Burning desire

Nearly all teenagers like to eat food and burn things. Whether it is simply lighting candles while eating dinner or building a fire to cook a homemade meal, fire and food go together. Fortunately, here are some recipes that combine these two elements to create perfect, fiery food. Remember to use extreme caution when making these dishes.

Banana Flambé

Photo: Banana Flambé is a tasty treat that is both fun to make and fun to eat.

Banana Flambé is a tasty treat that is both fun to make and fun to eat.  Photo courtesy of Alexis Egan.

Burning Greek Cheese
Patrons at Greek restaurants sometimes observe, or order, a flaming dish with Kasseri cheese. This appetizer has a cheesy taste, accompanied by a crispy feel. A flavorful dish to eat, it also has the added bonus of playing with fire.

Ingredients
8 oz. of a hard Greek cheese, like Kasseri
3/4 of a cup of melted butter
Flour
The juice from half a lemon
Cognac

Instructions
Cut the cheese into half inch slices and chill in ice water for fifteen minutes. Dry gently and sprinkle with flour. Melt the butter in a sauce-pan and then sauté the slices of gently quickly on each side, making sure the cheese does not melt. Turn off the heat and add the lemon juice the cheese. Sprinkle a little Cognac onto the cheese and carefully ignite. Once the flame has died out, enjoy eating your crispy snack.

Recipe derived from Homecooking.com

Banana Flambé
Cooks looking for a tasty, exotic treat to satisfy both their fruit and fire craving will enjoy this tropical dessert. Made with minimal ingredients, this sugary recipe is both easy to prepare and enjoyable. Curious cooks might try the recipes with other fruits, such as apples or plantains.

Ingredients
2 bananas
2 tablespoons oil
6 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup of a flammable liqueur
1 lime, squeezed

Instructions
Begin by washing, peeling and slicing the bananas (lengthwise) while heating the oil. Brown the banana for five minutes. Sprinkle on the sugar and the liqueur and cook for two more minutes. Carefully, light on fire and let it burn out. Serve with lemon juice and enjoy.

Recipe derived from Homecooking.com

Baked Alaska
While this cake is complex to make, the result is heavenly. Mixing pound cake, ice cream and meringue, this dish requires a lot of effort to time the baking and burning properly. However, if completed properly, the recipe is delicious.

Ingredients
1 packaged pound cake
1 carton of ice cream, your choice of what flavor
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp. of cream of tartar
4 tbs. of sugar
1/2 cup of any flammable liqueur

Preparation
Begin by setting out the ice cream on your counter to thaw. Beat the egg whites and the cream of tartar for five to ten minutes. Add the sugar and mix for around ten minutes or until soft peaks are formed. Take the ice cream and, using a spoon and a spatula, smear about an inch of ice cream over the entirety of the cake. Cover the ice cream with the meringue until the ice cream in covered. Sprinkle the liqueur over the cake, evenly. Light the cake on fire. The fire should burn out quickly, crisping the outer layer, but if it doesn't, gently blow it out. Serve immediately.

These three tasty snacks are perfect to try for a fancy meal or a simple snack. Just remember that fire, while a great addition to recipes, is extremely dangerous. Please remember to use caution when cooking these recipes.