New Products

This week I purchased a new product called Nutella.  I know it's been around forever in Europe and has become quite a hit here in the U.S. but I have never tried it.  I think it was the thought of hazelnuts that turned me off. Not a fan.  While doing the shopping though, I came across a $1.00 off coupon next to the product that was already on sale for 50 cents off. So for quite a steal, I thought I'd give it a try. 

YUMMY!!  It's ultra-creamy, very chocolaty, with only a hint of nut flavor.  My BFF Patti tells me the go-to method for eating Nutella in her home is straight from the jar, onto a spoon, and into their mouths.  The commercials show happy mommies spreading it lavishly on toast to entice their little ones to eat a healthy breakfast before running off to school.  I question how healthy Nutella on toast is for breakfast, but that's not for me to worry about.  What was for me to worry about was how to use up a jar of this goodness.  Off to the Internet I went and found this delightfully easy 6 ingredient, no mixer involved, cookie recipe I share with you today.   WARNING:  They are extremely sweet and if I were to make them again, I would definitely add 1/2 tsp of salt and perhaps cut the sugar to 1/3 cup.

The other wonderful product I have recently discovered is Twining's Lady Grey tea.  For me it is just about the most perfect cup of tea I have had since I use to sit at my English grandma's dining room table and drink tea poured from her Blue Willow tea pot. Lady Grey tea is a delicate, fragrant variation on the more famous Earl Grey blend. It consists of black tea scented with oil of bergamot, lemon peel and orange peel. Nothing else needed in my opinion; no sugar, no milk.  But a couple of the Nutella cookies certainly went down well with this brew!

Nutella-Peanut Butter Cookies

1/2 cup Nutella
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Combine all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined.  (This is a very stiff dough and I ended up using my hands at the end to mix.)  Roll into 1 inch balls, roll in granulated sugar and place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.  Flatten each ball with the bottom of a smooth glass.  Edges will be jagged.  Bake for 7-8 minutes.  Place on rack to cool.  Makes 2 dozen cookies.