Enlightened Banana Upside-Down Cake

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1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons butter
2 small bananas,cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar substitute*
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 egg whites
1 egg
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk or low-fat (1%) milk if you don't like buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1.Preheat oven to 325F.
2.Combine sugar and water in small saucepan.Heat over medium-high heat,stirring constantly,until mixture is amber in color.Stir in butter.Immediately pour into 8-inch square nonstick baking pan.Arrange banana slices in sugar mixture.
3.Sift flour,baking powder and salt into medium bowl.Beat sugar substitute,oil and applesauce in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed 1 minute.Beat in egg whites and egg,1 at a time,until blended.Beat in buttermilk and vanilla(you can use (1%) milk if you like that other than buttermilk.Gradually add flour mixture;beat 1 minute or until blended.Pour batter over bananas in pan.
4.Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick or knife inserted comes out clean.cool 5 minutes in pan on wire rack.Invert onto serving plate.Cool slightly;cut into 12 pieces.Serve warm at at room temperature.
(makes 12 servings)