nutella primer
a nutty subject
by Alice Ann Pazzaglia
(more recipes)

Nutella is a wildly popular food which all Italians eat but no one talks about. They don't talk about it because it doesn't occur to them to do so. They are too busy eating it. Nutella is to Italians what peanut butter is to Americans and vegemite is to Australians- delicious, healthy, easy to for a quick snack on bread and other things.

Nutella was born in the autumn of 1945. At the time, cocoa was in short supply due to war rationing, and chocolate was a delicacy limited to a lucky few. So Pietro Ferrero mixed cocoa with toasted hazelnuts, cocoa butter and vegetable oils to create an economical chocolate spread. Four years later, the recipe was made more creamy to simplify it's "spreadability". It's famous name is quite international - it starts with the English word "nut" to which was added "ella." The trademark logo - with the black "n" and the red "utella" was completed in 1963. The first jar of Nutella rolled off the production line in the city of Alba April 20th, 1964.

Nutella is a spread made of sugar, vegetable oils, hazelnuts, lean cocoa, lactaide, powdered skim milk, milk proteins, emulsion, soy and "aromas".

Nutella for children: Nutella Promotes Good Grades
Nutella tastes delicious spread on bread. Italian mothers fix it for their children as a snack when they get home from school. Everyone grabs the nutella and bread when they are hungry at home.

The largest consumers of Nutella are Italian university students studying for finals. Some students describe themselves as Nutella-dependent!

Nutella in the Work Place: Real Men Eat Nutella
Here is a correspondance between two burly manual labarors that was passed onto our food editor:

" Hi, Joe
It was nice to see you again. Hope all is going great for you at the shop! The grapevine has been whispering to me : ) Tonight we're serving KitKat chocolate on the fingers -- for variety! Do you share the Nutella at the shop... or do you just let them watch?
Walt"

" Walt, I have to thank you for introducing me to nutella. I have enjoyed it for about 8 months now. I remember the day you had it all over your fingers-- I could have sworn it was melted KitKat! I have found Nutella to be much cheaper at Costco than in the super markets. Nutella was the first food item I brought into the shop.
Joe"

Nutella Promotes World Peace
Nutella is our destiny!! Not just our destiny, but everybody's destiny!! It promotes world peace, keeps your engine runnning smooth, and saves little boys from drowning. Even the leader of the free world will attest to it's almighty powers. "Mmmm..it tastes good...."

Nutella Ice Cream Torte
This ice cream torte is the fastest party dessert I know--it takes only minutes to prepare and swiftly disappears as soon as I serve it. The torte alternates layers of pistachio, strawberry, and vanilla ice cream with Nutella. The Nutella freezes firm on the ice cream, but remains soft enough to cut easily.

Good Advice - The pistachio, strawberry, and vanilla ice creams make a pretty pastel color contrast, but you can substitute other flavors that contrast in color and taste.

2 pints pistachio ice cream, softened until spreadable but not melted
2 pints strawberry ice cream, softened until spreadable but not 2 melted
2 pints vanilla ice cream, softened until spreadable but not melted
1 cup Nutella (13 ounce jar) chocolate hazelnut spread, room temperature

Spoon 3 tablespoons of Nutella into a small resealable sandwich bag. Press out the air and seal. Set aside to use for the topping.

Spread the pistachio ice cream evenly over the bottom of 9-inch diameter springform pan with at least 2*-inch high sides. Spread the ice cream carefully to the edges. Using half of the remaining Nutella, drop teaspoonfuls evenly over the ice cream. Do not spread the Nutella to the edge. When the springform sides are removed, the edges of the ice cream will show as pastel layers without Nutella. Spread the strawberry ice cream evenly in the pan. Drop teaspoonfuls of the remaining Nutella over the strawberry ice cream, but do not spread it to the edge. Spread the vanilla ice cream evenly in the pan. Use a thin metal spatula to smooth the top of the torte. Cut a small hole in one corner of the filled sandwich bag. Press the Nutella through the hole in the bag to form crisscrossing lines over the top of the torte. The lines should reach to the edge of the torte.

Variation - Press 1 cup of crushed hazelnut praline (page 000) onto the sides of the torte at serving time.

To Freeze - Freeze the torte 15 minutes to firm the Nutella topping. Wrap the torte tightly with plastic wrap. Then cover with heavy aluminum foil, gently pressing the aluminum foil against the torte. Label with date and contents. Freeze at least 4 hours or up to 2 weeks.

Liquid Nutella
"I went to my favorite bar the other night, and asked my favorite bartender to make me a drink that involved Godiva liqueur. He came up with what I could only define as liquid Nutella. What's it made of? "

Glad you asked.

Take one (1) highball glass.
Fill with ice.
Pour Godiva liqueur in to the halfway point.
Add hazelnut liqueur until it reaches the three-quarter mark.
Add a splash of cola.
Add a splash of half-and-half.
Pour into mixing cup.
Pour back into highball glass.
Repeat once more to ensure the mix.
Serve.

You can adjust all to taste, of course. And... t doesn't look like Nutella, but it sure tastes like it!

Nutella Combinations

• Nutella on Vanilla Ice Cream with crumpled up Club Crackers, Peanut Butter, and sliced bananas.
• Nutella, mascarpone and tiny sweet and sour onions
• Nutella and salami
• Nutella with Crepes

Actually, next time you are planning a picnic, you might just want to take a jar of Nutella along with the bread and cheese.