No Sweat Summer: Nutella Nests & A Winner

Yesterday was the first day of school here. 
Third grade...if you're counting. 
And someone certainly is.

Our family tradition (although this has only been going on since kindergarten) is that The Boy gets to pick what we have for dinner on the first day of school.  And we have a nice dessert.  Either cake or some kind of ice cream since those are his favorites.  The Boy chose spaghetti & meatballs for dinner.  Due to my work schedule, I ended up making meatballs at 8:00 the night before.  Believe me, I didn't want to roll meatballs at 8:00 at night.  I would have rathered sit on my fat fanny drinking a glass of wine and doing nothing else.  Except maybe eating some chocolate. 

Hindsight and all that...I shouldn't have gently (but firmly) guided him away from the pizza. 

So if there was ever a need for an easy ice cream dessert, this was it. 

In case you haven't been playing along, I've kinda had a series of easy cold desserts going on this summer.  Next week will be the last because, to be honest, I'm getting burned out on dessert.  And remember I did mention something about a fat fanny.

Anyway, today's (well, technically last night's) pick is one that looks extra fancy, but isn't trouble at all: Nutella Nests.

I used to make these when I worked for a cooking school/catering business and they were a big hit.  Can't tell you the original source of the recipe because I don't know.  But I can tell you that they're cute little individual desserts in the form of pie crust filled with nutella (drooool) and ice cream...topped with whatever you desire most as long as I don't have to pay for it because I already bought the freakin nutella (drooool, but expensive).

See what I mean?  Cute.  As a button.

Mise en place: individual graham cracker pie crusts, nutella (drooool), and ice cream are the main players.

Coffee ice cream is awesome in this, but use what you like.  Though I don't recommend using something with a lot of stuff in it; this dessert is rich.

You may want to consider misc. junk toppings such as whipped cream, chocolate syrup, chocolate curls, chopped nuts to really make a statement.

I decided to make homemade whipped cream with real heavy cream and powdered sugar and all that
because staying up making meatballs and marinara wasn't quite enough to claim SuperMom status.

I've mentioned this tip before but it's good to say again.

Cover your bowl with a dishcloth when you first start whipping the cream.

Trust me.  It's much more fashionable for your dish towels to have stains than your shirts.

Side note: I was recently alerted--there's a new(ish) blog carnival

at Around My Family Table: Tip Day Thursday

That's a super idea and I look forward reading some great tips.  I'm linking my post to it!

You don't have to make or even use whipped cream.

But this was back to school night for Pete's sake.

You can't go cheap or lame when it comes to back to school.

Even in third grade.

Warm up nutella in the microwave (so it's workable)...although I just noticed on the container that it specifically says: do not under any circumstances--no matter how life threatening--heat in microwave or else face certain death

or something like that
eh...whatcha gonna do?

Oh, and by the way, another tip...

You may have already slightly ruined it by microwaving

or maybe even destroyed order in the universe.

But this stuff ain't cheap so geez-a-loo don't waste it. 

You may have heard of this tip for peanut butter.  It works with nutella too

spray whatever you're measuring the nutella in with a light coat of cooking spray so it'll just slide right out and you won't waste a speck.

Spread the nutella in each cute lil pie crust just so

Then fill each with a scoop of ice cream.
I had to buy the half vanilla/half chocolate to please
Every.  Single.  Body.
Because I'm gunning for that SuperMom thing

Top with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and/or whatever you can think of that may be good.

I've already decided that the rest of the nutella is reserved for crepes w/ nutella and bananas.
And even before that I decided that I was going to eat the chocolate shavings that are so artfully arranged at the bottom of the bowl.

This is linked to Around My Family Table's Tip Day Thursday
and
Dining With Debbie's What's On the Menu Wednesday
and
Also linking with Food on Friday: Ice Cream & Sorbets @ Carole's Chatter


Printer Friendly Recipe

Nutella Nests
original source ??

1 mini graham cracker pie crust per person
about 2 Tbsp Nutella spread per pie crust
ice cream (coffee, vanilla, or chocolate)

Optional toppings:whipped cream
chocolate curls or shavings
chocolate syrup
chopped nuts
whatever you like!

Arrange pie tins on a serving platter.  Warm nutells for 10-20 seconds in microwave until it can easily be spread.  Spread about 2 Tbsp in each little pie crust and cool for 1 minute.

Place 1 large scoop of ice cream in each pie crust.  Add your choice of toppings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Winner time!
Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway. 
There were so many great ideas (which I plan to cash in on in the form of blog posts).

In addition to the items originally listed

I'm also including a CD of some of my favorite Cajun & Zydeco music and a bag of Camellia brand red beans (A New Orleans staple).

I hope the winner enjoys it.
That winner is...

Comment # 5: Kim
Using Random.org

Kim, contact me with your address so I can ship the goodies to you!