For some people, Nutella -- a smooth chocolate-hazelnut spread found in the peanut butter aisle in most supermarkets -- is a nostalgic childhood treat. But I didn¡¯t taste it until college, when a friend who¡¯d been living in Europe introduced me to it, so I may always think of it as a more sophisticated sweet. The stuff from the jar is pretty darn good, although the fabulous pastry chef Gale Gand taught me how to make it from scratch, and that¡¯s now my favorite version. You can really taste the hazelnuts and feel some of their texture. I¡¯ve been known to eat it with a spoon, as anyone else who¡¯s honest will admit to doing.?-Christie Matheson