Celebration of "World Nutella Day" today!

"Chocaholics know that there is chocolate and then there is Nutella. The creamy and delicious chocolate and hazelnut spread has been around since the 1940s, and despite the many imitations that have appeared in the market, Nutella continues to be the favourite guilty pleasure of chocaholics around the world. It is not surprising that die-hard Nutella fans decided to start the Nutella Day tradition back in 2007. This sweet celebration was launched through social networks by a blogger and Nutella fan, and soon tens of thousands of like-minded Nutella devotees showed their appreciation for the chocolatey delight online.

So, Nutella fans of the world unite! Celebrate the existence of this delicious chocolate spread by grabbing a spoon and getting creative with hundreds of Nutella recipes. Start your Nutella Day with a classic Nutella-on-pancakes breakfast and follow with a shaken espresso with a dash of Nutella. On this day, add Nutella to your cupcakes, ice cream, mousse, or even to savoury dishes. Your imagination is the limit!"

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Happy "Nutella" Day!

~A day to celebrate Nutella, well, that's my kind of day! ...Yes, Please!  This chocolate loving woman most definitely, and happily, is all in for joining in a day of celebration that's all about Nutella.

I love Nutella!  I discovered it late in life, and I must say I have been making up for lost time.  I search for new and exciting ways to use Nutella in recipes now.

I've featured a few recipes here on the blog using Nutella: 

     

    * Banana & Nutella Crepes

         ~This is impressive and delicious!  Enjoy for breakfast, as a dessert, or anytime!

    * French- Toast Stuffed with Nutella & Banana 

         ~Want to bring french toast to a whole new level?  Try this recipe!

    * Nutella Brownie Bites
       ~This recipe has been very popular.  The Nutella Brownie Bites are so easy to make, are made using three ingredients, and they're a must try!

~Here's the latest recipe I have found that is a delicious and decadent dessert idea that's out of the ordinary.  A Dessert Panini. a Nutella-Dessert Panini!  This is something else, and something delicious!  I altered the original recipe that called for marshmallow creme, and used mascarpone-(a sweet Italian cream cheese) instead.  The choice is yours to do whichever you prefer.

Nutella Dessert Panini

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons sliced almonds

2 slices sourdough bread

2 tablespoons chocolate-hazelnut spread

1 tablespoon mascarpone 

4 strawberries, sliced

2 tablespoons salted butter, softened

1 teaspoon powdered sugar

Directions:

Toast the almonds in a pan over medium heat until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.

Spread one slice of the sourdough bread with a thick layer of the chocolate-hazelnut spread. Spread the other slice of bread with the mascarpone. Layer sliced strawberries on top of the chocolate-hazelnut spread, then top with a sprinkling of almonds. Next place the other slice of bread on top, mascarpone-side down. Press the 2 slices together.

Butter the top side of the sandwich and then put it on a hot panini maker butter-side down. Butter the other side that is now facing-up.  Close the lid and cook until the sandwich is toasted and warmed through. (If you do not have a panini maker, you can grill the sandwich in a skillet, laying another heavy skillet on top of the sandwich to press it together, or use a grill press. Turn to grill the other side of the panini in the same way.)

Sprinkle with powdered sugar, cut in half and serve!

Recipe adapted from: http://www.foodnetwork.com 

Enjoy!...

Here are some interesting facts about Nutella: Nutella facts -Things you dont know about Nutella

There is also a book: Nutella World: 50 Years Innovation

Thoughts and Things - This week ...Nutella Brownie Bites & More

I admit to having a love affair with Chocolate.  Another would be Nutella.  I love the stuff, and as an adult I have been making up for not knowing about it in my younger years!  It would be untruthful if I said that I only enjoy it occasionally.  Although I don't eat it everyday, I feel like I certainly could or would like to!

I shared a recipe for Nutella Brownie Bites a while back, and let me tell you ...not only are they delicious, they only require three ingredients.  Yes, three ingredients!  With just those few ingredients and a short amount of time, you too can make and enjoy them.  Give these a try!  You can click on the link just below the image for the recipe.

  Nutella Brownie Bites

Being the lover of Nutella that I am, I'm always happy to come across new ways to enjoy it.   And, because there are many more ways you can enjoy Nutella besides simply spreading it on warm toast or on a banana, or just licking it off a spoon ...those are all some of my personal favorites.{wink}

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Here are a few more ideas I found to get you on a Nutella adventure, they all sound delicious to me!  The hardest part will be choosing a favorite.  I think I just might have to try them all!  Sounds like a fun and delicious adventure to me!

Visit the following link: Delicious Nutella Desserts, and you just might discover an even greater reason to love, or fall in love, with Nutella!!

Enjoy!...

    

Nutella Brownie Bites - Three Ingredients

I have a true love for Nutella!  You may already know that about me, but if not let me tell you, I do love the stuff.  Love it!  So how happy was I when I came upon a recipe for Nutella Brownies using only three ingredients even?  Happy-Happy that's for sure, and a little skeptical as well.  But I had to get right on my investigation and see, uh taste for myself.  

Wow!  Nutella-icious is the best way to describe them!  Oh and easy too.  I made some that were plain, and some with chopped walnuts on top.  But the best for me was adding a little something extra special to the tops...more Nutella!  Oh yes!  What's better than a Nutella Brownie Bite?  A Nutella Brownie Bite topped with Nutella!  They're absolutely drool worthy!

Nutella Brownie Bites

Ingredients:

For Brownie Bites-

1 cup Nutella

2  Eggs

10 Tbsp Flour

For Optional Toppings-

Chopped Nuts

Nutella

Mini-Chocolate Chips*

Directions:

Mix together 1 cup Nutella, 2 eggs and 10 Tbsp of flour in mixing bowl.  Using a mini muffin pan and mini-cupcake liners fill each muffin 3/4 full.  Add nuts to the tops.(Optional)  Bake at 350 for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool.  Spread Nutella on tops before serving.(Optional)  Or melt chocolate chips and spread on tops.(Optional)
*Add mini-chocolate chips to the batter before baking.(Optional)  

Recipe adapted from Instructables

French Toast - Stuffed with Nutella and Banana

If you like french toast, as I sure do, you may enjoy this take on it.  I like trying new ways to prepare it. I have mostly in the past just experimented with using different types of bread to make it, and a few flavorings-cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla.  Hey my Sis even encouraged me to try black pepper on it once and I have to say (since I do like pepper...a lot) I was willing to give it a try and was surprised by the taste, and that I did indeed like it.  It was something different, and I like different sometimes!  

This is very good!... and why wouldn't it be?   It's Nutella!...One of my favorite things in life!
-An alternative to the Crepes with Nutella and Banana  for those that don't want to fuss with making crepes, this would be ideal!

French Toast Stuffed with Nutella and Bananas

Ingredients:  For 4 servings with two slices for each, or 2 servings with 4 slices each.
8 slices of white or wheat bread
Nutella
1 or 2 large bananas, sliced thin
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions:
1. Spread Nutella on each slice of bread (per desired amount).
2. Layer sliced bananas on 4 of the bread slices.
3. Put all slices of bread together to make four Nutella and Banana sandwiches.
4. In a wide, shallow bowl beat together the eggs, milk, and cinnamon with a whisk or fork.
5. Coat a large pan with cooking spray and heat over medium-low heat.
6. Dip each sandwich in the egg mixture to lightly coat each side, shake off the excess egg and then place in heated pan. 
7. Cook until both sides are lightly browned and firm.
8. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. (if desired)
 Serve warm.  With butter and syrup (if desired)

(This would probably be good made with Strawberries and Nutella too!)

*Additionally, you could just prepare your French Toast as usual, and then spread on the Nutella, add the Banana slices and enjoy it that way, serve the slices individually, sandwich them, and/or stack 'em up too!


Yummy goodness! *licking my lips*



Labels: Nutella , Recipes

Nutella - getting a bad rap?

My Nutella is getting a bad rap! :(

This is a bit ridiculous to me!  Ok, well maybe it's not really a health food per se.  People really do need to take responsibility for their choices, though.  Suing the company for claiming that Nutella is healthy?!  Really?!  I know there are many other foods falsely advertised as healthy?  It's not hard to read a label and see what is in a product!  Moderation, moderation, moderation!  Come on people!

I'll admit, I love this stuff, Nutella that is, and I know it has a lot of sugar in it, and per serving that it has 200 calories for two tablespoons!  In fact, I have recently lost fifteen pounds, and on many days for breakfast I'll have a whole wheat bagel thin with a heaping tsp. of Nutella on each half, along with a glass of skim milk! ...Or a snack of a Banana with Nutella on it! 

I shall happily Nutella on!.... :D

(This reminds me of the person suing over spilled hot coffee, ahem... it's coffee, I'm sorry the person was burned by the coffee, but it's supposed to be hot unless you ordered it iced, ya know?!!) 

The real problem, or shall I say crime, is people getting away with these silly lawsuits!

Nutella-fined-3-million-dollars-for-misleading-about-health

Continuing my love for Nutella!...

~Tammy~

Crepes - Sweet or Savory

I went searching for crepes recipes after I had recently enjoyed some delicious crepes at a food festival.  After viewing several, I put a plan together for a recipe that was the easiest, and had the fewest ingredients.  I have used this recipe ever since for making crepes, they are delicious, and they also freeze well ...if you do have leftovers! 

Banana and Nutella Crepes

My favorite crepes to make are Banana and Nutella Crepes.  I used the sweet variation recipe below, and after cooking the crepe added about a tsp. of Nutella to spread over it, then added thin slices of Banana.  The crepe can be folded in half, rolled up like a burrito or fold over sides and then the ends to form a square shape. Drizzle more Nutella on the outside if you like and then sprinkle with powdered sugar....mmmmm these are very delicious!  Try this with Strawberries and Nutella, or Strawberries and Cream Cheese or other fruit filling.  Enjoy!





Crepes Recipe

2 large eggs

3/4 cup light cream

1/2 cup water

1 cup flour

3 Tablespoon butter, melted

butter to coat pan

*Sweet or Savory ingredients-see bottom of recipe.

• In a bowl mix eggs, cool melted butter and *sweet or savory variation ingredients.

• While whisking carefully, add 1/2 of the flour,  1/2 of the cream, 1/2 of the water, repeat till all ingredients have been added.

• Place the crepe batter in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This will allow the bubbles to subside so the crepes will be less likely to tear during cooking. The batter will keep for up to 48 hours.

• Heat a small non-stick pan. Add butter to coat pan. Pour 1 ounce of batter into the center of the pan and swirl to spread evenly. Cook for approximately 30 seconds and then carefully flip crepe. Cook for another 10 seconds and then remove to the cutting board. Stack crepes between sheets of parchment paper if not preparing immediately. Lay them out flat so they can cool. Continue until all batter is gone. After they have cooled you can stack them and store in seal able plastic bags in the refrigerator for several days, or store in the freezer for up to two months. When using frozen crepes, thaw on a rack before gently peeling apart.

*Savory Variation - Add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs, spinach or sun-dried tomatoes to the egg mixture

*Sweet Variation - Add 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla-extract, and (optional) 2 tablespoons of your favorite liqueur to the egg mixture.

It's up to your imagination what you can come up with for great crepes!

Additional links for Crepes recipes below:  I need to try these!

strawberry cheesecake crepe

banana and chocolate mascarpone crepes

crepes with spinach bacon and mushroom filling

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Nutella

Nutella!

This is a new love for me!  I have always been a choc-a-holic, so when I had this for the first time a little while back, I was amazed that I hadn't experienced it before.  Like, where has it been all of my life, how could I have not tried this sooner?  Maybe I never noticed it because of the name, had it been "Cocoa Hazelnut Spread" instead, I'm sure I would have noticed that!  I also realized I'd deprived my children of it as well.  Sorry for that kiddos!  Delicious hazelnut and cocoa.  Helloooo?  Did you hear that? (OK read that?)  Again delicious hazelnut and cocoa.  It's the ultimate comfort food.  Chocolate bliss.  A have-to-have-it!  Need it, want it, gonna go have some right now....be right back!... 

...OK, back now!

I have discovered that Nutella is a great way to start my day, by spreading it on a toasted whole wheat bagel thin.  It compares to Peanut Butter in calories!  So my guilt level is lowered after learning that.  I've recently made Banana and Nutella Crepes, and talk about goodness!  Well, just give those a try and then talk to me about it later!  I feel sure you will enjoy it and so will those you make them for!  I have been seeing many Nutella ideas and recipes online.  

There will be more to come on this subject, I'm sure!  So I felt I needed to pay homage to this new wonderment of fantabulously divine decadence!

Go get a jar if you haven't had it before, or even if you have!  Enjoy!

Keep Smiling!...

~ Tammy ~

 

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The History of Nutella