You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream For Peanut Butter

Hopefully Ice Cream will forgive me for the post title - but ’tis true, just about everyone loves peanut butter. It seems that some of the best things in the world spring from a jar of pb - Peanut Butter cookies, Peanut Butter Fudge (Probably my biggest weakness of all desserts), Peanut Butter, Honey and Banana bagels, Peanut Butter cups, etc.

My favorite grocery store, Kroger, sends out a magazine/coupon magazine several times a year - “Home Basics” - It’s always full of great recipes, tips, and (best of all) coupons. With as much cooking as I do, every little bit helps. Sometimes I think I’m at Kroger more often than their workers are! But I cook every single day and prefer to do so with the freshest ingredients. I always feel like announcing, “I’m not stalking anyone, I’m just getting my food.”

Anyway, their most recent magazine had a section on Peanut Butter. The article pointed out how perfectly kids and peanut butter go together - and how it makes a perfect choice for serving at breakfast as well as in lunch boxes. It’s protein level is as high as a kid’s energy level, and can help fuel them through the day.

They gave a few healthy ideas for serving up PB - besides just sandwiches. Needless to say, these recipes aren’t just for kids - in fact, I can’t help thinking that it’s the rest of us who REALLY need the energy boost!

FOR BREAKFAST:

1. Stir creamy or chunky peanut butter in hot oatmeal. Experiment with extras like different jams, jellies, fruit and honey.

2. Blend Peanut Butter with milk and vanilla yogurt. Add ice and continue blending, for a Breakfast Smoothie.

3. I like to serve Peanut Butter on wheat muffins, bagels, or even toasted wheat bread. Then I’ll add sliced bananas and drizzle with honey. It’s really, really good - and surprisingly filling.

4. Something else I like in the morning is Peanut Butter spread over the top of a regular Granola Bar. Also good and filling

FOR LUNCH

1. Spread Peanut Butter on a whole wheat flour tortilla, add slices of apple, bananas, or pears and a little bit of honey. Roll the tortillas up, cut and serve.

2. Spread peanut butter onto bread - just like you’re making a typical, Leave it to Beaver-type sandwich. Then add thinly slice banana slices. Drizzle a little honey and put the bread slices together. Spray a skillet lightly with non-stick spray and heat. Now, grill the sandwich just like you were making a grilled cheese sandwich. When you’re through, slice and serve. These are especially good when served with your favorite soup.

SNACKS

1. I like to cut up apples and spread them with peanut butter - the combination’s almost as good that of bananas and PB.

2. On a serving plate, arrange 4 graham crackers. Drizzle with 1/4 cup melted Peanut Butter and 1/3 cup warm jelly, then top with 1/2 cup chopped fruit or nuts.

3. Celery spread with peanut butter is also a good snack…. and it has the added bonus of being a loud snack. That’s always fun.

A lot of people swear by the combination of raisins and Peanut Butter - and, frankly, I’m just going to take their word for it. Personally, I don’t allow my raisins out of cereal unless their flanked in chocolate. Lots of chocolate - so much that I forget there’s even a raisin inside.

And to prove that Peanut Butter has a wilder side, click HERE for an amazing Peanut Butter-Chocolate Parfait recipe.

Have a great weekend, and may you favorite football team win - unless they’re playing my Broncos…if that’s the case, may they embarass themselves mightily!
Joi