Nutella: Where have you BEEN all my LIFE?

Just recently on a visit with friends I was introduced to something quite remarkable. Nutella.

 I know, I know...I can hear you all now, "Elizabeth, you are always talking about food, trying new recipes, and now have a food blog and you HAVEN'T HAD NUTELLA?!"  Well yes...its true. Well since this wonderful introduction and discovery I have been totally OBSESSED with THE hazelnut-chocolate spread. After every meal I need to have my Nutella fix and have recently began to ponder it's true possibilities! BUT before list the different things you can put Nutella on, let's learn a little bit of history. (WAIT don't click away-this is good history!) 

Nutella was created in the 1940's. At the time there was very little chocolate because of the World War II rationing. So pastry maker Mr. Pietro Ferrero (that name just sounds like he LOVED chocolate)  used hazelnuts to mix in and this extended the chocolate supply. The original version of Nutella spread was called "pasta gianduja", pasta which means paste, and "gianduja" which is the name of a carnival character famous to the region. Pasta gianduja was actually made in loaves and wrapped in tinfoil, so it could be sliced and placed on bread.

 But many people (I would be one of them) would throw away the bread and only eat the pasta gianduja! So Mr. Ferrero changed the product into a paste in a jar, so it could be spread on bread. The named changed to "supercrema gianduja", spreadable gianduja, and was eventually renamed Nutella in 1964. 

Nutella was first imported from Italy to the United States in 1983. It is now marketed and sold all over the world! The Nutella formula is made from a combination of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa-no artificial colors or preservatives (thank goodness!) The same yummy-goodness since the 1940's and I HAVE JUST NOW DISCOVERED IT...unbelievable. 


Now that we have the tasty history of Nutella...what can we do with it. My first time to eat it was on a graham  cracker. Since then I have become a true "Nutella Lover" and have used a variety of eating methods.  The "Naturalist" aka using one's finger and the "Stacker" method-putting as much Nutella possible to achieve maximum height on the nutella companion. I have also started thinking, "How else can I eat Nutella?" Well here are 50 ways: 

1. with a spoon.
2. between two slices of white bread.
3. spread onto a crusty baguette.
4. in a crepe.
5. in a crostata.
6. in brioche/cornetti/croissant.
7. in a donut.
8. on top of gelato.
9. dip a banana into it.
10. spread onto cookies or wafers.
11. between two pizzelles.
12. in an ice cream cone.
13. on sweet ravioli.
14. in a hamburger or hotdog bun.
15. on a bagel.
16. on a muffin.
17. on top of a waffle.
18. in a pita.
19. on poundcake.
20. twisted in challah.
21. on strawberries.
22. on sliced pear.
23. stuffed in a cored apple.
24. spread on celery sticks.
25. stuffed in French toast.
26. swirled into brownies.
27. swirled into or topped onto cheesecake.
28. dosed into your morning coffee.
29. frozen into an icy granita.
30. mixed with rice krispies.
31. topped on a cupcake.
32. injected into a cupcake.
33. between layers of a cake.
34. as frosting for a cake.
35. as a twist on tiramisu.
36. mixed with your favorite cream alcohol.
37. mixed into a chocolaty martini.
38. between layers of trifle.
39. mixed in your favorite pudding.
40. melted into hot chocolate.
41. in creme brulee forms.
42. in filled profiteroles. (a small cream puff)
43. in tuiles. (a thin curved cookie, typically made with almonds)
44. in babka. (a coffee cake)
45. in tiny filo cups.
46. on a sweet pizza.
47. sandwiched between layers of pandoro or panettone. (traditional Italian breads) 
48. with peanut butter in a poor man’s peanut butter cup.
49. in a N&J – Nutella & Jelly sandwich.
50. with marshmallow fluff in a FlufferNutterNutella. (FAVORITE)

Yummo! My mouth is watering already! For more about Nutella you can visit www.nutellausa.com.You can even become a fan of Nutella on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/Nutella . And to find out what type of Nutella Lover you are, visit Ms. Adventure's Blog at www.msadventuresinitaly.com.

What kind of lover are you?!?!?!

PS: World  Nutella Day is February 5, 2012-let's start planning NOW!