Nutella + Banana + Nilla Wafers... We need a name!

For this simple and simply delicious little bite of Heaven!

As simple as it seems.... As delicious as it looks...

Two Nilla Wafer spread with Nutella. One slice of banana. Sandwich together.

Are you drooling yet?

Nutella Buttercream Frosting

I know, I know... I am a terrible food blogger. I made a promise and I have not kept up my part of the bargain. It's no excuse, I know, but life has been very busy lately. Luckily I have a couple of days to slow down and catch up. Today is Alexander's Half Birthday. I have decided to celebrate it but he has no idea. I baked a chocolate cake last night while his older brother gave him a bath. While I baked Rebecca ran down to the basement to wrap the small gift I had gotten him.

Today I made the frosting. The best, EVER, frosting I have EVER had.

I love Nutella. I cannot get enough of Nutella.
We all love Nutella. So I decided to make a Nutella frosting. I saw some recipes online but they seemed just so-so. I liked the idea but they lacked in true Nutella flavor. So I toyed around until my taste buds deemed my recipe to be perfect. I think you'll agree. You'll have to!

Nutella Buttercream Frosting
1 stick of butter
2 cups of confectioner's sugar
4 tbs milk
3 tbs cocoa powder (unsweetened)
ONE CUP of Nutella!

In a large mixing bowl fitted with a paddle, cream together butter and sugar. Add to the mixture the milk and the cocoa powder. Mix well. Finally beat in the Nutella. Beat on high so frosting gets nice and fluffy.

DO NOT eat all the frosting out of the bowl before you put it on the cake!

Pumpkin French Toast

It's no secret that I love pumpkin, pumpkin everything except, oddly enough pumpkin pie. I wanted to see what Pumpkin French Toast would taste like. It was a test, a gamble... I had three really hungry kids waiting to eat... I could have picked a better time to play with my food. As the French Toast was ready I slid a couple of pieces on to plates, and grabbed a slice myself... I had to. I would certainly not offer them something inedible. I took a bit of powdered sugar and sprinkled it over the top... bit down... and Oh. My. GOD! Pumpkin French Toast is like eating a bit of Heaven! (If you happen to like French Toast and Pumpkin.)

Feed to kids. Watch their reaction. Don't tell them what I have done... all is quiet. Silence. Chewing-swallowing-chewing-swallowing followed by "More please!"

Then husband enters the kitchen and looks at orangy mess in bowl. "Gross!" he declares. Then grabs a cooked one. As he shoves it in his mouth he asks why I have to add pumpkin to everything. The answer is two-fold. I like it and it's so good for you.

Chew-chew-chew-swallow. "Hey, these are pretty good!" The Old Skeptic declares has he dips into the plate and grabs another slice, this time adding syrup.

Ingredients:

1 loaf of good bread, preferably slightly stale (mine was not)
2 tbs granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 cups of lowfat milk
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 can of pumpkin puree

Turn on your griddle or stove and heat to high. Coat with non-stick spray, and keep on hand to reapply after each batch.

In a large mixing bowl add all the above ingredients except the bread. Mix well

Dredge bread into the pumpkin mixture so that both sides are covered. Do not scrape off excess.





The pumpkin will sizzle when the griddle or pan are hot enough. You will need to turn the heat down slightly. Cook till browned on both sides. This does take longer to cook than regular French Toast. Perhaps about 5 minutes a side.

As the slices are ready, they will be firm and not soggy to the touch, remove them from the heat and place them on a plate or in the oven to keep warm. Repeat as necessary.

This made, I believe, 24 slices.

After I tossed the bag with cooled pieces in to the freezer for later this week I thought about how good one of these slices would taste with a bit of Nutella spread over the top... and was glad (for my waistline) that the bread was in the freezer!