World Nutella Day 2010 is finally here!!!
This is my second year participating in World Nutella Day. You must, must go visit the following sites for all the yummy recipes!
Miss Adventures in Italy http://msadventuresinitaly.com/blog/
Bleeding Espresso http://bleedingespresso.com/
Nutella Day http://www.nutelladay.com/
For weeks, I have been plotting how best to expend my Nutella Day calorie allotment! In the end, I had it narrowed down to 3 categories and thought I would wait until the day arrived to determine which recipe would best match the Nutella Day weather! Well, Nutella Day 2010 dawned chilly and cloudy with the threat of a northeast’er here in Pennsylvania. In a heartbeat, I knew how to warm the cockles of my Nutella craving soul – warm, creamy Nutella-filled Grand Marnier Ricotta Fritters. What better combination – chocolate, hazelnut, orange and ricotta…mmmmmm….and memories of making ricotta fritters with my mom on cold winter days. Nothing could improve upon my mom’s ricotta fritters – except the addition of Nutella. The infusion of orange with the ricotta make for a beautiful combination. The filling of Nutella takes the meltingly soft creamy insides to new culinary heights. Soooo worth the indulgence….Happy World Nutella Day, all!! Now…… I had better go wipe away my powdered sugar Nutella trail of fingerprints leading to my computer….
Nutella-filled Grand Marnier Ricotta Fritters
Ingredients:
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 pound ricotta
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier
4 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons orange zest
Pinch of salt
Vegetable or Canola oil for frying
Confectioner’s sugar, for dusting
Nutella (about 1/2 cup, depending on number of fritters)
Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, combine eggs, ricotta, sugar, flour, Grand Marnier, baking powder, orange zest and salt. Mix well.
2. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. Pour oil into a wide, shallow saucepan or Dutch oven (depth about 3 or 4 inches). Heat over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.
4. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, and fry a few at a time. Turn with skimmer mid-fry and fry until deep golden brown, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
5. Fill a pastry bag, fitted with a thin tip, with about 1/2 cup of Nutella. (Hint: Warm the Nutella in a microwave for a few minutes to soften a bit more.)
6. Fill each fritter with a dollop of Nutella :o)).
7. Place on a platter and dust generously with confectioner’s sugar.
8. Serve and enjoy!!!