Happy World Nutella Day (three days late)!

It was the summer of 2004 that I began my love affair with Nutella.

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(This is usually how Nutella jars look in our house.)

I was studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and the hotel where we were staying (called Hotel California, oddly enough, but that's another story) put out little packets of Nutella with their continental breakfast. So given a choice each morning, I opted for Nutella and toast. I seriously think I subsisted on Nutella, cappuccino, and gelato that summer. And maybe some pasta. Oh, to have that metabolism again!

Ever since then Nutella has been my little indulgence, a sweet reminder of my days spent in Italia. And I always LOVE trying new recipes that involve this chocolaty goodness - don't you?

Although World Nutella Day was technically on Sunday, February 5th, I thought I would join in the celebration (albeit tardily) and share my favorite Nutella recipe:

Giada's Chocolate Pizza!

(Recipe from the Food Network)

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Ingredients:

1 pound (homemade or purchased) pizza dough

2 teaspoons butter, melted

1/4 cup Nutella

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons milk chocolate chips

2 tablespoons white chocolate chips

2 tablespoons chopped hazelnuts, toasted

Position the oven rack on the bottom of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees. Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper and roll out the dough to a 9-inch-diameter round. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet. Using your fingers, make indentations all over the dough. Brush the dough with butter, then bake until the crust is crisp and pale golden brown, about 20 minutes. Immediately spread the chocolate-hazelnut spread over the pizza then sprinkle all the chocolate chips over. Bake just until the chocolate begins to melt, about 1 minute. Sprinkle the hazelnuts over the pizza. Cut into wedges and serve. 

Buon appetito!