 3-4 (do not exceed speed 4!) for up to 1 min, stopping occasionally to scrape sides down a few times.  Add eggs one at a time, beating 5 sec at speed 4, after each addition.  Then add vanilla, flour, baking powder and salt.  Beat for 5-10 sec, speed 4 until combined.  Spoon the batter evenly over the bananas and caramel and smooth top gently with a spatula.
Place the cake in the oven on a baking tray to catch any escaping caramel and bake for 35-40 min, or until a skewer inserted into middle of the cake comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and leave in the tin for 5 min to cool slightly.  Transfer to a large plate (by placing plate upside down on cake tin and flipping both over).
Can be served warm with icecream or also delicious cold with cream.  This recipe could also be made with Granny smith apples.

Tips:  This is a very sweet cake.  When cold, sometimes the caramel can go crispy in places along the edges of the cake (yum).  Reheats pretty well.
First pic below is the bananas arranged on top of caramel (the cake batter then goes on top of this).

members' comments

sourpuss - Again I have tried one of the older posted recipes and I have to say with this one : THANK YOU, Alioop, this is SUCH a wonderful banana cake recipe. Cos you said it was very sweet, I cut down a fair bit on the sugar in the cake part and it was still sweet but very good. I can't remember when I last saw a cake disappear so rapidly at a work morning tea!! - good thing, as it meant I only got to have one small slice and wasn't able to make a pig of myself!! Will definitely make again.

faffa - I think substituting half of the butter and sugar with apple sauce (per brazens posting on here) would work really well with this cake and would also cut down on the sweetness. I love that idea and use it in every cake now.

Hi All
I haven't had much success with mince so far in the TMX and wondered if anyone had any suggestions to help.  Have tried a spag bol sauce (followed technique in EDC) and taco mince.  Used shop-bought mince (regular).  Both times, the mince turned out very 'fine' in texture and not slightly 'chunky' as it looks in the EDC (and how it usually turns out on the stovetop).  I made sure that I had the blades on reverse and soft speed, but think the TM has broken it up almost too well.  Is this what others have found?  What am I doing wrong and any suggestions on how to get the texture chunkier?  Am determined to get it right in the TM!!

Ali