BANANA WALNUT UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• toast walnuts.set aside to cool.
• combine brown sugar and 1/4 cup butter in heavy pan -- stir over low heat till butter melts -- and ingredients are well blended.
• pour into a 9" cake pan with 2" high sides --
• spead to coat the bottom of the pan --
• pour maple syrup over sugar mixture --
• sprinkle walnuts evenly over this.
• place banana slices in circles over the nuts, overlapping slightly, and covering the bottom --
• whisk dry ingredients to blend --
• in another bowl, beat sugar and butter in bowl and add to dry ingredients alternately with milk.
• spoon batter over bananas and bake for approximately 30 minutes --
• run a butter knife around sides --
• cool on rack for about 30 minutes.
• invert onto serving plate.leave pan on about 3 minutes.
• life off pan --
• serve warm with whipped topping if desired.