Homemade Roasted Hazelnut Butter Food

THIS SIMPLE HAZELNUT BUTTER IS WAY HEALTHIER THAN NUTELLA

Steps:

• Place hazelnuts, salt, and cinnamon (if using) into a blender. Starting on the lowest speed and blend mixture until crumbly-about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Increase speed and blend about 1 to 2 minutes until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides with a rubber spatula as-needed.
• Use the rubber spatula to scoop hazelnut butter into an airtight container. Keep refrigerated.

HOMEMADE HAZELNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• To begin, roast the hazelnuts in the oven at 165ºC (fan assisted) for 15 minutes. Leave them to cool till warm-to-the-touch.
• Remove the skin from the hazelnuts. To remove the skins you can either simply scrunch them in your hands or bunch them up within a clean towel and rub between your hands. The skins will fall off the roasted nuts fairly easily, this way as the friction of the nuts rubbing together will cause the skins to loosen.
• Blend them in a high-speed processor/blender. It's best to do so at intervals so the nuts (and machine) don't overheat. The longer you blend the runnier the nut butter consistency will be. For a smooth runny hazelnut butter, blend for about 15 minutes with breaks every 2-3 minutes.
• Once the hazelnut butter is ready, simply transfer it to an airtight glass container and keep this in the fridge for 2-3 months or at room temperature for around a month.

GRITS AND ROASTED VEGETABLES WITH HAZELNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Adjust the oven racks to their top positions and preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Toss the squash, tomatoes, garlic and 2 sprigs thyme with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet, turning the tomatoes skin-side up. Toss the mushrooms with the remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the same bowl; spread on another baking sheet. Place the tomato mixture on the top rack and the mushrooms underneath and roast until the squash is tender, the tomatoes char and the mushroom edges are crisp, 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the grits, broth, milk, remaining 2 sprigs thyme, 1 tablespoon butter, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the cayenne pepper in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high, uncovered, for 16 minutes, stirring halfway through. (The grits should be fairly thick; if they're not, microwave up to 2 more minutes.) Remove and discard the thyme.
• Heat the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over low heat. Add the hazelnuts and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant and slightly brown, about 4 minutes. Whisk in the brown sugar and vinegar and remove from the heat.
• Divide the grits among 4 plates. Top each with a portion of the roasted vegetables and crumbled blue cheese. Drizzle with warm hazelnut butter sauce before serving.