Good morning, welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: February 5th, 2002. Charlie is one happy Camper because today is World Nutella Day. All Charlie needs is a spoon and a jar of Nutella. Before you ask me if I am going to join Charlie in this snack and no, I am not. I prefer Peanut Butter. How about you?
To a lot of people happiness is a warm taste of Hazelnut spread on a warm flaky Pastry! That Hazelnut spread is known across the world as Nutella. This Chocolatey Hazelnut spread can be slathered on Toast or baked into the center of Pastries.
This might not be the case for everyone, but many people have been known to consume Nutella with a spoon or finger! Others have certainly found creative ways to eat Nutella using Pretzel Sticks or Potato Chips. It seems like everyone who is a fan of Nutella has their favorite way to get their Nutella fix.
And World Nutella Day is the perfect day to share all of those wonderful ideas with the world!
What is Nutella most commonly used for?
Although technically classified as a dessert topping, Nutella is commonly used for topping on breakfast foods including Waffles, or Bagels.
Should I store Nutella in the cupboard or the fridge?
According to the Italian manufacturer, Nutella doesn’t like the cold. Nutella should be stored at room temperature.
Where can I go to a Nutella Cafe?
Fererro has opened Nutella Cafes in New York City and in Chicago, Illinois in the USA.
What is the shelf life of Nutella?
Nutella can be used for 12 months from the date of manufacturing. But it’s sure to be eaten much more quickly than that.
Does Nutella contain Peanuts?
Nutella contains no Peanuts or Peanut ingredients. However, sometimes people with a Peanut allergy can also be allergic to Hazelnuts, so it’s best to be careful and check in advance.
History of World Nutella Day
Nutella, released to the world by the Fererro family under its current name in the mid-1960s. Nutella has roots that go back to the early 1800s. “Gianduja” was the name for a sweet, Chocolate Hazelnut confection that was invented in Turin, Italy during the reign of Napoleon. Its creation was motivated by the fact that there was a shortage of Cocoa supplies at the time, so a Chocolatier added Hazelnuts to stretch the Chocolate.
Pietro, the father of the Ferrero family, Pietro, owned a bakery in Alba, Italy, a town that was known for its production of Hazelnuts. Originally selling the treat in large blocks, Pietro then had the idea to begin selling a creamy version of the treat, known as Supercrema Gianduja.
When Pietro’s son, Michelle, decided to ramp up production he changed the recipe slightly and it received its new name: Nutella. The first jar was sold in 1964 and Nutella has been a delightfully popular treat throughout Europe ever since. By the mid-1980s, the Fererro family was importing Nutella into the United States and now Nutella has become a staple in many places all over the World.
World Nutella Day was first celebrated in 2007. The idea for the day came from Sara Rosso who was an American blogger who was living in Italy at the time. What made her think to start World Nutella Day? Why it was her love of Nutella of course! The fans of Nutella embraced the Holiday with gusto and took the joy of the day to Social Media around the World.
2015 saw the transfer of the day from Sara Rosso to the company that makes Nutella, Ferrero. Making this transfer allowed for the Holiday to become even larger and ensured its longevity. The company has done pretty creative things to support World Nutella Day. There is a website to keep current on all of the plans for the Holiday. It is even possible to sign up for a chance to become the Chief Nutella Ambassador!
Host a Nutella Party or Competition
Is your friend’s creative in the kitchen? Why not hold a competition and see who makes the best Nutella? The prize can be Social Media fame and a big jar of Nutella of course!
Make Homemade Nutella
For those who are feeling domestic and creative, consider whipping up a batch of Nutella. It’s not super complicated and only has a few ingredients.
Start with roasted Hazelnuts. After removing the skins by rolling them on a kitchen towel, place the Nuts in a Food Processor or Blender. Blend for several minutes to create Nut Butter, then add melted Chocolate, a dash of Salt and a bit of Vanilla.
Share World Nutella Day with Friends
Bake Nutella-based recipes to share with the neighborhood. To add to the fun, take pictures during and after the preparation, then share your creation with the world on Social Media.
If you don’t find the right recipe there are also recipes that can be found on the World Nutella Day website. When you are sitting there enjoying the recipe of your culinary labors, don’t forget about the next generation. Share some of your recipes with the kids.
How to Celebrate World Nutella Day
Really, there is no wrong way to celebrate World Nutella Day. No matter how you spread Nutella or melt Nutella the joy that comes once you taste Nutella makes this one of the best Holidays ever! This is a true statement, even when Nutella is enjoyed on other days. Because any day with Nutella in it is the best day ever!
Get Creative with Nutella in the Kitchen
To truly make the Holiday special, why not try creating a recipe with Nutella? Head on over to a favorite online search engine and type in the phrase “Nutella recipes” and lots of recipes will appear. Just pick the one that wakes up those taste buds and give it a try. Or create your own masterpiece.
Here are today’s five things to know about Nutella:
Nutella, a Chocolate & Hazelnut spread, outsells ALL brands of Peanut Butter worldwide.
Hazelnuts were originally used as an inexpensive filler and when sales increased Hazelnut soon became its trademark flavor.
In the aftermath of World War 2 Italian stores offered a service called “smearing”, which allowed local children to bring in a slice of Bread on which they could spread Nutella spread on.
In Europe the Nutella jar is usually made of glass, whereas in North America the jar is made of plastic.
One jar of Nutella is sold every 2.5 seconds worldwide.
Here are today’s five things to know about FroYo: While regular Yogurt has been around for 5000 years, Frozen Yogurt was originated in New England in the 1970s. When Frozen Yogurt first hit the market in the 1970s, it was not as popular as it is today. Many consumers felt that Frozen Yogurt was too tart and similar to room temperature Yogurt.
In the ’80s, frozen Yogurt manufacturers began to play with the dessert’s recipe, adding flavor and changing the texture.
They were able to create Frozen Yogurt we are familiar with today, something a bit more palatable to the public.
The health-conscious crowds began to eat Frozen Yogurt, skyrocketing sales to $25 million. The growth did not stop there; by the ’90s, the product had reached $330 million in sales.
You scream, I scream, we all scream for…Frozen Yogurt? Yes! Frozen Yogurt is the delicious, creamy treat we all love. Yogurt was first invented over 4,000 years ago in the Middle East and India and then slowly made its way across the world over the Centuries. But it wasn’t until the 1970’s the brilliant idea of freezing Yogurt created the taste sensation we love today. Since then, though tastes have cycled from sweet to sour, Frozen Yogurt has secured a place in dessert History. On February 6th, pull the lever and visit your favorite Frozen Yogurt Shop to celebrate National Frozen Yogurt Day.
NATIONAL FROZEN YOGURT DAY ACTIVITIES
- Frozen Yogurt, as we know it today, first appeared on the scene in the 1980’s with the advent of the Yogurt chain TCBY. To celebrate this dessert, invite friends to come dressed in their favorite 80’s attire, or their favorite flavor of Yogurt and make a playlist of your favorite 80’s songs. Then purchase pints of your favorite Yogurt. Ask everyone to bring their favorite topping and let the party begin!
- Between frozen Yogurt chains and local Mom and Pop shops, there’s no shortage of Frozen Yogurt resturants to try. Many of these restaurants will be offering specials so celebrate frozen Yogurt’s Holiday by exploring your City to try all the flavors and toppings available.
- Let’s make a Yogurt Cake combine two cups of ground Graham Crackers or your favorite Cookie with a ½ cup of melted Butter and firmly press the mixture into the bottom of a Springform Pan. Scoop in your favorite Yogurt flavor and top with your favorite toppings. Place your creation in the freezer for an hour.Presto, you are ready to serve your frozen Yogurt Cake for your next dessert.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL FROZEN YOGURT DAY
- There are few things as wonderful as a cup of frozen Yogurt from your favorite Yogurt Shop covered with delicious toppings. With so many flavors to choose from, it’s hard to imagine a more perfect treat to enjoy any time of the day.
- Although Yogurt can have as many Calories as Ice Cream, according to the Livestrong website, “Yogurt with Probiotic cultures, including frozen varieties, can help maintain and improve Heart and Blood Vessel Health.” Additionally, Bacteria naturally occurring in Yogurt, could possibly have a positive effect on your Digestive System.
- Joking that she would be remembered as the “frozen Yogurt justice”, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan had the first frozen Yogurt machine installed in the Supreme Court Cafeteria. And, in keeping with its practice of naming each version of the Android OS after a dessert, Google named its 2010 Android 2.2 release “Froyo”.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
