Allure Of Homemade

The resurgence of homesteading has many of us puttering around the kitchen canning, preserving, baking, and cooking many things from scratch. My parent’s generation rejoiced in the convenience of processed food and all the free time it afforded them to do so much more. It’s funny how things have come full circle and we’re now clamouring for all things homemade.

How far would you go to reach that elusive homemade label for what you put on the dining table? This week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe is Nutella Tartine. At its heart, we have a slice of butter toasted brioche topped with marmalade, Nutella, toasted hazelnut, and fleur de sel. It is so easy to put together that a kid can do it in less than five minutes for a quick afternoon snack. But we’re on the topic of making things from scratch, aren’t we? Do you bake your own loaf of bread? Grab a jar of marmalade from the larder that you lovingly canned at the height of citrus season? And that Nutella! Does it come from hazelnuts that you toasted and skinned and grinded with the best quality chocolate you can get your hands on? It’s amazing how a five-minute recipe can stretch into a multi-day cooking extravaganza.

I actually feel a little torn over the subject. Cooking brings me joy and a sense of satisfaction. As a computer programmer by trade, I long to make tangible things with my hands that I can see, smell, touch, and taste. I do not claim that the bread from my oven nor the marmalade that I canned are superior to the best examples that money can buy. You’ll never see me refuse a Poilâne miche or a jar of jam from Sarabeth! Having said that, bread baking and canning have weaved themselves into my daily life now. I don’t go out of my way to prepare my Nutella tartine from scratch. It just is. Much like someone who purchased bread, marmalade, and Nutella from a store, I simply grabbed my ingredients from the pantry because they’re there.

Brioche is obviously a tasty treat but it’s not the kind of bread I regularly bake. Was it Greenspan who called it an “elegant excuse to eat butter”? What I used instead is a hearty slice of Sour Cream Red Fife sandwich bread. It’s my latest favourite loaf bread because it slices like a dream. I adapted from Dan Lepard’s recipe using a mix of whole meal Red Fife flour and unbleached bread flour. There are numerous homemade Nutella recipes but I’m partial to this one David Lebovitz posted because of its use of milk chocolate. The milky mellow taste really appeals to me.

Greenspan’s recipe calls for brushing the bread with butter and broil to golden. We’re making toast, right? I’m sure it is delicious in its own right but a dry toast emerging from the toaster sounds perfectly fine to me. After all, I topped it with Meyer Lemon Lavender Marmalade in addition to all other goodies! I can’t say I missed the butter at all.

The verdict? This is really really good toast. It was my first taste of combining Nutella with bittersweet marmalade. I am also surprised how those thin drizzles can pack such a good punch. The crunchy hazelnuts and little hint of salt were nice touches but so integral to the enjoyment of this tartine. I am glad to find a new breakfast routine.

Since we coincided with Tuesdays With Dorie’s White Loaf this week and World Nutella Day last Sunday, I have a feeling there’ll be lots of reading for me to check out other blogger’s interpretation of this recipe. Come check it out!

In case you need ideas for what to do with that leftover bottle of Nutella, may I suggest these very seasonally appropriate Nutella Buckeyes? I bet your Valentine will be more than happy to get some!

Comments

[Adriana]

I admire you for putting together all the ingredients for your tartine. All the components sound wonderful. I also skipped the butter - and the bread. Hope your training is going well!

[Ei]

I'm in love with the idea of your lemon lavender marmalade. I hate orange marmalade, and it made me dislike this dish more than I would have with a different flavor. Your pick sounds lovely. I find it delightful that you had homemade versions of all the ingredients waiting for you in your pantry already, as opposed to making them specifically for this recipe. Perfect!

[Genkinaonna]

I've not tried to make my own nutella, but I certainly appreciate all the jars of jam and jelly I made last summer when I come across recipes like this one. It's all about having a well stocked pantry!

[CherTheDabbler]

I really enjoyed this post & can absolutely identify. I think sometimes it's nice to do things just because we can - personally, I find it very relaxing to spend the weekend in the kitchen exercising my brain in a way that doesn't involve Excel spreadsheets and tedious phone conferences.
And I love all the Dan Lepard recipes - I am really coming to appreciate his style.

[Lola]

Your bread looks wonderful...the whole thing looks wonderful!

[Candy]

I think our desire to make things from scratch is in response to the disconnect we have with almost everything in today's society. Homesteading allows us to exert control over something in a world that often feels out of control.

Having said that, I didn't make a thing for my tartine but enjoyed it immensely! I'm off to check out the lemon marmalade, sounds delicious.

[Nana]

I love all your homemade ingredients, each one looks better then the
other. Your tartine looks so delicious and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
An easy recipe with a lot of punch to it. This was definitely a hit in
both Tricia's house and mine.

[Patty]

The thickly sliced homemade bread does emphasis the bread and make more impact in the photo and of course the bread is what begins a tartine from the very important bottom up.
I like how you elevate each component of your tartine by showing possible ways it can be made to include such wonderful homemade ingredients.
I truly found your post this morning to be an inspiration, thanks for sharing;-)

[Frolicking Night Owl]

Looks delicious! I don't think I've ever tried lemon marmalade, but it sounds wonderful!

[Mary Hirsch]

First. your Post was just a wonderful read, especially since I am one of those "Baby Boomin'-I Can Bring Home The Bacon and Throw It In The Pan" women who loved to try all the convenience foods that were coming on the market. But, unlike many of my contemporaries, I also loved to cook. Time-constraints usually won out over totally homemade meals. Now that I have more time, I am so happily returning to throwin' it all in the pan or can or jar myself. From scratch is my watchword, slowly but surely. And, hats off to all you young, busy women who are making it happen in your lives NOW and coming up with such inspirational ideas. Thanks.

[Teresa]

The bread looks fantastic and I'm so impressed that you had homemade versions of all the ingredients to hand in your pantry. I love seeing the resurgence of homemade that's happening these days.

[Confessions of a Culinary Diva]

Interesting marmalade, sounds really tasty. Enjoyed this post. Growing up in Montana everything was home-made, then moving to California everything became store bought - for some reason my mother quit cooking period. Now I'm back to gardening, making things from scratch - sometimes successfully, sometimes a complete disaster, but always satisfying to do. So, do you think you could make a nutella like spread and leave the chocolate out

[Denise@There's a Newf in My Soup!]

Very impressive with your homemade ingredients, especially the Nutella! The flavors in your marmalade also sound amazing. Great post.

[Betsy]

I agree that it is so satisfying to make things from scratch, especially after a day in front of the computer. I made a different version of Nutella, but I'll have to try the one you used. Mine was tasty, but not at all spreadable. And, your other Nutella recipes will be inspiring for the leftover Nutella.

[Tricia S.]

This was such a joy to read - truly lovely post. I admire that you made these components from scratch and they look fantastic (stunning photos as always). I enjoy the hands on yet have done less and less of it as life picks up speed. This week was a truly quick hit as I made nothing, yet I can say that doing the recipe itself made me feel that I "took time to smell the flowers" where I would not have. But those flowers did have quite a few calories :) We did NOT skip the butter.....

[patty]

Hi Candy, I have an award for you on my blog, it's really just for your enjoyment,hopefully!, and just to let you know how much inspiration I found from your Nutella Tartine post!

[Acookingmizer.wordpress.com]

I try to make as much as I can at home, unless I'm in a hurry or just want to satisfy a craving :) ... Brioche is certainly not going to be a bread I bake often either, but this treat can be enjoyed on all sorts of different breads! :)

[Gina]

Candy, I love your bold use of the Meyer Lemon marmalade. There are somethings I wouldn't refuse store bought, but I like the satisfaction of making it myself too. Haven't tried making Nutella yet, but it's on my list.
-Gina-

[jora]

I'm so impressed that you made your own nutella. I looked at David Lebovitz's recipe but was worried I wouldn't be able to use it up in time...But you've made me want to try it.

[Beth]

Your tartine really looks delicious!

[Magic of Spice]

I stopped over from Patty's site...everything looks fantastic and so wonderful that you made them from scratch, beautiful!