World Nutella Day 2011

Happy World Nutella Day, my friends! Ms. Adventures in Italy and Bleeding Espresso are once again leading the charge, for the love of nutella, so grab a spoon, and enjoy a dip of the chocolate hazlenut goodness!  I have been celebrating since Monday when we went by Costco to pick up this package of goodness.

Tuesday evening I made nutella cookies– some rolled in sugar, some not. I reduced the amount of sugar from the recipe a bit to make up for all of the extra sugar on the outside.

Wednesday evening, I made banana nutella brownies. I think they taste a bit more like cake with nutella, and I definitely should have used more nutella!

Thursday evening I hosted book club. Photos from book club remain under lock and key, but I did make some crepes (recipe coming soon), which we topped with nutella and banana. We also ate the cookies and brownies, as well as some non-nutella items.

(I’m sorry for the random focal point on the photo. Yes, that is a jar of nutella in the top right corner, and yes, that is my win glass. Nutella + wine + tasty!)

Friday evening, I mixed a large dollop of nutella in to a cup of hot chocolate.  All you do is grab a spoon of nutella and pour the hot chocolate over it in to your mug and then stir. TASTY!  I did the same this morning with a cup of coffee. Sorry. I forgot to snap a photo!

How are you celebrating World Nutella Day?

P.S. Remember, every day is a great day for some nutella.

Hot Chocolate

Winter is never complete without sipping hot chocolate while the snow gently falls. Or a blizzard whirls. Ha ha! Having grown up in a very COLD state, hot chocolate was a favorite winter beverage. Sometimes I spice it up with a bit of mint, but generally, I keep a jar of this concoction in my refrigerator these days (hey, DC is cold too!). The Boy has also fallen in love.

The Players

1/4 cup turbinado sugar

1/4 cup Cocoa powder (unsweetened)

1/3 cup hot water

4 cups almond milk (unsweetened)

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

(If all I have is vanilla almond milk, I skip the vanilla extract.)

The Fun
1. Mix sugar and cocoa in saucepan. Stir in water.

2. Heat, stirring continuously, over medium heat until mixture boils. Allow to boil for 2 minutes while stirring.

3. Stir in milk and heat, but do not boil.

4. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

5. Pour over marshmellows in your favorite mug.

6. Drink.