“Grilled Nutella Sandwich”
It’s funny what sticks in your head when it comes to food. I was talking to my daughter & business partner, Whitney, a few days ago about our recent trip to Chicago to work on a photo shoot. As well as work time, we also had some time to play. Eating was a big part of our play time. We had some fantastic food, some a bit fancy, some very ethnic, some homemade…but the most memorable of our edibles for both of us was a little grilled Nutella sandwich. It came as a dessert after a perfect light meal of little plates at a restaurant we wandered into on a snowy night called “Quartino”…it is often the little things that linger.
I admit I have been thinking about that buttery grilled Nutella since I ate it that snowy night over a week ago. Vivid food moments from the past. The warm cheese burgers I ate as a child with a homegrown tomato spread thickly with mayonnaise, the croissant & cafe au lait in Venice at dawn about 25 years ago, freshly caught fish ceviche eaten on a boat in the Caribbean minutes after the fish was caught last year. Taste recall isn’t so much about the food, but the moments around the food, where I was, who I was with, what I was doing. I am sure you agree?
Not being able to recreate the moment, I was able to recreate that little Nutella treat to perfection this week. A hot steamy cup of milky coffee alongside turned this into very nice moment in the middle of a busy day.
3 Ingredient list:
Butter room temperature, Crusty Bread, Nutella
Instructions:
1. Smear one side of each slice of bread with softened butter.
2. Slather a generous portion of Nutella on the non-buttered side of each slice.
3. Place a heavy skillet or griddle over medium high heat. Or use a Panini grill if you have one.
4. Make sandwiches with the Nutella on the inside, buttered side out.
5. Grill sandwiches in hot skillet until golden brown on both sides just like you would a grilled cheese sandwich. If you grill them in a Panini grill they will be flat sandwiches, but either way they are delicious.
6. Cut sandwiches in half or quarters and eat warm.
Stack of little Panini grilled Nutella sandwiches.
Now, how easy is that?
A little food for thought:
One other little thing that is very easy to do would be to donate just one meal’s worth of your hard-earned money to Planned Parenthood. This is one of the little things we can all do…just one meal’s worth to a good cause. Just go to http://www.plannedparenthood.org to donate. Thank you.
A Little Chicago Image Gallery:
A Little Bit About Nutella:
Today is “World Nutella Day”!
It is a spread made up of roasted hazelnuts, sugar, skim milk & cocoa & has not artificial colors or preservatives according to the label.
Nutella was created by Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker & founder of the Ferrero company in the Piedmont region of Italy. During the 1940’s there was a cocoa shortage due to World War II rationing and as hazelnuts were plentiful Nutella spread was developed.
Nutella can be stored at room temperature.
It’s all the little things. No?
Delicious, i can tell you all, it is delicious
This prompted me to add Nutella to the grocery list. (We’re rarely out.) I love the idea of that crunch with the melty, warm Nutella. Gorgeous.
You can’t get any better than this. Just perfect to celebrate World Nutella Day today!
Michele, thank you for adding this tidbit. I had no idea. But due to your input I have added this info to my blog entry. Thanks so much.
Being a connoisseur of the grilled sandwich, particularly the grilled cheese, this blog has me salivating. In fact, the only grilled sammy that might just surpass my ole’ friend Mr. Grilled Cheese, would be anything Nutella. Yumskies. It has me reveling in the memory of Nutella-filled croissant in Naploi with my awesome wife and the insanity of the Italian cityscape. Thanks for that TT!
Those wonderful Italians! Ciao.
stunning perfection…. what a beautiful story to brighten this dreary day 🙂
Gracias, mi amiga. Miss you.
It really was sublime, perfect in it’s simplicity, a great memory for me with my Mom!
Your photography is always so fun to see!
I love Chicago to visit. The food is oh so good there, but who would think of a grilled little nutella for a dessert. Yum is all I can say.
Oh, Teresa! You have inspired me with your delightful comments on Nutella. Thank you! I am going to experiment tonight with the jar that has been languishing in my pantry.
I loved the pictures as well! Beautiful!
Tammy, you are always an inspiration to me when it comes to food so I feel so happy that you are inspired by my little sammie! Can’t wait to see the new book!
Teresa! i just ate a massive chocolate bar and now i want nutella. Look what you did! Shameful! 😉
Actually… it’s kind. of. awesome. I actually have a friend who does something similar but in a tortilla with bananas… so really, it’s not similar at all… i’ll stop talking now.
PS. I’d give anything to try that octopus salad. holy divine!
Yes, the second most memorable food from our trip was the octopus. I have had it a few times in the past in soups or paellas, but this little octopi was the best, most tender ever. Holy divine indeed!
how serendipitous that you posted on World Nutella Day before knowing—that chocolaty-hazelnut essence must have been in the ethers! Chicago is such a diverse food city–I haven’t visited there in 6 years, so I loved seeing your pics.
Yes it was odd. I did not know until Michele, another blogger, told me about it. I went and looked it up and lo and behold it was indeed World Nutella Day. Who knew? In the ethers for sure!
Oh Yeah! The often ovrlooked under appreciated Nutella. I think I will spread some on a sliced tart apple right now
Yes, it certainly is the little things. You have me missing Chicago. I was born there and spent a decent part of my life living there — my earliest childhood years, and then again before I moved to San Francisco. Your little Nutella sandwiches look scrumptious.
This sounds delicious, and I love the paragraph about food memories. Well said…and so true!
Becca, thanks so much for stopping by and I am on my way to check out your blog that I did not know about.
This sounds like the most heavenly sandwich around!
i expect some of these little treasures sunday…know what i mean?
Your little sammies will await you this coming Sunday for the crossword, with coffee!
OMG…grilled Nutella sandwich??!! Wow oh wow. Sinfully good. 🙂
I enjoyed all of your photos but you really have a way with making that simple sandwich look great.
Karen, for the most part I think the most simple foods are the most beautiful for photograph. How is your trip. I am going to check in with you today. Have fun.
we call it a chocolate sandwich:) My son who is 2 almost 3 is obsessed with nutella- obsessed and every week he gets to pick 2 days where he gets a “chocolate” sandwich for lunch! I let him think its chocolate- Love this!
Thanks for sharing your sweet story and for stopping by.
Reblogged this on Royal Graffiti.