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I currently live in Charlotte, NC and after spending 7 years as a personal chef and caterer, I am now happy to share my love of cooking with friends and family. My heart is in the kitchen, but my soul is in the stars!

It's rude to talk with your mouth full....

... so I'll just blog instead. A few days ago I was reading through some new blogs that I've added to my reading repertoire, one of which is called Baking Bites written by Nicole Weston. During my first visit to Nicole's blog, I scrolled through a couple of pages, ran across this post and was immediately hooked. I mean, c'mon....who wouldn't be hooked on the idea of rich, flaky puff pastry oozing with Nutella and chocolate chips, baked to golden perfection?

Nutella is one of those things that I know sits on the grocery store shelf. Right there next to the peanut butter. I see it there, beckoning to me, wanting me to take it home. I've never given in. Never. Well, okay...who am I kidding? I took a trip to Little Rock several weeks ago to visit the new Fresh Market and indulged in many things that never seem to make it into my grocery cart during a mundane shopping trip to Walmart. So now instead of cozying up next to the Great Value peanut butter, the Nutella sits on my pantry shelf looking at me ever so seductively each time I open the door. Whispering my name...but I wouldn't give in. I have will power, you know.

Said will power was tested again about two weeks ago while I was home for a visit with my family. It was my grandmother's birthday and the family spent the weekend at Watauga Lake to celebrate. We rented a cabin and my grandmother and aunt were responsible for stocking the kitchen with snacks. We were sitting on the deck having just finished gorging ourselves with chips and dip, Hershey's miniature candy bars, and Lord only knows what else when around the corner came my aunt dipping an apple wedge into a jar of what else but Nutella. Temptation at its finest. I'll admit that I fell off the will power wagon, I mean what's a birthday celebration at the lake without a couple of Nutella smeared bites of fruit? I could always get back on the 12 step program tomorrow.....

So, here I am walking the straight and narrow when I run across Nicole's post. I couldn't resist anymore. It was the end. My fight with temptation was over. I had lost the battle. Nicole's recipe includes the ingredients to make the pastry, but I cheated. I had a couple of sheets of puff pastry in the freezer that needed to be used. If you're going to fall off the wagon, you may as well cheat while you're doing it, eh? No miniature chocolate chips on hand either, but I was determined. Nothing was keeping me from my beloved Nutella any longer. Regular chips will do just fine, thank you. No hazelnuts? Who cares! Add a drizzle of honey just before serving and these buttery, flaky, oh-so-rich delicacies are enough to give you a trip to the moon.

I've copied Nicole's recipe below, but make sure you drop by her blog and see which addictions she causes you to succumb to!

Nutella Scrolls
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, cold and cut into pieces
1 1/4 cups milk, cold
1/2 cup Nutella spread
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Rub in butter using your fingertips, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. The largest should be about the size of a large pea. Alternatively, you can combine these ingredients in a food processor and pulse to achieve crumbs, then transfer to a large bowl.
Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in cold milk, gradually stirring with a butter knife or a fork until a soft dough forms.
Sprinkle dough with flour and turn out onto a lightly-floured surface. Knead lightly until smooth, then roll out to a 12×14 inch rectangle. If dough gets too soft or sticky, even with the extra flour, put in fridge to chill for 15 minutes.
Spread Nutella over dough, leaving a 2cm border along the longer edges, but going all the way to the end of the short edges of the rectangle. Sprinkle chocolate chips and hazelnuts, if using, evenly over Nutella.
Starting with a long end, roll up dough in a jelly-roll fashion. Using a sharp, serrated knife to gently cut the roll into 12 even slices. Use a damp paper towel in between slices to keep knife clean and press gently to avoid squishing the roll. Lay scrolls flat on prepared baking sheet, allowing about 1 inch between each.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until scroll are light gold. Stand for 5 minutes on tray before gently pulling apart. Serve warm.

Make 12.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

These look amazing! I can't wait to taste them. Life is too short to deny yourself the occasional Nutella beinge - You Go Girl!

Anonymous said...

I would have lost the fight too...those look too darn good!