Bananas Baked with Cream Cheese (Bananes Celeste — Martinique)

Serve bubbling hot!

3 tablespoons butter or margarine
6 ripe but firm medium bananas, peeled and
    cut lengthwise into halves
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons dark rum
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Heat butter in skillet over medium heat until melted. Cook bananas in butter, a few at a time, until brown on both sides; gently remove. Place cream cheese, brown sugar, whipping cream, rum and cinnamon in blender container. Cover and blend on high speed, stopping blender occasionally to scrape sides, until smooth, about 1 minute.

Arrange half of the bananas in ungreased 8-inch square baking dish. Spread half of cream cheese mixture over bananas; top with remaining bananas and cream cheese mixture. Bake uncovered at 325 degrees F until corners are bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes.

Yields 6 servings.