March 1 National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day #PeanutButterLoversDay

I have a question for you. Did you know March 1 is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day #PeanutButterLoversDay. I think I may make Peanut Butter Cookies this evening then I can have a Cookie and a glass of Milk in the morning for breakfast. Would you like to join Charlie in his Homeschool Cooking Class as we prepare the cookies?

If for some reason I don’t get the Peanut Butter Cookies made then I will have a fold-over Peanut Butter Sandwich for a snack this evening. Although I also have Club Crackers if you would like to join me and we can have Club Crackers with Jiff Peanut Butter as a evening snack while watching a movie.

I’m excited to celebrate Peanut Butter Lovers Month which is the perfect time to satisfy your Peanut Butter cravings. Most people love a creamy Peanut Butter but sometimes people prefer crunchy Panut Butter. Which is why we need an entire month dedicated to Peanut Butter. Grab that jar of Peanut Butter in your cabinet or make Homemade Peanut Butter and have a snack.

HISTORY OF PEANUT BUTTER LOVER’S MONTH

The invention of Peanut Butter has long been falsely credited as belonging to George Washington Carver, who was an inventor and also a scientist determined to improve the welfare and nutrition of America’s farmers. This is partly because Mr. Carver was a huge proponent of Peanuts as a source of protein and energy, and created a list of foods and recipes for farmers to use that were centered around Peanuts. 

Did you know Carver did not actually invent Peanut Butter? By the time Carver was advocating for Peanuts as a supportive, alternative crop (around 1916), Peanut Butter had already been popularized. In fact, in 1840 a New Yorker named Rose Davis started making Peanut Butter after her son saw Cuban women grinding the Peanuts and spreading them on Bread. Additionally, evidence has surfaced that Aztecs may have even done something similar as early as the 15th Century. 

But, the first person credited with creating Peanut Butter was a French-Canadian man named Marcellus Gilmore Edson, who created Peanut Butter in 1884. Fourteen years later, Kellogg (the man of cereal fame) created the first streamlined process to mass produce Peanut Butter and it was quickly considered a snack for elite society members as Peanut Butter was served as a protein source in wealthier hospitals. Since then, Peanut Butter has grown to be more widely available, with PB&J becoming the official Sandwich of, well, everyone who wants a affordable, protein-filled snack. 

PEANUT BUTTER LOVERS MONTH ACTIVITIES

1. Peanut butter pairs well with tons of different foods, but the classic Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich reigns supreme. is king. Did you know I love Peanut Butter and even Jelly but I will not eat a PB&J Sandwich ever. How about you?
2. Today is the day to connect with others in your area and host a club that meets periodically to discuss recipes and all things relevant to Peanut Butter.

PEANUT BUTTER FACTS TO CHEW ON

1. Did you know the average American eats about three pounds of Peanut Butter per year.
2. Peanuts are actually legumes, not nuts.

WHY PEOPLE LOVE PEANUT BUTTER LOVERS MONTH

1. Whether you’re slathering Peanut Butter on your morning Toast or baking a late-night batch of sweet and crunchy PB Cookies, Peanut Butter is a ’round-the-clock treat.
3. Elvis ie The King couldn’t help falling in love with Peanut Butter and as a boy, Elvis’ favorite snack was mashed Peanut Butter and Banana on Toast.

Recipe for Homemade Peanut Butter

Ingredients

15 ounces shelled and skinned AB’s Roasted Peanuts, recipe follows

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons honey

1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil

Roasted Peanuts:

2 pounds in-shell raw peanuts (see Cook’s Note)

2 tablespoons peanut oil

1 to 2 tablespoons kosher salt

Directions

1. Place the peanuts, salt and honey into the bowl of a food processor. Process for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Place the lid back on and continue to process while slowly drizzling in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Place the peanut butter in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

Roasted Peanuts:

Yield: Approximately 2 pounds roasted peanuts in shell

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Rinse the peanuts under cool water to remove excess dirt. Pat dry and place in a large bowl and toss with the peanut oil and salt until well coated.
3. Place on 2 half sheet pans, making sure to spread them out into a single layer. Roast in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through cooking. Once you remove the peanuts from the oven, let them cool slightly before eating. They will continue to “cook” and become crunchy as they cool.
4. If using peanuts to make peanut butter, remove shells and discard. Remove the skin by rubbing the peanuts together in your hands held over a salad spinner, allowing the peanuts and skins to fall into the bowl. Once the skin has been loosened from all of the peanuts close the salad spinner and spin until all of the skin has been separated from the peanuts.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates