NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY DAY

On April 2nd each year, National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day celebrates a classic food favorite. The average American will have eaten over 2000 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the time they graduate from high school.

Peanut butter was considered a delicacy in the early 1900s and was only served in New York City’s finest tea rooms. In a May 1896 article published in the Good Housekeeping magazine, a recipe “urged homemakers to use a meat grinder to make peanut butter and spread the result on bread.”  That same year, in June, the culinary magazine Table Talk, published a “peanut butter sandwich recipe.”

It is thought that Julia Davis Chandler issued the first reference to peanut butter (or paste) paired with jelly on bread in the United States in 1901. Her article is found in the Boston Cooking School Magazine of Culinary Science and Domestic Economics. In the late 1920s, the price of peanut butter declined, and the sandwich became very popular with children.

According to the Peanut Board, during World War II, both peanut butter and jelly were part of the United States soldiers’ military ration list.

In 1968, The J.M. Smucker Co. introduced Goober, a jarred product that combined alternating vertical stripes of peanut butter and jelly.

More to Explore…

HOW TO OBSERVE #PeanutButterAndJellyDay

It may be a good day to try something different.  The following are a few peanut butter and jelly ideas to help you out!

  • Cupcakes
  • French Toast
  • Pie
  • Sushi
  • Cookies
  • Donuts
  • Pancakes
  • Fudge

Have fun! Use #PeanutButterAndJellyDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER LOVER’S DAY

March 1st was made for National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day. Ah, peanut butter. One day is not enough to recognize peanut butter. The goober has been paired, blended, and added with many tasty results!

The creamy, nutty goodness known as peanut butter is so amazingly delicious that when we pair it with creamy and dreamy chocolate, we almost have bacon.

We digress. Another great love is peanut butter ice cream. Blended smooth with a few chopped nuts and a drizzle of peanut butter syrup is a peanut butter lover’s dream come true.

The slang term for peanut butter in World War II was “monkey butter.”

A monkey visited the lab at Kellogg’s one day and dipped his banana in a jar of peanut butter, and he’s been ape over the combination ever since. Actually, banana slices with peanut butter sandwiched between them and dipped in chocolate make a terrific snack.

Peanut butter and bananas were a combination even fit for a king. Elvis Presley loved a peanut butter and banana sandwich or two.

Then peanut butter got its passport and traveled the world. It paired up with some shrimp and got a little saucy. The result is a Thai peanut butter shrimp that is so yummy it had to be true love.

Things heated up a little when peanut butter jumped into the stew pot to sweat it out with a spring chick seasoned with some cayenne. African Chicken Peanut Stew tastes better than ever.

One of the best times peanut butter has ever had is with marshmallows. Fudge enjoys a satisfying dessert status to be envied.

Fun Peanut Butter Facts:
  • It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
  • C.H. Sumner first sold peanut butter in the United States at the Universal Exposition in St. Louis.  He sold $705.11 of the “new treat” at his concession stand.
  • Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup was introduced to America in 1928.
  • The oldest operating manufacturer and seller of peanut butter has been selling peanut butter since 1898.
  • Mr. Ed TV’s used peanut butter as a secret ingredient to get a horse talking.
  • Americans spend almost $800 million a year on peanut butter.
  • January 24th is National Peanut Butter Day.

NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER LOVER’S DAY HISTORY

National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day first made its appearance in 1990 commemorating the anniversary of when peanut butter made its commercial debut in the United States. Promoted by both the Adult Peanut Butter Lovers Fan Club and the National Peanut Board, the day found full cover peanut butter spreads in newspapers across the country. An un-named doctor was given credit for first providing peanut butter to his patients. In March of 1890, he began providing the spread to those patients who had difficulty chewing. More than 100 years later, we continue to celebrate the benefits of peanut butter, and its history, too.

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE #PeanutButterLoversDay

  • Fall in love with some peanut butter or a new peanut butter combination.  
  • Try peanut butter and apples.  
  • Or maybe fried peaches and peanut butter.
  • Try one of the recipes above.
  • Or how about peanut butter and bacon.  
  • Share your favorite peanut butter combos.
  • Use #PeanutButterLoversDay to post on social media.

National Peanut Month

March celebrates one of America’s favorite snack foods…Peanuts! National Peanut Month had its beginnings as National Peanut Week in 1941, but later morphed into a month-long celebration in 1974. And why not celebrate this versatile food? Whether it’s the smell of their roasted goodness, the grinding of their essence into peanut butter or just being used to make healthier cooking oil, peanuts have found their way into many of the food items we consume regularly.

Boiled, roasted, honey roasted, in a stir fry or as a honey roasted snack with a Pepsi, it clear that these small treasures pack a lot of flavor. Try something new and don’t forget other days to explore the flavors.

Peanut cultivation and popularity in American food culture can be attributed to Dr. George Washington Carver, nicknamed “The Father of the Peanut” for his tireless devotion to this versatile legume. In fact, in 1925, Carver published a bulletin called, “How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it for Human Consumption.”

When it comes to plants packing protein power, peanuts provide a whopping 8 grams per ounce, more than any other nut according to The Peanut Institute. And remember, it’s not a nut! Nuts grow on trees. The peanut is also high in antioxidants. This goober (as they’re called in the south), is also high in vitamins E and B6, but they’re rich in minerals such as magnesium, iron, and zinc. Studies also show when paired with other nutrient-rich foods, this wonderful legume helps us absorb nutrients better, too.

Peanuts are a very valuable source of protein, niacin, folate and phytosterols, more than any nut. They also contain over 30 essential nutrients and phytonutrients. Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free and rumor has it that there’s enough mental stimulation in one peanut to give a person 30 minutes of serious thinking! Need a brain recharge, eat a peanut.

Even if that’s not the case, peanuts provide a serious source of protein and B vitamins to help prevent “brain fatigue”! So keep a bag nearby for that extra boost now and then. Enjoy!

Explore more….

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPeanutMonth


Savor the taste of delicious peanuts all month long. These tasty nuts add a punch of flavor to almost any dish. Eat them whole or spread peanut butter on a sandwich. Bake up a delicious treat using peanuts. You can also learn more about the history of peanuts, George Washington Carver, or how they have been cultivated over the years. However you celebrate, be sure to use #NationalPeanutMonth on social media.

NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER DAY

National Peanut Butter Day on January 24th recognizes an American staple in our pantries. Whether creamy or chunky, with chocolate or with jelly, peanut butter gets the recognition it deserves each year on this day. 

The early peanut butter made by the Aztecs and Incas around 1000 BC was more of a paste and not nearly as creamy as the peanut butter we know now.

Peanut butter didn’t become widely used until the 20th century. First, the peanut had to be considered more than animal feed, which was until the late 1800s. At the turn of the century, inventions that made planting, cultivating, and harvesting the legume (the peanut isn’t a nut at all) made it possible to see the peanut as a retail and wholesale food item.

Peanut butter is a good source of vitamin E, B6, niacin, calcium, potassium and iron, is packed with protein and is rich in healthy monounsaturated fat.

Bringing Peanut Butter to the Masses

We can thank four men for the inventions and processes that bring us the creamy, smooth peanut butter we enjoy today: Marcus Gilmore Edson of Canada, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, Dr. Ambrose Straub of St. Louis, Missouri, and chemist Joseph Rosefield.

In 1884, Edson developed a process to make peanut paste from milling roasted peanuts between two heated plates. The famous cereal maker and health food specialist of the time, Kellogg, patented a process with raw peanuts in 1895. Dr. Straub is responsible for patenting a peanut butter making machine in 1903.

Peanut butter was introduced to audiences at the 1904 Universal Exposition in St. Louis at C.H. Sumner’s concession stand.

But the man who brought us the peanut butter we know and love today was Joseph Rosefield. In 1922, through homogenization, Rosefield was able to keep peanut oil from separating from the peanut solids. He later sold the patent to a company that began making Peter Pan peanut butter. Rosefield then went into business for himself selling Skippy peanut butter through Rosefield Packing. He also supplied peanut butter for military rations during World War II.

More To Explore…

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPeanutButterDay

Make your favorite peanut butter recipes. Whether it’s a sandwich or a baked good, someone is sure to enjoy it with you. Be sure to share a photo or recipe using #NationalPeanutButterDay on social media.

NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER LOVERS MONTH

National Peanut Butter Lovers Month is an annual designation observed in November. Excuse me as I get up from my desk and do my happy dance because I’m convinced peanut butter is one of the most heavenly things on the planet. Peanut Butter is so versatile, you can literally incorporate it into any and every meal of the day and not get sick of it. (Well, maybe you would, but I will not. Ever.)

For breakfast, smother it on some toast, waffles, or pancakes, OR put a spoonful in your smoothie. For lunch, dip veggies like carrots and celery in it… That may sound strange, but believe me, it will actually help you ENJOY eating those kinds of vegetables. If you’re having a lazy dinner, slap together a quick PB & banana sandwich for a sweet and salty meal that will keep you full for the night.

This one might blow your mind, but my all-time favorite meal is the ‘Lowden’ pizza from Zorbaz, a small pizza chain scattered throughout Minnesota. This pizza is topped with: Pizza sauce, peanut butter, extra cheese, pepperoni, and jalapenos. Just let that sink in for a minute. Again, you might think I’m crazy, but the salty, sweet, spicy combo makes this pizza TO DIE FOR. Try it out sometime if you’re in Minnesota, and thank me later.

For dessert, drizzle it over anything. LITERALLY anything. Apple slices, cookies, brownies, ice cream, you name it.

More….

HOW TO OBSERVE #PeanutButterLoversMonth

Use #PeanutButterLoversMonth to post on social media. This month, I challenge you to experiment a little bit. This recipe while not mine is so good! Try peanut butter on 5 foods that you normally wouldn’t even think of. Here are a few ideas (besides the peanut butter pizza listed above.)

  • Put it on your hamburger or cheeseburger bun. Much like the pizza, it’s drool-worthy.
  • Mixed into yogurt with different kinds of fruit.
  • Scrambled eggs are delicious with a spoonful of peanut butter on top. It’s that salty and sweet thing everybody loves.
  • Whenever I’m out of salsa, I go-to peanut butter for my chip dip. Phenomenal.
  • Frozen fruits like pears or mangos are great dipped in some PB.
  • Say it with me, “Peanut Butter QUESADILLAS!” Spread peanut butter on a tortilla, fold it in half, pop it in the microwave for 25 seconds, and bam. You’re ready for the couch and your favorite sitcom. Add some bananas if you’re more on the hungry side.

Bake it, make it, coat it, or just plain eat it, enjoy Peanut Butter your favorite way.