Peanut Butter
Salty or
sweet, creamy or crunchy, peanut butter is a staple in kitchens across
the country. It’s nutritious, delicious, and complements a variety of
foods – fruits, vegetables, breads, and even poultry and seafood. Worldwide,
peanuts are eaten plain, ground, in soups, sauces, and in sweets.
History of Peanut Butter
Peanuts
themselves go way back – over two thousand years, actually, originating
in South America, used by the ancient Incas. Early explorers brought
peanuts from South America to Africa, then to Spain. Peanuts eventually
were taken to the American colonies and grown as a commercial crop in
Virginia and North Carolina in the 1800’s.
In the 1890’s, several doctors began experimenting with grinding peanuts
as a nutritious, protein-rich dietary supplement. The Kellogg brothers
were part of this experimentation, but soon focused their efforts towards
cereal products. Geoge Washington Carver’s improvement of peanut butter
in the early 1900’s paved the way for its current popularity.
Chicken,
Broccoli, and Almonds with Peanut Sauce
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 oz. spagetti
1 broccoli crown, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
2 chicken breasts, cooked and sliced into very thin strips
1. Combine
peanut butter through vinegar in a food processor. Blend until very
smooth. Add vegetable oil and blend well.
2. Cook pasta according to manufacturer’s instructions. Steam broccoli.
3. Place pasta and chicken in a large bowl. Add peanut butter sauce
and stir to coat. Transfer to serving dish and add broccoli and toasted
almonds.
3-4 Servings
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Swirl Cookies
Half peanut butter cookie, half chocolate cookie, these treats are soft
and tasty.
Peanut Butter Dough
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. Combine butters and sugars in a medium bowl. Beat until fluffy.
3. Add egg and vanilla. Mix well.
4. Gradually add sifted mixture. Blend until combined.
5. Transfer dough to plastic wrap and chill.
Chocolate Dough
Repeat above ingredients and directions except:
-Add 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder to sifted mixture
-Eliminate peanut butter
On a floured surface, use hands to roll each dough flavor into a log
(about 1 inch diameter). Combine dough logs, press together, and twist
logs to form a rope. Use a floured knife to cut 1/2 inch individual
cookie slices. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 350
for 11-13 minutes. Cool on rack.
Optional: add 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips to each dough flavor
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.
