Chocolate Chickpea Hazelnut Spread Food

HAZELNUT-CHICKPEA-CHOCOLATE SPREAD

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse the hazelnuts until they form a fine meal. Add the chickpeas and process until combined. Add the coconut sugar, cocoa powder, oil, vanilla and 1/4 cup water and process until smooth.
• Serve the spread with strawberries, pretzels and/or graham crackers.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT SPREAD WITH CREPES

Steps:

• In a food processor, grind the hazelnuts into a paste. Add the oil, sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla and continue processing. Add the melted chocolate and blend well. Strain the mixture through a fine strainer to remove any large grains of nuts. The mixture will be thin and a little warm. Pour into a jar to let cool and thicken slightly. Keeps 1 month, covered, at room temperature.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Whisk in the salt, granulated sugar, and flour. Set aside for 30 minutes, if you have got the time. In a nonstick 8 to 10-inch omelet pan, melt about 1/2 teaspoon butter over medium heat. When it foams, pour or ladle in about 1/8 cup (2 tablespoons) batter. Lift and swirl the pan so the batter coats the bottom. Replace the pan on the burner and cook just until set and the underside is lightly browned. Using a spatula or your fingers, flip the crepe, and cook until the other side is lightly browned. Transfer to a platter. Repeat until the batter is used up.
• One by one, spread each crepe with a thin layer of the chocolate hazelnut spread, then some banana slices, and roll up like a cigar or fold into quarters. Place 2 crepes on each of 4 serving plates. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve.
• Notes about the recipe: While in Italy we discovered Nutella, a chocolate hazelnut spread that comes in a jar like peanut butter. We can't get enough of it but also have trouble finding it. So I figured out how to make my own! This recipe makes more hazelnut spread than you need but it keeps and is great to spread on toast, inside croissants or on brioche. I've even caught family members just spreading it on a banana as they peel it down, one schmear per bite.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly brush the inside of a 10-by-5-inch loaf pan with coconut oil and line with a strip of parchment paper. Set aside.
• Mash the bananas with the back of a fork in a large bowl until only a few lumps remain. Add the eggs and mix until smooth. Using the fork, whisk in the coconut oil, yogurt, sugar, salt and vanilla until smooth and incorporated. Add the flour and baking soda and use a rubber spatula to stir until combined, being careful not to overmix. Fold in the hazelnuts, if using, and the chocolate chips.
• Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Dollop half of the hazelnut spread over the top of the batter. Swirl the spread into the batter using the tip of a knife. Top with the remaining batter and repeat with the remaining hazelnut spread. Bake until the bread is firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with very few crumbs (the streaks of hazelnut spread will still be wet), 1 hour to 1 hour and 5 minutes. Allow to cool for 30 minutes in the pan.
• Turn the pan on its side and let rest an additional 30 minutes. Loosen the edges with a knife and remove to a wire rack to cool completely. The bread will keep for 4 days at room temperature.