Flamber, in all its senses

Tonight we had bananes flambées for dessert (banana flambé).  My host-family's grown son Alexis is visiting from Austria for the weekend, and him and Ivan made this delicious treat for us. Ivan prefers to keep it au naturel - no added sugar or butter, but Alex prefers to add both. They added butter on the second round, and I liked it much better too. You just fry bananas (and/or butter and/or sugar) in a pan over the stove, and then at the last minute, add some cognac (or rum). Then take the pan off the stove, and light the alcohol in the pan on fire with a match/lighter and let it burn! Be sure to lean away as you do this - I about got my faced burned off by a flaming banana. Once the flames go out, serve the tasty results, and enjoy.*

I also got a French vocab and culture lesson during this cooking experience:

flamber = to burn (cooking)

flamber = figurative use. flamber de l'argent = to blow through money. to go out on the town and spend tons of money on drinks, cabs, clubs, etc.

un flambeur = a high roller. A person who burns through money

cocorico = the sound a rooster makes in French. Also the sound a French person makes when they're proud of themselves (as a nation). For example, on the news the other night, a recent study found that French women are Europe's thinnest, and the newscaster said, "Cocorico, on est toujours les plus minces!" ("Cockle-doodle-doo, we're still the skinniest!")

"Du cognac français en plus! C'est le meilleur, franchement!"  - Alex ("French cognac, too! It's the best - really, it is.")

"Cocorico!" - Gladys

(*an actual recipe should be consulted)