Dine out while you still can before summer leaves with her light. We still prone to dine al fresco in our nest when possible (I always favor the outdoors, less cleaning.) While breakfast would be preposterous outdoors these early-to-rise school days when darkness still lingers, almost as preposterous as putting baby bear to bed at a decent hour. Even when baby bear awakes well after older bears are invested into their first classes of the school day, our breakfast for two remains indoors.
It’s quite simple for her, the usual warm porridge, however, older bears don’t like to hold up their heads over the counter for any nibbles, sometimes not even for a warm cup of cocoa. After weeks of vetting over my undernourished A.M. risers, I whipped up some nutella from scratch. Simply spread over warm toast and voila, breakfast on the go. No plate, no napkin necessary, since licking of digits is expected. I bet it’s gobbled up even before the bus arrives as the dappled-spot of sunlight finally makes the first appearance of the day.
I add a spoonful to packed lunches to eat with crisps apples handpicked from a nearby orchard and even added some into waffles that are preferred on weekends when they can be properly savored or for a quick after school snack before the obligatory dribbling and striking of a ball until darkness shrouds us again. It’s times like these I wish I were a bird or a butterfly to flutter away with the withering light that moves southward.
So out we dine for lunch and an early dinner with some lingering overheated autumn days, until the inevitable. Hard and steady the leaves keep falling, carpeting the forest with bright tawny hues. At least we can enjoy the show from indoors when it turns cold and wet, whilst wildlife is working hard for the winter. I must remind myself to be more like a leaf this time of year, full of color and change. Happy dinning out all!
Nutella From Scratch
- 1 cup hazelnuts
- 12 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons preferred sweetener (I use coconut aminos, date syrup or maple syrup)
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cacao powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- a sprinkle of hemp seed
Soak hazelnuts overnight or two. Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Spread the hazelnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven for about fifteen minutes, until they’ve browned a little and the skins are blistered a little. Let cool thoroughly. Melt dark chocolate and coconut oil in a saucepan over gently simmering water. Stir until smooth and let cool. Grind the hazelnuts in a high-speed blender. Add the melted chocolate and coconut oil, preferred sweetener, cacao powder, vanilla, and salt and continue blending until the mixture is as smooth as you like. Scrape nutella into a jar, it will thicken as it cools and when refrigerated. Our spread lasted five days (it should keep up to two weeks if you make a bigger batch.) All though it was refrigerated in the day, I would set it out the night before so that in the morning it would spread easily on toast. Don’t forget the hemp seeds packed with protein, vitamins and minerals needed for herculean feats in the orchards! Simply sprinkle the seeds on after spreading nutella on your warm toast.
thefolia.com 
She’s so adorable! What a lovely recipe for Nutella! Sounds delicious and much healthier than the store bought version! 🙂 happy eating!
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Thank you. I was never a fan of the store bought one; it wasn’t authentic enough. Making it at home not only guarentees the quality of the ingredients, it also taste like hazelnut and chocolate. I keep the texture crunchy, but you could also strain the hazelnuts to make it creamy if prefered. Enjoy.
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I’ve never been a fan of processed Nutella, but your recipe looks wonderful. And as always, I love seeing your photos. You have such a knack for capturing captivating shots.
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Awww thank you for your kind words and encouragement! Do give the recipe a shot if you like hazelnuts or even try with another nut or seed. Enjoy.
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What a lovely peaceful post about the changing season, the changing leaves, and the changing of our lives. Your baby bear is just adorable. Thanks for the recipe too. 🙂
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Thank you for stopping by with your sweet words. I hope you enjoy some nutella soon.
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Homemade nutella! That’s impressive. I love your daughter’s little food tray. It’s so cute. And my thoughts are with as you head back into cold weather, but Fall is certainly enjoyable.
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Oh do give it a try, it’s not complicated at all. It turn into winter overnight; it’s still shocking to the system. Thank you for your warm thoughts.
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Overnight. Yikes! I hope you get an Indian summer. I always loved those growing up in Ohio. It was like summer’s encore before it was fully over.
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I’m pretty sure it’s the end of anything summerlike, we did have a good, long run…it was an exceptional summer where humidity barely stuck around for only a few days here and there.
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Yea! Glad to hear it. At any rate, where you live still looks Be-a-utiful to me!
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Yes, we couldn’t be happier with our nest and surroundings, just a bit cold from now on. Enjoy being outdoors!
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And here’s hoping for a mild winter! 🙂
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Cheers to that!
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I feel like fall is the best time to go picnic because it has been super hot during the summer to do any of that stuff. Your homemade nutella recipe looks delicious! It’s better than buying it in stores for sure. Thanks for sharing :).
https://exquisitely.me
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Yes, your right as long as it’s not too cold to move your fingers, a picnic in the Fall is precious since time is ticking quickly. Thank you for stopping by my space to enjoy our Autumn view, it’s definately with us now.
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First off your kids are such cuties!! Second, I had no idea how easy it was to make nutella! Since going vegan about 4 years ago, I haven’t had any and that was something I really missed! Going to try this out at home <3. Thanks for sharing!
Stacey, thebambieyes.com
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Thank you! So glad I was able to inspire your missed longing for Nutella…I bet you will enjoy making and if course eating some.
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Nutella from scratch sounds like my kind of thing! How wonderful.
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I hope you do get to enjoy some. It’s quite nutritional when done with care at home too.
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You live in a beautiful place. I’d love dining out there too. Nutella sounds great.
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Thank you for stopping by my space and for your kind words about my nest and recipe. Hope you enjoy some on a slice soon.
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Me too.
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😊
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I would love to try your recipe! Best picnic and she is so lovely 🙂
Dasynka
http://dasynka.com
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Oh please do and enjoy. Thanks for your kind words!
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Home made nutella! Now that’s something I wouldn’t have even considered, Cristina, yet how perfect! I think with crisp apples sounds heavenly! You’ve encouraged me to consider taking my meals al fresco more often than I do! You are so exceptional in your ability to make every meal an occasion! 🙂
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Thank you so much Debra, it’s my pleasure to share my latest culinary adventure with you. I hadn’t thought to make it until recently and now it’s a staple for a quick and surprisingly nutritional breakfast or snack. I hope you do take advantage of your outdoor dining and join me in trying this home made spread.
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