trifle with strawberries & caramel-coated bananas pt 1

CAKE CUSTARD CARAMEL SYRUP ASSEMBLY Cake: Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly spray 15½ x 10 ½ x 1-inch jelly roll pan with vegetable oil spray. Line bottom of pan with waxed paper, extending paper slightly at short ends; spray paper.

Using electric mixer, beat 5 eggs, ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, 1-¾ teaspoons vanilla and ½ teaspoon salt in large bowl until mixture triples in volume and is thick enough to fall in heavy ribbon when beaters are lifted, about 12 minutes. Sift ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons flour over batter in 2 additions, gently folding just to combine after each addition. Drizzle 2 ½ tablespoons butter over and fold in gently (do not overmix or batter will deflate). Pour batter evenly into prepared pan.

Custard: Place milk in medium saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to boil. Whisk yolks, sugar and flour in medium bowl until smooth. Gradually whisk in hot milk mixture. Return mixture to pan; whisk over medium heat until custard thickens and boils, about 4 minutes. Strain into medium bowl. Press plastic wrap onto surface. Chill until cold, about 3 hours. Using electric mixture, beat cream in medium bowl to stiff peaks. Fold cream into cold custard. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Syrup: Stir sugar and ⅓ cup water in heavy small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally. Remove from heat. Add 3 tablespoons water (mixture will bubble vigorously). Stir until caramel is smooth. Pour caramel into medium bowl; mix in remaining 2 tablespoons water. Cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; let stand at room temperature.)

Assembly: Sift generous amounts of powdered sugar over 2 kitchen towels. Cut around pan sides to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto prepared towels. Peel off paper.

Stir jam and 2 tablespoons rum in small bowl to blend. Cut each cake crosswise in half. Spread half of jam mixture over 1 piece of each cake. Gently press second piece of each cake onto jam.

Cut cake sandwiches crosswise into ¾-inch-wide strips. Arrange enough cake strips in 3 ½- to 4-quart glass trifle dish or bowl to cover bottom, trimming strips to fit and allowing jam layer to show at sides. Brush cake layer with 2 tablespoons rum. Top with half of sliced berries, arranging some to show at sides of dish.

continued in part 2