The Peanut Butter Blog

The Perils of the Peanut Butter Kid

2009-10-29T12:38:00.004-04:00

Cynthia Kagan Frohlichstein was inspired to write The Perils of the Peanut Butter Kid by her own son's love of peanut butter. Elmer, the main character, could just as easily been based on me! This is a delightful, award-winning book, perfect for peanut butter lovers of all ages. I'm looking forward to Frohlichstein's next book, The Perils of the Peanut Butter Dog. You can find more about Elmer and his peanut butter troubles at Perils of the Peanut Butter Kid and PeanutButterLady.

Deskins Candies Peanut Butter Pinwheels

2009-09-26T23:28:00.003-04:00

photo © 2006 Deskins Wholesale

I stumbled on to these candies while shopping at my local Kroger. The packaging was simple, single color printing on the label over a clear plastic carton. It caught my attention right away--the candies are so visually enticing! The label stated the candies were made by a small, family-run business. I had to bring them home with me, and I'm so glad I did--they are delicious.

The main ingredient is peanuts, always a plus as far as I'm concerned. The peanut buttery part of these candies is smooth, creamy, and rich. The white colored part of the pinwheels are firmer and lighter tasting, a perfect contrast of flavors and textures.

If you can't find these candies at your local supermarket, try Deskins website. You'll be glad you did!

Peanut Butter Ring

2009-09-15T16:26:00.003-04:00

Just when I thought I'd seen all the peanut butter jewelry possible I came across this darling ring. It's actually part of a set of peanut butter and jelly best friend rings created with polymer clay at Pumpkin Pye Boutique. If the rings aren't enough for you, there's a nice selection of pendants, necklaces, even keychains!

Peanut Butter Whoppers

2009-08-14T01:07:00.003-04:00

Finally! After surgery to remove an arthritic bone at the base of my thumb, I'm feeling better enough to do all the things I've had to ignore the past several months. My terrific find today is Peanut Butter Whoppers--something that I didn't expect to like much, but one bite and I'm hooked! They're almost a candy version of Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch cereal, lots of peanut butter flavor with an underlying taste of malt.

I've finished my box but will be replacing it quickly because I've found two yummy-sounding cookie recipes I'm dying to try. The first is Peanut Butter Whopper Cookies on a terrific food blog, But Mama, I'm Hungry! The second cranks the cookies up a notch in an effort to create a cookie version of a fluffernutter. I found it at Picky Palate, another wonderful food blog.

Luxurious Peanut Butter Cookie Scented Lotion

2009-05-01T00:41:00.003-04:00

What a wonderful treat for your skin and your nose! Enriched with aloe, vitamin E, and almond oil, the yummy scent of peanut butter cookies fills the air as you open the jar. The lotion is actually a little darker in color than in this photo, almost a peanut butter color. You really ought to try some of Dawn Da Nut's Peanut Butter Cookie Lotion--your skin (and your nose) will love you for it!

Nice Source of Peanut Butter Treat Recipes

2009-04-27T19:47:00.003-04:00

The Peanut Butter Treats lens on Squidoo has a nice collection of cake, cookie, brownie, and cupcake recipes. The Peanut Butter 'N' Jelly Cake recipe looks like one my mom made when I was young, and I loved it! Our recipe has since disappeared, so I'll be trying this one out soon. I'm also looking forward to trying out the Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes I found there--they look delicious!

The lens is missing a few categories but it looks like a new lens, so maybe they'll add candies, pies, and more soon. (Lens master, if you're reading this, consider it a request from a new fan!)

Peanut Butter Recall Updates

2009-02-16T10:56:00.002-05:00

It's difficult to keep up with which foods are safe and which ones have been recalled. I found this nifty widget at the FDA--it makes keeping up a lot easier!

FDA Product Recall List

I Did Not Run Out of Peanut Butter!

2009-01-09T11:36:00.002-05:00

For those of you placing odds on whether I ran out of peanut butter goodness, the answer is absolutely not! I was a bit overwhelmed with filling orders during the holiday shopping frenzy and working in a couple of physical therapy visits each week. The shopping frenzy has quieted somewhat, and I graduated from PT this week (yippee!). There's a wide world of unexplored peanut buttery delights out there, and I'll get back to sharing them with you in a few days.

Naturally More Peanut Butter

2008-11-23T22:37:00.004-05:00

The kind folks at Naturally More sent me a jar of their peanut butter to try. I have to admit I was skeptical, after all their tag line is "what peanut butter should be," and that's a pretty tall order to fill.

Naturally More contains 25% more protein and 50% more fiber than regular peanut butter. They've added egg whites, wheat germ, and flax seed. That sounds healthy, but not necessarily yummy.

After stirring the peanut butter I gave it my knife test: does the peanut butter drip off the knife because it's got a bit too much oil? Yep. Runny peanut butter is never a happy thing for me.

I struggled to keep an open mind, and took out a spoon for a straight-from-the-jar test. Gritty. Again, not a happy thing for me. But the flavor was good! And in spite of the unpleasant texture, there's something compelling, almost addictive, about the flavor. I usually save good-tasting but bad-textured peanut butter for baking, but I've eaten almost half of the jar with a spoon.

The fact that it's full of flax seed and flax oil is a huge plus. Highly recommended as a mega-food, people add flax to their diet to boost their immune systems, fight cancer, and improve cardiovascular health. I'll be buying a replacement jar of Naturally More soon. I might try the organic variety, and they also have an almond butter product. I didn't expect it to work out this way, but I'm such a fan now I may spring for one of each!

Stealing Peanut Butter From the Dead

2008-11-17T21:32:00.000-05:00

British comedian Russell Brand has admitted to grave robbing. Did he take something valuable? Jewelry perhaps? No.

During his recent appearance on the Late Show, he told host David Letterman that he took peanut butter from the grave site of writer Jack Kerouac. "Around his grave were all manner of tributes left by well-wishers. Some people had left things like a book of poems or flowers, more conventional, but someone had left a jar of peanut butter. That's no use to you in the afterlife, is it? I was hungry. I took it. I asked the crew, 'is that respectful to steal from a grave?' I was able to argue that in the spirit of the beat, in the spirit of rebellion and revolution he wouldn't mind if I had that peanut butter. So I took it."

Peanut Butter and Jelly Pizza

2008-11-15T22:50:00.004-05:00

These peanut butter and jelly pizzas are so easy to make a child can do it--and things always taste better if you make them yourself!

We used Mama Mary's prepared individual size pizza crusts, spread them with peanut butter and then jelly, popped them in the oven for about 6 minutes, and it was time for the pizza party!

These are also delicious with chocolate chips sprinkled over the top--both instead of and in addition to the jelly!

Krema Natural Creamy Peanut Butter

2008-11-12T21:20:00.002-05:00

Krema has been making peanut butter for over 100 years. The ingredients are: peanuts. That's it--no salt, oil, sugar, or any of the really bad stuff. A number of people have recommended that I try it, and it sounded like a winner. I hate to admit it, but I think I may have found a peanut butter I don't much care for. The flavor is terrific, and I love the absence of extra ingredients. It's the texture that bothers me: it doesn't feel good straight off the spoon. There's a gritty sort of texture, and although it disappears if you bake it into a recipe, I can't open a jar without sneaking a spoonful for a snack.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls

2008-11-10T23:43:00.003-05:00

Last week I got to wear my wicked stepmother hat the entire week, and one of the "mean and dreadful" things I subjected my little darlings to was making and eating these no-bake cookies. The kids thought these were not only easy to make but fun, and of course they loved eating them. I'm really gonna have to work on the wicked part; apparently I'm not very good at it.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls

1 c. powdered milk
1 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. honey

Mix everything in a large bowl and roll into bite-size balls. Store in the refrigerator.

You can toss in a handful of mini chocolate chips or raisins before rolling into balls if you like. You can roll the balls in powdered sugar, or decorate with mini chocolate chips if you want to be a bit fancy. Stack a few and make a peanut butter snowman!

Guest Post by Diana of Diana's Daily Ramblings

2008-11-08T20:03:00.002-05:00

Here is a yummy recipe using peanut butter submitted by Diana at Diana's Daily Ramblings.

Diana is a creative, crafty work from home mom who likes to create quick and easy meals that are within her budget. Her family lived in Malaysia in 2001 and enjoyed Chicken Satay and other recipes made with peanuts. She has taken these Beef Satay Patties to a potluck and it got rave reviews. Try it out and let Diana know what you think of the recipe!

Beef Satay Patties
~2.25 lbs of lean Ground Beef
1 Tablespoon Corn Meal
1.5 teaspoons Sesame Oil
3 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
2-3 cloves Garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon grated Ginger (or Ginger Powder)
3/4 cup Peanut Butter
1.5 teaspoons Sugar

Mix all ingredients. I have found that just digging in and using my hands works best. It will look like this.

Make large meatball-patties and put them on a cookie sheet. I prefer to use a broiler pan so that any fat from the meat drips down.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 15-20 mins. Serve over rice. The meatballs look dry and plain, but they taste divine!

BONUS: Not only do they make a good lunch the next day, they still taste GREAT!

Peanut Butter and JellyFish Plush Toy

2008-11-06T22:44:00.003-05:00

This is another one of those finds that's got me giggling non-stop. It's a Peanut Butter and JellyFish Sandwich Plush Toy from San Diego artist Mandy Jouan. Handcrafted in felt and fleece, it's sure to bring smiles wherever you play with it. Visit her Sappy Moose Tree shop for more fun and quirky items.

OOPS! A Glitch with Guest Bloggers

2008-11-05T22:35:00.002-05:00

I've just discovered that many of the emails I've sent to you, oh very kind prospective guest bloggers, have been disappearing into the vast void of cyberspace. This problem has also reared its ugly head with many of the emails that have been sent to me.

I apologize if you thought I was ignoring you. And I know you weren't ignoring me. (If you were, we can pretend, OK?)

So here's the new plan: I will attempt to contact everyone who left a comment experssing interest in doing a guest post one more time. If you're reading this and haven't heard from me, go ahead and send me your post. Make sure you include a photo or two if you have 'em, and links to your blog or site. A one- or two-sentence bio blurb would be terrific. Email everything to me at luckygirltrading at yahoo.com. If you don't hear from me within 24 hours or so, leave a comment asking whether I have your post--because most likely I don't.

Back to our regular peanut butter fun tomorrow!

Win a Family Vacation from Skippy

2008-11-02T22:35:00.003-05:00

Skippy Peanut Butter is having a terrific promotion. The grand prize is a 4-day/3-night trip for four (4) to Cedar Point, Ohio. Trip includes round-trip coach class air transportation from the major United States airport nearest to Grand Prize Winner's home to destination city, three (3) nights sponsor-selected hotel accommodations (based on quad occupancy), four (4) days' admission tickets for four (4) people to Cedar Point Amusement Park, four (4) days' admission tickets for four (4) people to Soak City Amusement Park, and $2,000 spending money awarded in the form of a check (ARV: $7,200). First prize is A Charlie Brown Christmas on DVD.

Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are 13 years of age and older. No purchase necessary, and you can enter once each day through December 31, 2008.

November is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month

2008-11-01T21:26:00.004-04:00

The best way I know to celebrate this month-long holiday is by eating peanut butter every day. Now that I think about it, I pretty much do that anyway, so I guess I should come up with some other ways to celebrate. Here's a partial list of ideas:

Try a new peanut butter recipe.
Share my love of peanut butter with a friend or neighbor.
Create an amazing sculpture with peanut butter dough.
Make my own peanut butter.

Please help me add to this list! How will you celebrate Peanut Butter Lovers Month?

Have a Peanut Butter-licious Halloween

2008-10-31T16:42:00.003-04:00

These cute little pumpkins are easy to make and absolutely delicious! Just melt a package of peanut butter chips, mix with a can of vanilla frosting, and add a few drops of orange food coloring. Take a small piece of the dough and add green food coloring. Cover the dough and chill for about an hour. Roll the orange dough into balls and draw the pumpkin "seams" with a toothpick. Use the green dough to make stems and press them lightly on top of the pumpkins. If you're feeling the need to create jack-o'-lanterns, you can add some mini chocolate chip eyes and teeth.

The Creamy Peanuts Winner

2008-10-29T18:39:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to micaela6955 of Creative Writings 101! If you haven't seen her blog, click on over and scroll down a bit--the photo of the pumpkin is too funny!

We're all looking forward to her review of this yummy-looking candy, and I hope to be better at posting in the meantime. Sorry for the lack of exiting stuff, it's been a bad week here. Tomorrow is another day, right?

Vintage Reese's Coffee Mug

2008-10-25T20:57:00.002-04:00

How awesome would it be to drink your morning coffee from this vintage mug?!! I found it on eBay, and from the photos and description it seems to be in new condition. It's listed as a pre-1970s item, but I haven't been able to find out what year these were made.

GIVEAWAY! Creamy Peanuts from Sugar Dreams bakery

2008-10-22T21:34:00.004-04:00

Made from scratch by Stacie of Sugar Dreams Bakery, these Creamy Peanut candies could be yours! Creamy Peanut Butter and Merckens Chocolate combine to make a wonderful little taste treat for peanut butter lovers, and I'm drooling just typing the description.

I haven't had the chance to try these little bits of peanut buttery goodness yet, so I'm going to let the winner of this giveaway write a review and post it here.

Here's how to enter:
1. You must have a U.S. mailing address and be willing to provide it in the event you are the winner.
2. Visit Sugar Dreams Bakery and look at the mouth-watering assortment of treats. Then come back here and leave a comment telling why you should be the person to guest post this review.
3. Get a second entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog, linking to this post and to Sugar Dreams Bakery, and leave a second comment here with the URL of your post.
4. Get another entry by making a purchase from Sugar Dreams Bakery, and posting a separate comment here with the transaction number.
5. Comments will be accepted through October 28, 2008.
6. On October 29 I'll use the randomizer to select a winner, and notify you via email or comment on your blog. Make sure that there is a link to your Blogger profile, blog, or email address with your comments.

Exclusive Discount for Peanut Butter Blog Readers

2008-10-21T20:34:00.003-04:00

You all remember the You're the Peanut Butter to My Jelly card, right? Sarah (of Sarah Marie Stationery & Wrap) was so taken with your lovely comments that she's offering 25% off of the PB&J card and 15% off everything else in her Etsy store to everyone who reads this blog! Just enter "PBBLOG" in the buyer's comments when you checkout through Etsy.

Guest Post by Kim from Kimmi's Krazy World

2008-10-20T22:45:00.000-04:00

Our Family Couldn’t Live Without Peanut Butter!

We go through a huge jar of peanut butter about every 3 weeks. It’s always Peter Pan Creamy … that’s our favorite! My husband has a PB sandwich almost everyday of the week for lunch. You would think that would get old … but not to him. On top of that, he eats it sometimes at night on graham crackers or in a milkshake. Anything with PB in it is his favorite dessert. He has kidney stones, which PB is bad for … but he eats it anyway!

Our dog Noel even gets treated every morning with a spoonful of peanut butter. She won’t take her pill unless it is wrapped in a big lump of peanut butter. Trust me, I’ve tried to wrap it in something else and she just snarls her nose and walks away.

Now as for me…. I love peanut butter, but maybe not quite as much as those two. However, I do use it for more than just eating. Some wonderful tricks I have learned to use peanut butter for are: Getting chewing gum out of my daughter’s hair, baiting a mouse trap, removing glue from fabric, and my all time favorite is adding a spoonful of it to a pan after frying fish … it absorbs the smell that usually stays in your house forever!

Our favorite peanut butter recipe is the Peanut Butter Crunch Bars. They are so simple and easy to make. They never last more than an hour in our house.

Peanut Butter Crunch

1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup white sugar
1 cut smooth peanut butter
10 cups cornflake cereal

Cook syrup and sugar until mixture comes to a boil. Stir constantly. Remove from heat and add peanut butter. Stir until smooth. Pour mixture over cornflakes in a large bowl. Mix until the cereal is thoroughly coated. Then spread in a buttered 9x13 inch pan and press down lightly. When it cools, cut into squares.

I hope you have enjoyed my guest post for The Peanut Butter Blog.
Please remember to check out my blogs at
www.kimmiskrazyworld.com
www.talktimewithkim.com
www.kimskountrykitchen.com

And the Winner is ...

2008-10-19T21:07:00.003-04:00

Angel from Nytro Girl! The Powers That Be--also known as the randomizer thingie--have chosen her to win the very sweet You Are The Peanut Butter To My Jelly card from Sarah Marie Stationery & Wrap.

If you didn't win this time, you can shop to your heart's content--Sarah Marie has a ton of really cute things!

Our PB2 Winners

2008-10-18T18:52:00.006-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I try to get in a minimum of one post every other day, but I started physical therapy and it's really kicked my butt. Too bad they haven't discovered a peanut butter cure for arthritis--maybe one day.

Here's the picks from the randomizer:

Congrats to Dee from Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House and Mike from Rambling Stuff. Go check out their blogs if you have a minute, and feel free to express your jealousy at their wins.

There's still a few hours left to enter the giveaway for the You're the Peanut Butter to My Jelly card, so enter now if you haven't already.

I've got some terrific posts lined up for next week, including another fabulous giveaway.

*************UPDATE***************

Unfortunately Mike won't be able to receive his peanut butter. Poor fellow--but that means we have a new lucky winner! It's echoeve from Echo Kirkland! Go check out her blog, and make sure you scroll down a bit for some bizarre and creepy art.

Peanut Butter and Jelly for Your Dolls

2008-10-15T12:47:00.003-04:00

I know that many of you have been worrying about the scarcity of peanut butter for your dolls and stuffed toys compared to the abundance of PB products for humans. Worry no more! I found this cute set of miniatures on eBay. Made to a 1:12 scale, it's perfect to adorn the table in a dollhouse or Barbie's lunch. (Dime not included.)

Guest Post by Christine from The Power of Housewife Word of Mouth

2008-10-13T07:24:00.000-04:00

Growing up we were always a two-jars-of-peanut butter family. I have always loved creamy, while my sister Jen is a crunchy peanut butter lover. One summer we went to my grandmother's on Long Island, New York, to spend a few weeks with her, and my sister was overjoyed to see crunchy peanut butter in her pantry.

The next day at lunch she made herself a sandwich using the jar provided and also a jar of strawberry preserves (with whole strawberries). It was one huge gloppy mess. She took one large bite, and then looked a little puzzled as she crunched.

The next thing we knew she looked at the sandwich and started screaming. There were some sort of small bugs nesting throughout the peanut butter! She ran right to the restroom and up came her entire lunch. When we took a closer look at grandma's peanut butter, it was over four years past the due date! The rest of the afternoon we spent clearing out grandma's cupboards and throwing out food and such past due, and of course headed right for the grocery store to restock her shelves.

From then on Jen has been a creamy peanut butter eater like me. Just the thought of crunchy turns her green to the gills.

Visit Christine at http://housewifewom.blogspot.com/

GIVEAWAY! Say It With Peanut Butter

2008-10-11T23:52:00.003-04:00

I love being able to include peanut butter in parts of my life where it's least expected, and this artisan-created card is perfect. I found it at Sarah Marie Stationery & Wrap. It's an original illustration letterpressed with soy-based ink on 100% cotton paper, complete with coordinating envelope.

This little sweetheart of a card can be yours. Take a look around Sarah Marie Stationery & Wrap (she's got some lovely things besides this card) then leave a comment here by midnight on October 18, 2008, telling us who's the peanut butter to your jelly. Make sure that your comment includes a link to your Blogger profile, your blog, or your email address so I can contact you if you're a winner. You must have a U.S. mailing address to enter. On October 19 I'll use that randomizer thingie and choose a winner.

Want an extra chance to win? Blog about this giveaway, linking to both this post and Sarah Marie Stationery & Wrap, then post a second comment here.

GIVEAWAY! PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter: The Best Thing Since PB in a Jar

2008-10-10T20:27:00.007-04:00

I first heard about PB2 powdered peanut butter from Lady Rose at The Diet Pulpit. She said it was really good, and I have to admit I didn't think I'd agree with her. Seriously, powdered peanut butter that you mix with water, with most of the fat removed? How good could that be?

Well, Lady Rose was absolutely right--this stuff is good. Really good! As in blindfold a few people and let them do a taste test, and PB2 will win. The folks at Bell Plantation have perfected a way to remove 85 percent of the fat calories from peanut butter, while keeping the peanutty-good taste. It looks, and tastes, like really good peanut butter.

Mix a single serving in about 30 seconds, and save yourself a ton of calories and fat. And lucky me--they've just introduced Chocolate PB2! This has a delicious milk chocolate and peanut butter flavor. It's amazing on toast. And bagels. And a spoon.

If you've been avoiding peanut butter because of its calorie load or fat content, this is the solution. If you haven't been avoiding peanut butter--and I certainly haven't--it's still the answer.

The exciting news is that Bell Plantation has given me a jar of regular PB2 and a jar of Chocolate PB2 to give away on this blog! To enter:

1. You must have a U.S. mailing address.
2. Leave a comment on this blog stating which flavor (regular or chocolate) you would like most if you win. Make sure I can follow a link to your Blogger profile or your blog, or leave an email address with your comment.
3. Earn a second entry by blogging about this giveaway, including a link to this post, and leaving a second comment here directing me to your post.
4. Comments will be accepted through October 17, 2008.

On October 18 I'll use that randomizer thingie to select two winning numbers. The first number it selects will receive their first choice of PB2 flavor. The second number it selects will receive the remaining jar.

The Mystery Photo Was . . .

2008-10-08T11:16:00.005-04:00

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Tapioca Pudding! Congrats to Reeni who had the first correct answer. Go check out the beautiful pumpkin cakes on her blog--they look delicious.

I seem to crave comfort food in the fall, and this fits the bill.

Ingredients
1 egg, beaten
1/3 c. sugar
3 TBSP Minute Tapioca
3 c. skim milk
2 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla

Mix egg, sugar, tapioca, and milk in a large microwavable bowl. Add chocolate and peanut butter but don't try to mix. Let bowl stand for 5 minutes. Microwave on high for 2 minutes; stir. Repeat microwaving and stirring until the mixture comes to a full boil. Stir in vanilla and refrigerate.

You can also cook this on the stove over medium heat, stirring constantly until it comes to a full boil.

Guess the Photo Contest

2008-10-07T00:54:00.001-04:00

If you're looking at this photo and wondering what my camera has captured, know that I'm giggling just thinking about it.

This is a close-up of something I made. Be the first to leave a comment correctly identifying this concoction and you win!

What do you win? Well, along with all the fame associated with winning on The Peanut Butter Blog, I'll also send you one peanut butter cookie soap from Sugarlane Soaps. That's one cookie, not one batch of soap--sorry, these are too much fun for me to part with an entire order.

This competition is open worldwide. Make sure to leave a way to contact you with your comment: either a link to your Blogger profile, a URL, or an email address.

Here's a hint to get you started: this contains peanut butter. Hope it helps!

Who Won?

2008-10-06T19:41:00.003-04:00

The lucky winner of the Van Vacter PBJ Bagel Knife is Topher! That guy makes some seriously yummy-sounding (and looking!) food, so maybe if we all start reading his blog we can convince him to start updating it again.

I've got another giveaway coming up later this week, so make sure you come back to check it out. Better yet, click on one of the subscribe options in the upper right corner and you won't miss a single delicious drop!

Peanut Butter Jar Safes Are Not So Safe

2008-10-03T19:01:00.006-04:00

I've heard of people who use empty jars and cans to stash valuables, hiding them in their kitchens next to real food to fool thieves. This guy, however, went a bit over the top with that idea. According to the Forest City, Arkansas, Times-Herald:

A trooper with Arkansas State Police arrested a Texas man Thursday after finding drugs hidden inside a jar of peanut butter. According to an arrest report, troopers stopped Cyrus David Gharbi, 24, of Arlington, Texas, just before 1 p.m., near the 246 eastbound mile marker on Interstate 40.

The trooper stopped the vehicle after noticing that Gharbi’s license plate expired earlier this week, and during the stop, Gharbi consented to a search of the vehicle. During the search, troopers found a jar of peanut butter which contained not only peanut butter but also about 220 hydrocodone and oxycontin pills in a plastic wrapper hidden inside the jar.

The Most Creative "Peanut Butter"

2008-09-30T01:30:00.000-04:00

HeHeHeHe. I can't stop giggling over this. Butter-colored clay shaped to look like a peanut, then wrapped in a (margarine and butter-ish spreads count, right?) butter wrapper. You could have so much fun with this sitting on your desk! It functions as a desk toy, paperweight, conversation piece, or object d'art, and it would make a terrific gift for a co-worker or fellow peanut butter lover.

This hand-crafted original piece of art is from Amanda's Shop of Random Things. Check out her shop, you're sure to find something to get your giggles jump-started.

Peanut Butter. HeHeHeHe.

A GIVEAWAY! My New Favorite Gadget: The Van Vacter PBJ Bagel Knife

2008-09-28T19:38:00.005-04:00

The Peanut Butter Man and I have a long-standing disagreement about the best way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He uses a butter knife to spread the jelly on one slice of bread, then cleans the knife on the other slice of bread before dipping it in the peanut butter. I spread the peanut butter first, then stick the knife back into the peanut butter to get a little snack to tide me over until my sandwich is ready. Then I tip the jelly jar and usually it drips some out on top of the peanut butter, or if it needs a bit of help I'll grab a spoon. I'll smear the jelly around with my freshly-licked knife, cut the sandwich in half, and enjoy my little bit of heaven.

I have to admit, when I first saw this knife I was skeptical. Let's face it, there are new gadgets and gizmos every day, all proclaiming to be the most awesome things since sliced bread, and most of them end up either in the trash or forgotten in the junk drawer.

After just one use I was hooked. This knife is amazing! Its wavy blade makes it the perfect tool with runny peanut butter--no more drips all over the outside of the jar or on my plate. It works great with cold, stiff peanut butter from the fridge, too. No need for jelly spoons--it holds the jelly just as well as it holds the runny peanut butter.

I love the tip of the knife because it's the perfect shape for scraping the last bits of goodness from the bottom of the jar. The serrated edge cut through soft white bread as neatly and easily as it cut through a bagel. And the handle is perfect: not slippery, not heavy, not too skinny. This knife is also awesome for cream cheese, mayonnaise, or just about anything else you might want to spread on bread.

You can see more about this knife and the complete line of Van Vacter products on their website. If I've convinced you that you can't make it through another PB&J without one of these knives, you can get them from Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma, and Broadway Panhandler.

I'm very excited because Van Vacter gave me a knife to give away to one of you! Here's how to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post telling how you make a PBJ
2. You must have a mailing address in the U.S.
3. Earn a second entry by blogging about this giveaway, including a link back to this post; and leave a second comment here with the URL of your post
4. Comments can be posted through October 5, 2008. On October 6 I'll use the randomizer thingie and select a winner.

And the Winners Are . . .

2008-09-26T19:59:00.003-04:00

Today's the big day: two of you lucky readers will be receiving a batch of delicious peanut butter cup shortbread, compliments of Cookies by Kristin. The randomizer thingie chose numbers 8 and 17. Congratulations to Fringies and Beaded Tail!

For those of you who weren't so lucky this time, head on over to Cookies by Kristin and order some shortbread. You won't be sorry! (And if by chance you are, please feel free to send the shortbread along to me and I will be more than happy to enjoy it on your behalf!)

Award Time

2008-09-24T23:09:00.003-04:00

I am embarrassingly behind on acknowledging rewards. The Brillante Weblog Premio 2008 Award was given to us by Three Fates Design. If you haven't visited this blog, you're missing out on some amazing eye candy!

Fringies also passed this award along to us! The photos of her kids are adorable. And she has a delicious peanut butter cookie recipe posted--it's worth clicking and copying!

Zip 'n' Tizzy was kind enough to bestow this award on us. There's always something there to make me smile, so click on over and have a look. I love the header photo with kids playing in boxes!

I am honored, thrilled, and totally tickled to receive these awards! Thank you!

Peanut Butter and . . . Greeting Cards

2008-09-22T19:07:00.003-04:00

Partial to marshmallow with your PB? Or is bacon more your style? This unique set of 4 greeting cards let you choose the right PB combo for your recipient. The set includes one card each of grapes, banana, marshmallow, and bacon. Printed from original art by Wind Up Bird Studios, the cards come with envelopes suitable for mailing. The cards are 100% mouldmade alpha-cellulose paper and have a soft felt finish, ideal for pen, ink, watercolor and other mediums. They're deckled on four sides, giving each card a soft and sophisticated look. Each card is left blank inside for you to personalize your message. What a delicious way to say "Hello!", "I Miss You," or whatever might be on your mind.

Using The Presidential Election to Sell Candy

2008-09-20T16:06:00.004-04:00

The L.A. Burdick Company is marketing two collections of chocolate candies with a presidential campaign theme. Their McCain Campaign Chocolates include peanut butter half moons covered in milk chocolate--the only peanut butter candy in either collection. As I write this, the McCain candy is running a distant second to the Obama Campaign Collection (which of course contains no peanut butter). You gotta wonder, are peanut butter lovers that severely outnumbered, or are shoppers trying to make a political statement? Hmmm.

Peanut Butter Cup Shortbread Giveaway

2008-09-18T23:17:00.004-04:00

Cookies by Kristin is a new shop on Etsy--just about one month old--but I'm hooked already! These peanut butter cup shortbread cookies are baked fresh when you place your order and then shipped Priority Mail so you get them quickly. Melt-in-your-mouth delicious, I could easily down half an order with my morning coffee. At $6/dozen, that makes this the best $3 breakfast I've ever had. And for that matter, the best shortbread cookies I've ever had. They're good for late night snacks, too. And mid-afternoon snacks. And dessert.

Kristin is not only an awesome baker, she's also very generous. She's giving away a dozen fabulous peanut butter cup shortbread cookies to two separate winners! Here's how to enter:

1. You must have a U.S. mailing address.
2. Have a look at Cookies by Kristin, then come back here and leave a comment telling what flavor of shortbread cookie you'd love to see in her shop next. (I'm hoping for a peanut butter and strawberry combo, sort of a PBJ flavor!)
3. Earn an extra entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog, with links to both this post and to Cookies by Kristin; then leave a second comment on this post letting us know where to find your post.
4. Earn a third entry by making a purchase from Cookies by Kristin, and comment here with your transaction number.
5. Make sure there is a link to your blog or an email address accompanying your comment so that I can contact you if you're a winner.
6. September 25, 2008, is the last date to comment. On September 26 I'll use that randomizer thingie to select the winners.

I've been busy lining up more terrific giveaways, so come back soon and see what else I'm giving away!

Grow Your Own Peanut Butter

2008-09-16T20:14:00.003-04:00

I always thought of peanuts as warm-climate plants that need a huge amount of growing space. Seems I wasn't exactly right--good news for all of you! They've been found growing high in the Andes mountains, and they're even grown commercially in Canada. You can grow them in a child's plastic wading pool and even in a deep plastic dishpan on your patio or balcony.

The Mother Earth News has a terrific article on growing peanut plants, complete with resources for seeds. I've got to measure my back yard now to see how many peanut plants I can fit there next spring. It's never too early to start planning, right?

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Peanut Butter

2008-09-14T21:08:00.002-04:00

I tried PB Loco's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Peanut Butter today. WOW.

This stuff is so rich I had to take my sandwich apart and spread some of the peanut butter onto a new piece of bread. It's delicious. The ultimate comfort food. And it would be amazing over vanilla ice cream.

I could go on and on about how much I love this peanut butter, but I'm going to make another Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Peanut Butter sandwich now.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Hairpins

2008-09-13T01:01:00.000-04:00

Handcrafted with love from polymer clay, two PBJ sandwich halves adorn 2" silver-toned hairpins. With creamy peanut butter on one slice of white bread and grape jelly on the other, these hair accessories are simply sweet! Get yours at mack on Etsy, $6.
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Perfect Peanut Butter Journal

2008-09-11T12:20:00.002-04:00

If you've been hunting for the perfect thing to chronicle your peanut butter experiences, search no more! This 6.5" x 8.5", 50-sheet/100-page recycled notebook is practically calling for your peanut butter notes. Recipes, flavors, doodles--it can handle them all. Get it at Ivy Lane Designs.

Win a Jar of P.B. Loco

2008-09-09T10:00:00.003-04:00

Kristle at Stir-Crazy! is giving away 3 jars of P.B. Loco peanut butter. I love every flavor I've tried so far, but they make so many different flavors there are plenty I haven't been able to check out yet. I really want to get my hands on a jar of their Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and the new Sun-Ripened Apricot flavors. Check out her giveaway post and enter--you'll be glad you did! Giveaway ends September 18, 2008 @ 12 Noon, CST.

Guest Post by Christine from Best HomeSchool Place

2008-09-07T22:20:00.001-04:00

I've never been a guest blogger before, so I wanted to make sure this was good. I've always been a big peanut butter fan, so I'm going to share some of my more unusual peanut butter things, a couple of recipes and a great how to video AI found on one of my other favorite blogs. But to start this post off right, I'd thought I'd share a photo from one of my favorite tv shows.

From Project Runway season 4
This great dress, although not as exciting or innovative as some of the other dresses, was made completely out of Reece's Peanut Butter Cup wrappers. I don't think this picture does it justice, but it is a cute and wearable party dress. Does it look like it was made from candy wrappers? I don't think it does. Although it wasn't the winner of that episode, it wasn't the loser either.

My favorite Peanut Butter Recipes

This is something my mom always made me when I was a kid. One of the few things in my lunch box that I wouldn't trade or give away. Mostly because the other kids thought it would taste gross, and wouldn't even TRY it. Which was fine with me, because I loved it, and knew that if someone else wanted it, I'd probably give it to them. LOL! What is it, you ask? It's a peanut butter & sweet pickle sandwich.

Now, I know that most of you are going "YAK!!", by now, but trust me, it is delicious! You have to use the best creamy peanut butter, Jif was always my favorite. Then you need the best Vlasic sweet pickles, the sweeter the better. Cut the pickles into thin slices. Make sure the peanut butter is on both slices of bread, with the pickles in the middle. It may take you a little bit to build up the courage to eat it, but once you do, you'll be hooked. Much like you'd be hooked on peanut butter & banana sandwiches. If you like those, then you'll like the sweet pickles too.

Brownies

The next recipe I just came up with. I was wanting some brownies during the Labor Day weekend. We only had a little bit of cocoa powder, and no chocolate chips. I was trying to figure out what else I could put in the brownies to give them that extra something. Of course, what else goes with chocolate better than good old peanut butter! Then all I had to do was find a good recipe. Easier said than done, evidently. I went all over the internet, my main source of information for everything, and couldn't find a simple, easy to make, good peanut butter chocolate brownie! So I decided to make one up myself . . . well, actually blend two recipes into one.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup butter softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In large bowl beat butter and peanut butter until smooth.
Mix all ingredients in order given.
Bake for 30 minutes in 9 x 13 in greased pan
Check with toothpick to see if it is done in the middle

Baking time may vary according to your oven. Mine is slow to heat up, so it took about 40 minutes to cook.

These are now my all time favorite brownies! They came out smooth, creamy, rich, and delictable . . . if I do say so myself! LOL It's a simple recipe, so feel free to add to it what you think would make it better. And if it comes out even better, let me know!!

Unusual Uses

Now for the two unusual uses for peanut butter. The first is one, that I have NO idea where I got it from. I think my sons heard of it on Mythbusters, or some other Discovery Channel show. I'm always amazed at what my sons get from that channel, it's great! Anyway, peanut butter can get rid of hiccups!!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the cure for hiccups is the amazing, ever useful, never leave home without it, PEANUT BUTTER! And it works every time!! Just take a spoonful of peanut butter and suck on it till the peanut butter is all gone. The hiccups should be gone before the peanut butter is, but that doesn't really matter, because you've got peanut butter!

And finally, the last thing I want to share with you is this fantastic "how to" video I found at Momspark . It's all about how to make Peanut Butter Play D@h (not the registered trademark stuff).

Momspark Video Blog Episode 1 "Peanut Butter Play Dough" from Mom Spark on Vimeo.

I hope you enjoyed my little post about all the interesting things you can do with Peanut Butter. I've enjoyed being a guest blogger here at the Peanut Butter Blog. If you'd like to read more of my stuff, you can find me at Wyndsong's Sacred Place, Best HomeSchool Place, and Type-A Mom

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheesecake

2008-09-05T22:18:00.001-04:00

Mr. Peanut Butter's birthday was last weekend, so the kids and I made him a peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake. I wish I could share a photo of it with you, but the cheesecake disappeared before I could get the camera set. Yes--it was that good! I'll share my recipe, but you may want to make two of them. Seriously. You've been warned.

Ingredients
2 8-oz pkg cream cheese
3/4 c granulated sugar
3 eggs
4 squares semisweet baking chocolate
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c peanut butter*
1-1/2 tbsp flour
1/4 c milk
1 prepared graham cracker or chocolate pie crust

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Mix one package of cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and vanilla until blended. Add 1 egg and mix. Melt chocolate squares and stir into batter. Spread evenly in bottom of prepared pie crust.
In a separate bowl, mix the other package of cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, the peanut butter, and the flour until blended. Add 2 eggs and mix well. Stir in milk. Pour evenly over chocolate layer.
Bake for about 40 minutes or until the center is set.
When cool, garnish with chopped peanut butter cups, bits of chocolate bars, chocolate syrup, or whatever strikes your fancy.

* I always use a bit more for extra peanut buttery goodness

Terry Bradshaw's Peanut Butter

2008-09-03T21:03:00.004-04:00

I found this vintage jar on eBay today. I had no idea that former football player Terry Bradshaw had his own brand of peanut butter. From what I can find, it was only sold in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area during the late 70s and early 80s. I did find a funny quote from Bradshaw about it in his book, It's Only A Game:

The only thing that was wrong with our product was its taste. Apparently people didn't seem to like the taste very much. One newspaper arranged a taste test conducted by a panel of young people, and we won the top award for Least Desirable. Other than that it was a fine peanut butter. It had a real nice label.

The brand didn't last long so the jars are rare, making this one a collector's item.

News, War, and Peanut Butter Face?

2008-09-01T23:09:00.000-04:00

Can you imagine if network TV news reporters gave us the news this way? Eeeeewwwww.

Feed Your Brain With Peanut Butter

2008-08-31T23:06:00.003-04:00

Did you know that peanut butter is a terrific "brain food"? It's a rich source of vitamin E, an antioxident. Antioxidents protect cells from potentially harmful substances you encounter every day in your environment or the food you eat. Peanut butter also contains thiamin (vitamin B1), which helps metabolize carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Your brain uses carbs for fuel, so eat more peanut butter and get smarter.

Eat Peanut Butter and Save the Earth

2008-08-30T23:27:00.001-04:00

P.B. Loco has a free shipping special until September 5: buy $40 of peanut butter goodness and your order ships free. No coupon code needed, the free shipping should automatically appear in your cart.

They also sent me some interesting facts about eating peanut butter instead of meat:

Reduce Global Warming by Eating a PB Sandwich. It may be hard to believe, but by eating a peanut butter sandwich (or some other plant-based meal) rather than an animal-based meal, such as a burger, you save the equivalent of almost 3.5 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, including 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Conserve Land by Opting for a PB Sandwich in Lieu of a Burger. We can save land by eating more plant-based foods and less animal-based foods. Animal food products require 6 to 17 times as much land as soy to produce the equivalent amount of protein. Choosing peanut butter over meat for lunch saves 12 to 50 square feet of land from deforestation, overgrazing, and pesticide and fertilizer pollution.

Conserve Water by Eating a PB Sandwich. Plant-based meals also save water as compared to meat-based meals because it takes less water to grow plants than to raise animals. Thus, opting for a peanut butter sandwich over a ham sandwich conserves about 280 gallons of water. Do this three times a month and it has the same effect as switching to a low-flow shower head.

Guest Posts Wanted

2008-08-29T23:10:00.002-04:00

It's the beginning of my busy season, and things are starting to get a bit hectic here. I know that many of you have some fantastic peanut butter recipes and anecdotes. Share them with our readers and get your 15 minutes of fame right here! I'll include a link to your blog, website, or anywhere you like, and a brief bio blurbie thing. We can post your photo, too--that would be fun! Leave a comment here if you're interested in contributing to the nutty goodness and I'll be in touch very soon.

Peanut Butter Cup Purse

2008-08-28T21:15:00.003-04:00

Show the world your love of Reese's with this purse made with a recycled candy bag. It's about 10" x 7" plus straps, lined with cotton and protected with clear vinyl. Handcrafted and unique, you can get this sweet bag at Angel Kisses.

And the Winner Is . . .

2008-08-27T19:07:00.004-04:00

We had 16 comments, but one of them was mine. I used randomizer.org to choose a winning number from the 15 real comments and skipped over my comment when counting to reach winning #11. Congratulations Sara at News from NOLA! Let me know when you're back home after Hurricane Gustav has passed and I'll drop your handy-dandy new Grandpa Witmer's peanut butter mixer in the mail.

Gold Peanut Necklace

2008-08-24T21:48:00.002-04:00

I love this necklace! It started as an actual peanut which was used to create a mold, and the final piece was cast in 14K gold. When you buy this necklace you'll also receive the original peanut. This is absolutely an original, one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry--my favorite kind! From Laurie Brown Jewelry, $424.

Homemade Peanut Butter Hardtack Candy

2008-08-22T16:25:00.003-04:00

You know how Oprah finds really amazing new things and then gives them away to everyone in her audience? I just had the most amazing homemade peanut butter hardtack candy! I got it from Country Quilt Tops, where you can also order from a selection of other flavors, including Cinnamon, Buttersotch, Spearmint, Peppermint, Bubblegum, Bavarian Cream, Pina Colada, Apricot, Wintergreen, Banana Cream, Peach, Butter Rum, and Mint Chocolate Chip.

This candy is perfect for those times when you can't open a jar and dig into the real thing. If I was Oprah, I'd absolutely send some to each and every one of you. But since I can't, click on over and order some for yourself. A half-pound package is under $3, and I guarantee* you'll love it. Seriously, go order some!

* I guarantee that if you don't love this candy you can send it to me and I will enjoy it on your behalf.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cutting Boards

2008-08-20T22:45:00.003-04:00

When I found this gem all I could say was, "WOW!" And I'm still WOW-ing! This pair of cutting boards was handcrafted in butcher-block style from Purple Heart (imported hardwood), Paduak (imported hardwood), and White Oak (domestic hardwood). Each board measures 3/4" x 6" x 6", a perfect size for small cutting jobs, use as a cheese tray, or trivet. Get yours at Catzinthehouse, $10.50.

Just Plain Fun To Read Award

2008-08-19T23:36:00.003-04:00

I'm a little behind on taking care of details (okay, a lot behind!), and I've neglected to announce that The Peanut Butter Blog received the Just Plain Fun to Read Award! This award has been graciously bestowed upon this blog by Carole at Carole's Thoughtful Spot, a blog that's also just plain fun to read. If you haven't seen it before, click on over and check out the crazy cow creature on her header! Now, as is the tradition of this blog, I share this award with all of you, my fun-loving readers.

Bonk Breakers

2008-08-18T21:23:00.000-04:00

Justin Nyberg at Outside Blog tested these new Bonk Breaker energy bars. I have zero need for the extra calories packed into an energy bar, so I'm going to pass on testing these personally. Based on Nyberg's review as well as a quick search of other reviews, it seems that Bonk Breakers rock! No icky or chalky aftertaste, and moist enough to eat during a run without a gallon of water to chase them. This is the first energy bar I've seen described as tasting like "real food," and not a dense, chewy, food substitute.

The company is also introducing a Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Chip variety, and if the reviews for their Peanut Butter and Jelly version are any indication, they will be awesomely good. Can't find them in your local store? Head to Bonk Breakers and pick up a box.

The Best Peanut Butter Gadget Ever Giveaway!

2008-08-17T22:55:00.004-04:00

Grandpa Witmer's Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Mixer is the best peanut butter gadget I've found! You will never again hear me complain about the difficulties of stirring natural peanut butter (although I'm sure I'll continue to complain about needing to refrigerate it).

The mixer comes in 8 different models, depending on the size jar you want to stir. Each lid is fitted with a special gasket and snap liner, and the mixer slides through a hole in the center of the gasket. My first thought was that this would be a huge mess to clean up, but that gasket cleans all the peanut butter off the mixer, so clean up is quick and easy.

I've never had peanut butter mixed so thoroughly before. The first spoonfuls were the same consistency as the ones from the bottom of the jar. Pure joy!

The R.N. Witmer Company has blessed me with an extra mixer to give away to one of you. It's their Model 100, designed to fit a 16 oz. jar that is 4.75 inches high with a 77 mm. (3 inches) diameter lid. To enter, leave a comment below telling about a fond memory you have that involves peanut butter. Suffering from amnesia and can't come up with a memory? Just say "hello," and you'll be entered. One entry per person. Make sure you leave an email address or blog link so I can contact you if you win. Comments will be received through Tuesday, August 26, 2008. I'll use the randomizer.org thingie to select a winning entry and announce the winner on August 27.

Peanut Butter Cookie Earrings

2008-08-15T22:04:00.003-04:00

You can't help but smile when you look at these peanut butter cookie earrings! They're about 2/3" diameter, artisan designed, printed, and handcrafted in hard plastic with silver-plated findings. Get yours at Acrylicana on Etsy.

PEANUT BUTTER, A Poem by Jennifer Scott

2008-08-14T23:43:00.002-04:00

I think this is totally cool! A poem written especially for this blog!

Pause for a moment and remember
Easy days of summer, making your own peanut butter
And jelly, heavy on the peanut butter.
Nothing solidifies times as golden, thick peanut butter
Under English muffins, in cookies, or on
Toast, gooey and dripping.

Baking cookies on days of winter
Unable to wait till they were cool, washing down
The goodness with icy milk.
Thank you George Washington Carver Jr for discovering the uses of this tuber.
Ever wonder how we can
Remember happiness without peanut butter?

Jennifer M Scott from Dragonfly Poems can take any word, such as name--or even peanut butter--and create a poem. Each poem will be printed on computer stationary with a nice font. For more information please visit Dragonfly Poems and take a look at other samples. She can’t wait to create a poem for you.

Another Peanut Butter Jar Creation

2008-08-13T22:54:00.003-04:00

This darling terrarium is from Made By Mavis (whose name is really Ana!). She's filled a vintage peanut butter jar with slow-growing moss and other tiny plants, and added a red and white mushroom to brighten it up. Add a few drops of water every couple of weeks and keep it in indirect sunlight, and this terrarium should stay green and bright for years to come.

Peanut Butter Recipes from Smuckers

2008-08-12T22:23:00.001-04:00

I love Smucker's Natural peanut butter--the first time I use the jar. It tastes good, and if you stir long enough the texture is good. I hate that it needs to be refrigerated. Cold peanut butter is difficult to stir, does not make a tasty sandwich, and often doesn't mix well into recipes. It would work well in a recipe that calls for heat while mixing, like fudge or no-bake cookies. Hmmm, maybe I need to make more fudge.

Want a free Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter Recipes Booklet with recipes for Decadent Peanut Butter Pie, Chicken Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce, Peanut Butter Frosty and more?

This is a snail-mail offer only. But we all remember how to do that, right?
Send a postcard to:
The J.M. Smucker Company
Attention: Peanut Butter Recipe Collection
Consumer Relations Department
P.O. Box 280
Orrville, Ohio 44667

What Can You Do With All Those Empty Peanut Butter Jars?

2008-08-11T17:42:00.002-04:00

More Information

Now all I need to do is to dig up a few Star Wars figurines.

Amish Peanut Butter Spread Giveaway and Recipe

2008-08-10T21:21:00.003-04:00

I discovered Kristen's Loving Our Simple Life blog today, and not a moment too soon! She's on vacation, where she's picked up some Amish treats including a jar of peanut butter spread--and is giving them away to her readers. Click on over and leave a comment to be entered.

And if you can't wait to try the spread, I've got a recipe that should take care of you. It's not Amish, but it is insanely easy.

Peanut Butter Spread

Ingredients
1 lb. creamy peanut butter
1 lb. marshmallow cream
2 c. Mrs. Butterworth's Original Maple Flavor Pancake Syrup
3/4 c. hot water

Directions
Whip all ingredients together in a large bowl.

Enjoy on bread, pancakes, biscuits, toast, muffins, crackers, or a spoon!

Peanut Butter Cookie Soap

2008-08-09T23:18:00.002-04:00

I love trying out all the different soaps--people can be so creative! These soaps smell like peanut butter cookies, and look good enough to eat. I put one by my kitchen sink and love the way my hands feel and smell when I wash with it. Get yours at Sugarlane Soaps, $6.99 for a pack of six.

Martha's Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

2008-08-07T23:38:00.003-04:00

I found this recipe at Martha Stewart. At first I didn't care for it much, but I've discovered that by using a lot less salt, and refrigerating the bars before serving, they are very addictive. I've tweaked the recipe a bit here. If you try this one, I'll be interested to know what you think of it.

Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2-1/2 cups smooth peanut butter
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups your favorite jam or jelly
2/3 cup peanuts, roughly chopped

Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch pan with butter and coat inside of pan with flour; set aside. Place butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. On medium speed, add eggs and peanut butter; beat until combined, about 2 minutes.
2. Whisk together salt, baking powder, and flour. Add to bowl of mixer on low speed; combine. Add vanilla. Transfer two-thirds of mixture to prepared pan; spread evenly. Stir jam to make it smooth and easier to spread, then spread jam on top of peanut-butter mixture. Spoon remaining third of peanut-butter mixture on top of jam. Sprinkle with peanuts. Press peanuts lightly into peanut butter mixture.
3. Bake until golden, about 45 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars. Refrigerate for a chilly taste sensation.

JIF Sandwich Contest--For Kids Only

2008-08-06T23:12:00.003-04:00

If you've got peanut butter lovers between the ages of 6 and 12, get them busy creating a peanut butter sandwich recipe. The grand prize in this contest is a $25,000 scholarship fund, so it's absolutely worth entering. And you get the added benefit of eating the peanut butter sandwiches! The contest ends November 14, 2008, so there's plenty of time to test a few different recipes. You can get the complete rules, entry form, and even check out past winning recipes at JIF.com.

An Award!

2008-08-05T23:50:00.001-04:00

The Peanut Butter Blog is proud to announce that it's been honored with the Brillante Weblog Premio 2008 Award, presented by Patricia at Communication Exchange. She has a puzzle included in her latest post--go on over and see if you can figure it out. It's been the policy of this blog to pass along awards to all of you--our readers--so please consider yourself to be awarded!

A Contest at Peanut Butter & Co.!

2008-08-04T09:43:00.002-04:00

Peanut Butter & Co. is having a sandwich recipe contest to help launch The Bee's Knees, a new peanut butter blended with honey. Go here to enter for your chance to win a gift box from PB&Co and a week of fame as your sandwich is featured as their Sandwich of the Week.

Recipes in Your Inbox

2008-08-02T07:32:00.000-04:00

I just discovered Cooking with Jif, a free email newsletter with links to new recipes and special promos. The current issue has some tasty-looking desserts, but I think I may try the Asian Peanut Broccoli Salad. It doesn't contain any peanut butter, just nuts, so maybe we shouldn' be talking about it. Shhhh--don't tell!

Artist Needed, Must Work for Peanuts

2008-08-01T16:13:00.003-04:00

The Peanut Butter Blog is in desperate need of some art for use in 125 ads and other promotional items. I have a good idea of what I want, but am absolutely open to suggestions. If you can draw ultra nifty stuff and turn it into digital files, and want to achieve the level of fame that can only be reached by being associated with The Peanut Butter Blog, we should talk. The pay? Hmmm. Well, there's no cash. You can choose to be paid in Entrecard Credits, glass jewelry, or with a hearty "Thank You!". And, of course, you get a permanent link here, and the above-mentioned fame. Interested? Send an email to luckygirltrading [at] yahoo [dot] com.

Archer Farms Vanilla Cranberry Peanut Butter

2008-07-31T11:46:00.003-04:00

Vanilla Cranberry Peanut Butter from Archer Farms is my new favorite breakfast food. It's got a nice consistency, not like the runny cinnamon flavor I tried. It has just enough sweetness and fruit flavor to be a good substitute for jelly when you're craving a PBJ but don't want any jelly drips to sneak out from between the bread (yes, I sometimes eat when I drive). It's delicious on a toasted bagel or English muffin. Try it on pretzels for a nice salty-sweet snack.

The Perfect Tote for Your PBJ

2008-07-30T04:34:00.000-04:00

Lunch bags just don't come any better designed for carrying around your PBJ than this one. It's about 10" wide by 10" high by 4" deep, so there's plenty of room for your lunch. Even better, it's customizable! You can choose peanut butter with grape jelly, peanut butter with strawberry jelly, or fluffernutter (peanut butter with marshmallow fluff); the main bag can be red, brown, or black; and the strap can be peanut butter color or black. $30 from dirtsa.

Win Peanut Butter During Bloggy Giveaways Carnival

2008-07-29T05:57:00.000-04:00

If you like giveaways, you'll love this! There's a giveaway carnival in the blogosphere this week, and the last I checked there are 562 giveaways in progress. You know I had to check out the list for nifty peanut butter prizes, and I found that Superdumb Supervillain is giving away a jar of P.B. Loco. Click over to enter because we aren't participating this time around--but look for us to be a part of the giveaway carnival next quarter.

Peanut Butter Fudge: Trailer Park Cooking Show

2008-07-28T02:50:00.002-04:00

Clean Your Car with Peanut Butter

2008-07-27T00:11:00.003-04:00

As I was blog surfing today I came upon this post at Pookie and the Boys. I'd never heard of using peanut butter to remove automobile wax from plastic and rubber, but apparently it works.

I have heard that it works to remove sticky sap from your car's paint. Cover the sap with peanut butter and leave it for about 10 minutes. Rub it off with a soft cloth, and not only will your car be free of sap, it will smell good too!

Peanut butter can also remove water marks from finished furniture, and to clean leather. I've heard it can be used to help remove chewing gum from fabric or hair, but I've never had any luck with it in a gum battle.

If you know of any other non-food uses for peanut butter, please share!

You'll Never Want Plain French Toast Again

2008-07-25T21:34:00.005-04:00

I found this recipe at Rachael Ray. It is amazing! Pretty easy to put together, and definitely worth the effort. Next time you want to impress someone at breakfast, serve this. If they're not impressed, they probably weren't worth impressing anyhow.

Stuffed French Toast

Ingredients

2/3 cup jam or jelly
1/2 cup milk
3 large eggs
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
dash salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
8 slices bread
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1 tbsp butter
whipped topping

Mix the jelly and 3 tbsp water. Heat until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally. Set aside, but keep warm.

Mix milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt with a wire whisk. Transfer the mixture into a shallow bowl.

Spread each slice of bread with about 1 tbsp peanut butter. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over 4 slices, and top with the remaining slices of bread (peanut butter sides down).

Soak the sandwiches one at a time in the milk and egg mixture. About 5 seconds should do it, and depending on how large your bowl is, you may need to turn the sandwiches to soak the other sides.

Melt 1/2 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 sandwiches and cook until golden, about 2 minutes on each side. Repeat with the remaining butter and sandwiches.

Serve with the whipped cream and jam syrup.

Famous People and Peanut Butter: Hubert Humphrey

2008-07-24T09:06:00.002-04:00

I worked in publishing during an earlier chapter of my life. We did a number of books about politics and presidents, and I picked up a fair amount of useless trivia. Here's your trivia for today:

“My favorite sandwich is peanut butter, baloney, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and mayonnaise on toasted bread with catsup on the side.”
--former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey

Now there's a combination I never would have dreamed of. If any of you are daring enough to try it out (and survive!), please let us know how it tastes.

We Have a Winner!

2008-07-23T13:43:00.003-04:00

Randomizer.org chose comment #9. Melanie, I enjoyed hearing about your Teen Winners--and I hope you enjoy this coffee! Next time your mom bakes a batch, maybe you can get her to share a photo and the recipe?

This was fun! I never thought of stirring milk into the jar of peanut butter, or mixing it with maple syrup. For those of you who didn't win this time, click on over to Higher Groundz and pick up a bag or six. Really--this coffee is that good.

An Award and A Feature!

2008-07-22T19:47:00.003-04:00

I'm proud and thrilled to announce The Peanut Butter Blog has received its first award. The Sweet home blogger award comes from Lapidary Queen Wannabees, a blog I love to visit. There's always something interesting and creative going on over there, so go have a look. With this award comes the responsibility of passing it along to 5 other blogs. After much deliberation, I've decided that all PB Blog readers deserve this award, so consider yourself awarded! Congratulations!

And in other exciting news, this week I'm the featured seller on the NC Triangle Etsy Team blog. Click over and have a look if you're interested in what I do besides eat peanut butter. ;)

Painted Peanut Butter

2008-07-21T07:19:00.004-04:00

Not so long ago I posted about a painting titled "Peanut Butter Toast for Breakfast No. 2". The artist, Rosemary Cosentino, has been kind enough to let us enjoy another of her paintings. This one has found a new home in Fredericksburg, Texas, where some lucky person can enjoy its magnificence daily. That toast looks so realistic that I get hungry just looking at the picture. Go check out her blog--she has some amazing paintings!

No Peanut Butter for Expectant Moms?

2008-07-20T05:52:00.001-04:00

If you're pregnant or know someone who is, you've likely heard about the latest food scare. In a recent study conducted by The American Thoracic Society, pregnant women who ate nut products at least several times a week were found to have children who are 50 percent more likely to develop asthma. You can read an abstract of the published journal article for free, or the complete text for $10.

While the scientists caution that further studies need to be done before any official warnings are put into place, that's not going to make a peanut butter-loving expectant mother worry any less. So what should you do? First, don't panic. Second, it's probably not a good idea to eat peanut butter on a daily basis if you're pregnant. Cut back to a serving of peanut butter once or twice a month. And remember, it's only temporary--after your beautiful, healthy baby is born, you can resume your peanut butter-fest.

How Many Pieces of Toast in a Scarf?

2008-07-19T08:36:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I am awed into near-silence by the creativity people put into their peanut butter creations, and this is one of those times. This scarf is 78 inches of hand-crocheted toast, topped with alternating jam and peanut butter hearts. Get yours from Kelly of Kellyz Kreationz. Unique. Fun. Toasty!

Reader Submission--Peanut Butter Pranks

2008-07-18T19:35:00.000-04:00

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Elton John's Ice Cream

2008-07-17T13:12:00.003-04:00

This is one of those times I wish I lived in Vermont. Ben & Jerry's is making a limited-batch ice cream in honor of Sir Elton John's first visit to the state. Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road--“an outrageous symphony of decadent chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cookie dough, butter brickle and white chocolate chunks,”--will be available from July 18 to July 25 in Vermont Ben & Jerry's shops and at John’s sold-out Champlain Valley Expo show on Monday. Proceeds will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

The Best Coffee in the Universe--and a Giveaway!

2008-07-15T21:06:00.003-04:00

I had the best coffee in the universe this morning. No joke--it was the best cup of coffee (or three) I've ever had! I am now a huge fan of Peanut Butter Cup flavored gourmet coffee from Higher Groundz. Knowing that it was flavored coffee before I tried it, I was on alert for chocolate and peanut butter flavors, and although I could taste them they were subtle. If I hadn't known what I was drinking, I doubt that I would have picked up on them. This tastes like just darned fine coffee!

You've got to try this, even if you aren't a fan of flavored coffee. The generous folks at Higher Groundz have given me a 1/4-pound bag of ground deliciousness to give away. To get yours:

1. You must have a mailing address in the United States, and you must supply me with your mailing address if you're the winner.
2. Post a comment here, telling us your favorite thing to do with peanut butter.
(This is a family blog, so keep it family-friendly!) Make sure you include a link of some sort with a way to contact you in your comment.
3. Earn an extra entry by blogging about this giveaway, posting a link back here, and leaving a comment alerting me to your post.
4. Your comment(s) must be posted by midnight (Eastern U.S. time) Tuesday, July 22, 2008.

On Wednesday, July 23, I'll use that nifty randomizer.org thingie to choose a number, and if that number corresponds to your comment, you too can enjoy the best coffee in the universe!

PBJ Friendship Necklaces

2008-07-14T20:40:00.002-04:00

Remember those split heart necklaces from your childhood, meant for best friends to wear? This polymer clay jewelry artist took that idea and improved on it: peanut butter and jelly sandwich best friends charms! Add a pair of chains, and you've got a pair of PBJ-lover necklaces. You can choose between raspberry, grape, and strawberry jelly--and the charms are scented! You can also choose diagonally cut or square cut sandwich halves. Get yours at DanzDzynes, $14.

Another Reason to Be a Law-Abiding Citizen

2008-07-13T20:33:00.004-04:00

When I was about 9 years old or so, my Brownie Girl Scout troop took a tour of the local jail. I have no idea why we did that, and I can't imagine hauling a couple of dozen little girls through a jail these days. But tour we did, and the only thing I remember about that day was making a conscious decision, right then and there, to never do anything that might possibly land me in jail. Why? Well, the toilets were in the center of the cells--with not even a curtain to hide behind--so if you had to go you'd be exposed to the other prisoners and the guards and the visitors and anyone who happened to be just passing through. That was so not gonna happen to me, no way. I'd explode before I'd drop my little undies and sit on what served as a jail cell toilet in front of people. Avoiding a life of crime seemed better than exploding, so I've managed to stay out of jail so far.

Now this guy, Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, Florida, has removed peanut butter from the jail's menu. He's trying to save money by changing some of the food the county serves to the inmates. "If you want to eat peanut butter and jelly and drink juice and caffeinated drinks, fine, stay out of jail," Sheriff Grady Judd said.

That's just fine with me. I am not going to debate whether inmates "deserve" peanut butter, the merits of saving taxpayer dollars, or the issues of the U.S. justice system. I'm just going to stick by the decision I made when I was 9, stay out of jail, use the toilet in private, and enjoy peanut butter when I feel like it. Here's to freedom!

Peanut Butter is Fine Art

2008-07-12T22:21:00.002-04:00

I am constantly amazed at the number of artists who consider peanut butter a suitable subject for their work. It's so wonderful to know I'm not alone in my opinion of peanut butter, and I consider these people geniuses! This 5 x 7" painting is titled Peanut Butter Toast for Breakfast No. 2, and was painted in oils on archival canvas by Canadian artist R. L. Cosentino. $150 from Cosentino Fine Art.

Cheeseburgers with Peanut Butter

2008-07-11T22:30:00.004-04:00

One of my recent posts received a comment along the lines of "Is nothing sacred?". That pretty much sums up how I feel about this "PB Triple Play" burger, available at Carson's Sports Grille in Maryville, Missouri. They took a perfectly good burger, added Monterey Jack cheese and bacon--so far, so good--then added peanut butter. I think we all know how much I love peanut butter. And I love a good burger, but have never let the thought of adding peanut butter to it enter my mind. Apparently, as the cheese melts the peanut butter becomes soft and gooey, and the resulting taste is supposed to send your mouth to Nirvana. Hmmm.

If you've been to Carson's Sports Grille and had this burger, or have had something similar, please share. I am not up to trying this one out, but if it's truly that good I might have to at least let the thought of trying it pass through once or twice.

Crocheted Cookies

2008-07-10T22:14:00.003-04:00

Fat-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, and calorie-free--cookies don't come any better than that! These sweet peanut butter blossom cookies are crocheted. The pattern was created by Cynthia Rae and is available from Candypop Creations, so you can make as many as you want and not gain an ounce!

Wash Your Mouth (with a PBJ?)

2008-07-09T19:55:00.004-04:00

This soap makes me smile every time I look at it! Yes, it's soap, in the form of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It's actually four individual soaps, so you can use them all together or just wash with bread if you feel like it. I know that some of you (yes Travel Beggar, I mean you) avoid soaps that look like they might be edible. But for everyone else--you have absolutely got to check out this soap!

These are handcrafted by a 3rd grade teacher in Oklahoma who started making soaps for her own children because her little one has such dry and sensative skin. She started making them fun soaps--bath time is more fun with a fun soap, right?--and it has grown from there. She's been making soaps for almost four years now, has sold them on eBay and now on Etsy at Sugarlane Soaps.

I heard a rumor that Sugarlane will also have food candle tarts. I'll keep you posted!

Reader Recipe--Waffles a la Peanut Butter

2008-07-08T21:57:00.004-04:00

This recipe comes from my oldest daughter, Allison, who has become a huge fan of The Peanut Butter Blog.

2 frozen waffles (she used chocolate chip)
peanut butter (she used chocolate peanut butter)
ice cream (she used Edy's Banana Nut)
whipped topping

Toast the waffles, spread each with peanut butter. Scoop ice cream onto the peanut butter side of one waffle, top with the other waffle (peanut butter side down). Add whipped topping.

This would also be good with Moose Tracks ice cream, and some roasted peanuts sprinkled on top.

This is Gabriel, my grandson. He seems to be less than thrilled that his mom won't let him enjoy the waffles.

Skippy Natural Peanut Butter

2008-07-07T23:30:00.003-04:00

I have to say, this tastes pretty good. It has a strong peanutty taste. The fact that it doesn't need stirring or refrigeration is a huge plus. I hate stirring natural peanut butter, I always make a mess and end up with an oily jar, and the peanut butter is never properly mixed. Chilled peanut butter is difficult to stir and to spread. Skippy Natural contains no hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, but for some reason it contains palm oil. And sugar. Coming from a big brand, it's a bit easier to find in the stores than many natural peanut butters, and given the choice between Skippy Natural and a jar with hydrogenated oils, I'll take Skippy Natural any day. It did work really well in the PBJ cheesecake. I'd love to hear about your favorite brand of "healthy" peanut butter, so feel free to let me know in a comment.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake

2008-07-06T22:08:00.005-04:00

This cheesecake is one of my favorites, and it's a snap to make (it would have to be--I tend to be a lazy chef!).

1 prepared deep dish graham cracker crust
16 oz. cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 tbsp flour
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup jelly

Beat softened cream cheese, sugar, peanut butter, and flour together with an electric mixer until well blended. Mix in eggs, one at a time, and then milk. Pour into crust.

Bake in preheated 350°F oven for about 55 minutes or until the center is set. When the cheesecake has cooled, stir the jelly with a spoon until smooth, then spread over top of cheesecake. Refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.

Vintage 1966 Skippy Peanut Butter Ad

2008-07-05T22:40:00.003-04:00

I found this vintage Skippy ad on eBay. Do you remember their "Are You a Nut Nut" campaign? I have no clue why a peanut wearing a goofy admiral's hat is supposed to convince people to buy peanut butter, but it is sort of cute and very memorable. The ad's approximately 13.5 x 10", suitable for framing, and priced to buy now at $9.99.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Glass Cufflinks

2008-07-03T23:22:00.005-04:00

I always enjoy visiting Artistic Flair, Deb DiSalvo's blog. She makes some of the most unforgettable fused glass pieces anywhere, and a visist to her blog always leaves me in awe.

This week I discovered that she's created fused glass peanut butter and jelly cuff links. These are so cute! She's made a pair in strawberry jelly color, and another in grape jelly color, so even the pickiest PB&J lover will be thrilled.

If you've got a minute, a visit to her Etsy Shop will be worth the effort. There's something new added regularly, and it's always something beautiful and uniqe.