Caramel Banana Dogs

*Fun Food Collection-HANDS-ON: 10 min TOTAL: 10 min MAKES: 2

2 small bananas
1/4 cup plus 2 tsp butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 hot dog buns
2 tsp granulated sugar
+ Strawberry jam

1. Peel bananas and trim ends with a paring knife so they look rounded, like ends of a hot dog.

2. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add brown sugar and cinnamon and cook, stirring, until sugar melts and mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla.

3. Put bananas in skillet and spoon caramel over. Let cook 1 minute,then flip and spoon more caramel over other sides; cook 1-2 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit 1 minute. (Some caramel will be left in skillet.)

4. Meanwhile, toast buns, spread each with 1 tsp butter, and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Put bananas in buns.

5. Spoon jam into a squeeze bottle or a zip-top bag (snip off one corner to make a small opening). Squeeze jam in a squiggle over bananas.

(Source: dash magazine & photo also)