Nutella VS. ZENutella
Guess what! Today is World Nutella Day 2008!
Meaning you are supposed to indulge, indulge and indulge again. World Nutella Day celebration was started by bloggers a few years ago and has been gaining momentum and quite a bit of buzz ever since. It is also quite boring. So i thought instead of following trends – which i don’t like to do – why don’t we try to end Nutella’s world domination instead? Yes, i mean starting a rebellion and taking over the hazelnut-cocoa world just for fun. A gluttony coup.
Don’t get me wrong, i love the stuff. I grew up on it. Nutella is so imprinted in my genes i suspect it is written on my medical record somewhere a Nutella intravenous would resurrect me. But Nutella ain’t the same it used to be, though. For obvious rea$on$ the corporate giant has changed the recipe over the years. Reading the ingredient list makes you wonder what happened to the hazelnut-cocoa spread – sugar, palm oil and artificial flavorings have taken the place of nuts and chocolate as prime ingredients. Yes, they do manage to make it taste ‘almost’ the same but they won’t fool the ‘old Zen’ discerning palate – Nutella ain’t the same it was 10 years ago.
The same thing happened with Coke. The American version is now sweetened with high fructose corn syrup because it’s cheaper. No need to wonder why everyone’s ass is becoming like hot air balloons (have you seen the Coke commercial during the Superbowl? It’s subliminal i’m telling you… hot air balloons! You can watch it here but you have to promise to come back) Have a sip of Mexican Coke instead – which is sweetened with pure sugar cane – and you’ll quickly realize: this is what Coca-Cola is supposed to taste like.
Therefore, i encourage you to join the Dark side and make your own Nutella at home. It’s easy as long as you own a food processor, the washing machine just doesn’t work as well. It takes about 10 minutes to make and it will keep for up to two months in the fridge. And the important part is: it does taste like a real hazelnut-cocoa spread! Try it and decide who wins the battle, Nutella VS. Zenutella.
ZENutella-
2 cups hazelnuts, skinned and toasted (don’t use the ones with the skin as they will give a bitter taste)
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1/3 cup cocoa powder
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3/4 cup powdered sugar
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1/8 teaspoon salt
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2 tablespoons peanut oil or vegetable oil
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- In the bowl of the mixer, place the hazelnuts and process until they release their oil and liquify. About 4 minutes.
- Add the cocoa powder, the powdered sugar, the vanilla extract and the salt and keep processing for another minute.
- Add the oil and mix until you obtain a smooth consistency. (Note that only a commercial food processor will achieve a perfectly smooth consistency. No big deal, it’s delicious either way!)
- Zenutella benefits from a night in the fridge. It will keep covered in the refrigerator for up to two months.
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