Melissa from It's Melissa's Kitchen picked Chocolate Pudding this week and all I can say is... THANK YOU!
This is creamiest, chocolatiest, smoothest pudding I have ever, ever tasted in my life.
I was so excited about this week for two reasons:
- I love pudding.
- It is quick and simple to make.
What could I do to make it a bit different? Well, I saw Dorie's recipe on the next page for coffee pudding. Bingo. Then I thought, "Well, what about hazelnut pudding?" Mmm.. hazelnut, coffee, chocolate.
Hazelnut coffee is my second runner up in morning coffee choices (first is the all time fave- French Vanilla). So I picked up some Nutella and was on my way.
Let me just note: I know that Nutella originated in Sweden, but growing up in my super Italian neighborhood of Franklin Square, NY, Nutella was another food group all in itself. It's most popular method of being eaten, you ask? Slathered on two pieces of white bread- no crusts. For lunch. Delicious and nutritious.
Later on in my culinary life, I discovered a myriad of uses for Nutella and started using it in many recipes. When I moved to DC from NY a few months ago, I asked a woman in the supermarket if they carried and Nutella (pronounced NEW-tella) She looked at me like I was crazy. Then, a light bulb went off in her head.
"Ohhhh!" she exclaimed. "You mean NUH-tella."
Oh. No. She. Didn't.
My head almost exploded. I had to remind myself that this is DC, not Long Island or NYC. And although I'm moving back to NYC next year (YAY!), being here has given me great perspective that not everyone is Italian. (And everyone here is super friendly, which, I must admit, is very refreshing!)
But I digress.
I split the pudding mixture to be made into three separate batches: Chocolate, Chocolate Coffee, and Chocolate Hazelnut. For the chocolate coffee, I dissolved 6 teaspoons instant coffee in 6 teaspoons water. For the Chocolate hazelnut, I subbed 1/4 cup Nutella for the chocolate. I whipped up some cream and vanilla extract, and chopped up some chocolate wafers to make a towering triple chocolate pudding extravaganza. I loved Dorie's method of mixing everything in a food processor, and heating it in a saucepan. I have never seen another method like this, and the flavor and consistency really showed. This is phenomenal. I almost wish I knew about this a week earlier, because chocolate pudding pie is my dad's favorite, and it was his birthday last weekend. I'm going to have to make him a belated birthday cake!
Check out the rest of the Tuesdays with Dorie group for more great posts and pics!
![](<a href="http://twitter.com/sporkorfoon"><img src="http://www.twittericon.com/image/twitter18.png" title="By: TwitterIcon.com" border="0"/></a><br /><a href="http://twittericon.com">By TwitterIcon.com</a>){kind=link}
Teanna-you totally out did yourself on this one. Gorgeous presentation. This goes way beyong pudding-you made it grown up and gourmet. YUM!
Posted by: Erin | July 15, 2008 at 08:30 AM
Whoa, Baby, what an awesome idea. I do love a Nutella sandwich, too. My mom STILL puts a jar in my Christmas stocking. ;)
Posted by: Rebecca | July 15, 2008 at 08:34 AM
Wow...this is some spectacular dessert. I am sure you could get this onto a 5 star menu anytime. Nice job of presenting it so nicely and making it all sound good (okay, you know I don't like chocolate, but if I did, this would definitely be a winner...my family will love seeing these photos...oh, wait, better not do that or they will want ME to make this...a girl can take only so much chocolate). Great job, great photos, great write-up.
Posted by: Kayte | July 15, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Wow, that sounds and looks amazing! I'm a Nutella lover too, a restuarant around here serves a Nutella-Banana crepe that is to die for!
Posted by: April B | July 15, 2008 at 09:50 AM
OMG! This looks ab so lu te ly gorgeous!
Posted by: Ulrike | July 15, 2008 at 11:30 AM
OMG, that layered pudding looks phenomenal! Great idea and beautiful pics!
Posted by: Tammie | July 15, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Wow- what a great choice for all the flavors! Sounds delicious and looks sooo good!
Posted by: Mary Ann | July 15, 2008 at 12:36 PM
OMG (I sound like all your commenters.) I swear, I must have gained three pounds from that top photo!
Posted by: Madam Chow | July 15, 2008 at 12:41 PM
That layered glass looks so incredible! Great job!
Posted by: Holly @ PheMOMenon | July 15, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Ummm...yummmm! Looks wonderful!
Posted by: Melissa | July 15, 2008 at 02:53 PM
yum, pudding parfait!! :) looks gorgeous!
Posted by: kim | July 15, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Agreed. NEWtella is a separate food group. Love that stuff. Pudding looks fab. Great job!
Clara @ iheartfood4thought
Posted by: CB | July 15, 2008 at 03:28 PM
good lord that looks good. wow.
Posted by: Susan | July 15, 2008 at 05:13 PM
Wowwww...this looks SO good!
i loved how you added the cookies on top, looks like a perfect, and yummmy garnish!
Posted by: Bronte | July 15, 2008 at 07:49 PM
That looks incredible!
Posted by: Roni | July 15, 2008 at 08:16 PM
Your presentation is beautiful! Good job on the pudding! I love Nutella and have pasted on Nutella sandwiches to my little one to enjoy!
Posted by: Christine | July 15, 2008 at 09:09 PM
Nice flavour combos, espeically nutella! Thanks for you comment on my blog. Honestly, its been such a stressful time for me that I feel like I can't eat.. now even after seeing all the wonderful pudding pictures. Usually commenting on TWDs trigger a craving of sweets for me!
Posted by: Steph | July 15, 2008 at 09:17 PM
Great story! Your first picture is AMAZING!! Looks so, so, so delicious. I must admit, I've only recently been introduced to Nutella within the last few years. Tasty stuff! Good job.
Posted by: Pamela | July 15, 2008 at 09:18 PM
I'm so impressed! Three versions!! And oh, yeah, I love Nutella, too. Excellent job.
Posted by: Jayne | July 15, 2008 at 09:23 PM
yum! It looks delicious! Great job!
Posted by: Heather B | July 15, 2008 at 09:34 PM
very impressive with the three different flavors. great presentation, looks absolutely fantastic! :)
Posted by: Karen | July 15, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Your pudding parfait looks fabulous!
Posted by: Di | July 15, 2008 at 11:21 PM
The three different kinds of pudding was such a good idea! I'm going to have to try this sometime :)
Posted by: Rigby | July 16, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Wow that pudding parfait is fabulous! The chocolate wafers did me in;) great job!
Posted by: Laura | July 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Wow, that is the ultimate pudding parfait! It looks delicious!
Posted by: LyB | July 16, 2008 at 12:10 PM