Peanut Butter Better

Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter

Nearly everyone has a jar of peanut butter. Off the top of your head can you name ten recipes which are better with peanut butter? No? Well, how about five? Hmm. Three? I give up. How about I give you ten? Be ready to print at the end, or grab your recipe cards so you can edit!

Peanuts are a staple in many Asian, African and Caribbean cultures. Peanut butter is the instant solution to some recipes which are greatly enhanced by peanut flavor, even when you do not have fresh peanuts on hand.

1. Surprise Ending

Ice Cream ConesLove ice cream on a cone? Hate the dribbling from the hole in the cone? Coat the inside of your ice cream cone with peanut butter. The triple scoop of chocolate-mocha-chocolate-chip-fudge-supreme will not drip through the bottom of the cone, and the surprise at the bottom is still sweet!

2. Sweet Glaze

Broiled ham steaks are an easy entrée. Sweeten the pot by mixing three tablespoons of orange marmalade with two tablespoons of peanut butter and one tablespoon of water. Spread the glaze over the steaks and return to the broiler until lightly browned, about one minute.

3. That’s a wrap!

Put all of the following into a medium bowl:

1/2 C peanut butter
3 TBS olive oil
3 TBS fresh lemon juice
1 TBS fresh parsley, finely chopped

Smooth the peanut sauce. Construct your wrap with boneless, grilled chicken cut into strips and/or grilled shrimp; shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, diced onion, diced cucumber and/or avocado slivers; drizzle with peanut sauce. Other great toppings include shredded bok choy, capers, sliced olives, diced sweet peppers, matchstick mushrooms, bean sprouts, soy-sautéed tofu, raw broccoli florets, slivered carrots and/or shredded raw spinach.

4. Sneaky Secret Recipe Cookies

Everyone in your house loves chocolate chip cookies. Give them the slip by replacing half of the butter in your recipe with peanut butter. Let them beg for the peanut-butter-cup-cookie recipe. Never tell them where you got it.

5. The No Jelly PBJ

If you did not catch Valentine’s recipe for a peanut butter sandwich, you can try the one which came in a close second.

2 thick slices raisin bread
3 TBSP peanut butter
2 TBSP raisins
1 TBSP honey
butter

Spread peanut butter on one slice of raisin bread. Press raisins into peanut butter and drizzle with honey. Top with other slice of raisin bread. Melt butter in skillet over medium high heat. Grill sandwich on both sides until lightly browned.

Crunchy peanut butter is a good choice for this sandwich. If you have something against raisins, this recipe is just as scrumptious with any of these substitutions and/or additions:

  • Pumpernickel/sourdough marble bread
  • Pumpernickel or sourdough bread
  • Dried cranberries, blueberries and/or cherries
  • Chopped dates
  • Nutella®
  • Chopped walnuts or pecans
  • Slivered almonds
  • Two tablespoons cream cheese

6. Do Not Bake That

Want a peanut butter cookie without heating up the whole kitchen? Try no-bake cookies.

1 C sugar
1 C light corn or cane syrup
2 C peanut butter
4 C corn flakes

In a heavy skillet or deep sauce pan, bring sugar and syrup to a gentle boil. Boil for one minute. Stir in peanut butter until melted. Remove from heat and quickly stir in corn flakes. Spoon by rounded teaspoonful onto wax or parchment paper. Allow to cool until set.

To add richness, after peanut butter melts add one teaspoon vanilla. Another excellent addition: When stirring in cornflakes, toss in 1/2 cup butterscotch or white chocolate chips or morsels.

7. Kick Boxing Muffins

Banana nut muffins get boring after a while. Replace half the butter or shortening with peanut butter. After you put them in the paper cups, sprinkle the tops with shredded coconut. Bake as directed.

8. Nuttygrette

Have you gotten tired of the same old oil and vinegar on your salad? Whisk a creamy tablespoon of peanut butter into 1/2 cup of your vinaigrette for a thicker, tastier dressing on your salad.

9. Soup’s On

Add some exotic African or Caribbean flavor to your favorite potato or vegetable soup. Dip out a cup of broth and whisk in a few tablespoons of creamy peanut butter. Return broth to soup and stir to distribute.

10. Dip it!

How about some Asian flair for roasted or stir fried beef, pork, chicken or shrimp?

3 TBSP peanut butter
1 TBSP soy sauce
1 TBSP apple cider vinegar
1 TBSP peanut, safflower, rapeseed or vegetable oil
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp sesame oil

Blend all ingredients together until very smooth. Dip skewered meat into sauce; drizzle over stir fry; or pour over shishkabobs.

BONUS

When you fry onion rings, fish, French fries or batter-dipped anything, does your house smell like a greasy spoon for a week? The moment you are finished frying, turn off heat and drop a spoonful of peanut butter in the skillet. It will neutralize the odor from the burning flour or corn meal.

~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever tried one of these recipes? Do you have a secret peanut butter recipe? Other than mousetraps, what is another use for peanut butter? Thank you for reading M3’s 350th post.

(c) Ann Marie Dwyer 2012
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41 Comments

  1. What a yummy posting Red, I will be getting some peanut butter on the morrow / today and I like that on crackers, mmmmmmm lovely, actually I have been taking note of all your recipes, and what a wonderful grouping, I like soup too and can make my own you know? 🙂

    Yes there is nothing quite like a nice dip Red 🙂 Now as I am taking stock of your recipe ideas I will leave you a little pressie 🙂 Here it is…

    http://andro51.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/35_thumb.jpg?w=417&h=313

    Have a lipsmackingyummy
    rest of evening now Red 🙂

    Androgoth XXx

    Reply
    • Love it. That dress is terrific! I will have to get together some soup recipes, but really I am ready for some yummy summer foods. Spring is here. The trees are blooming, and I am ready for the pool!

      I shall be around momentarily to see what you have offered. I have just gotten home for the evening and have a mite of catching up to do.
      Red.

      Reply
      • Well take it easy, grab a nice pot of coffee, a peanut butter on rye or crackers and catch up slowly, no rush my great friend 🙂

        Glad you liked the pressie 🙂

        Androgoth XXx

        Reply
  2. I like peanut butter on celery,
    the crispier the celery the better 🙂

    Have a fine rest
    of weekend Red 🙂

    Androgoth XXx

    Reply
    • That is a great appetizer or snack. To make it a bit more balanced, and to entice the little ones to try it, I top them with golden raisins and a drizzle of honey or toasted coconut. 😉
      Red.

      Reply
  3. authormjlogan

     /  March 4, 2012

    I was hoping for a peanut soup recipe.

    This stuff sounds great. Will have to try some of these.

    Reply
    • You are not the first to mention soup. Perhaps, I will have to do some soup recipes for you all.

      Reply
  4. yummie

    Reply
  5. I might have to try the chocolate chip cookie one.

    I once tried a peanut and banana sandwich ala The King, just minus the batter and frying. When I took the first bite I thought I had swallowed the Gobi desert, or at least the dryness from it. Not wanting to let food go to waste and throw it away I finished the sandwich nonetheless. Of course I had about four or five glasses of water before finishing it.

    Will never do that again.
    The Heretic recently posted..Easy MoneyMy Profile

    Reply
    • LOL! I am not a big sandwich fan in the first place. I think the secret to the dryness on that particular one is really fresh bread and honey. The cookies are fabulous. Great to see you today.

      Reply
  6. I am just revisiting your peanut butter posting, I always enjoy posts on recipes and I hope that once all of the hard work has been completed at Redmund Productions that you will be able to find a little time to add some more of your favourite treats 🙂

    Actually I used to add a few recipes on my own Space when I first started out at WP but then I deleted all my content and forgot to add some more on the recipe theme, I might even consider doing some of my own sometime soon but they always have a bit of a naughty twist within the lines, nothing too wicked you understand but they are certainly a bit different from your average recipe, and usually it is something that spices it up a bit 🙂 lol

    Okay I am waffling on again now Red so just think about the recipe idea for later, maybe it could be part of the forum as there are always so many peeps that enjoy a bit, I mean a bite to eat 🙂 lol

    Have fun tonight my dear Red 😉

    Andro xxx

    Reply
    • I think that is a wonderful idea. You should post it in the Suggestion Box. I would not be opposed to putting together a cookbook.

      I shall be putting up some more recipes. I ran a poll before this one for John which I asked who would be interested in which sorts of recipes. Other than a few curt responses which I harken to Friday Follies, I am sure you will be seeing more in this vein. Some of mine are great adaptations from family recipes to ones for singles. There are a good number of singles and couples who visit M3.

      It all makes me hungry 😉

      Reply
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