PEANUT BUTTER—NECTAR OF THE GODS
C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D.
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Peanut butter has always been one of my favorite foods, any time of day or night. Whenever a meal is just not satisfying, I finish with a spoonful of Smuckers ?peanut butter. Now, I want to assure you that I have no financial interest in Smuckers not even any stock. But having tasted all the NATURAL peanut butters I can find, Smuckers is absolutely tops.??
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Incidentally, I hasten to mention that most of the peanut butter brands on the market, such as Peter Pan, Jiffy, and Skippy are just plain JUNK!!!? The usually have sugar as well as artificially hydrogenated fat DO NOT EAT THEM!!
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This Christmas a friend gave me the ultimate gourmet delight for a natural, old-fashioned peanut butter fan—a peanut butter stirrer!!? For years I have stored jar upside down in the cupboard to help move the oil into the peanut butter and stirred it as well as I could with a spoon before putting it into the refrigerator. Inevitably the oil did not mix well and some of the peanut butter became rather more chewy and not as smooth. Nor now!? The stirrer is super. Once stirred, the refrigerated peanut butter remains creamy to the last drop. You can purchase them on Amazon but they are a dollar cheaper at Lehmans!? Lehmans is one of the best sources for a wide variety of unusual items widely used by the Amish. And the Smuckers web site also has the stirrer.
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Of further interest, Smuckers organic peanut butter is not nearly as tasty!? They also put out a brand Adams which is not as good.
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Now for the really good news about peanut butter. Peanuts themselves are an excellent nutritional value, especially if taken with a tiny bit of milk. The amino acid content is not perfect but the quality of the fat makes up for that. Even more importantly the glycemic index is low!? They are digested slowly so they have a long appetite satisfaction index. Indeed, with a bit of milk or cottage cheese, you could live quite well long term with these as the main protein sources. And peanuts are an excellent source of minerals as well as antioxidants.?
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Some people are concerned about aflatoxins in peanuts. Certainly poor quality peanuts may have them. So do almonds, pistachios and hazelnuts!? Somehow, the quality of Smuckers peanut butter seems too good for me to worry about aflatoxins. A day without Smuckers peanut butter is a day of lost pleasure! It is the ultimate healthy fast food. A heaping tablespoon of peanut butter with a banana or an apple makes one of the best quick meals, far better than most other quick meals!? When I travel I often just have peanuts and fruit for at least one meal a day.?
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Personally I think peanut butter is ruined when combined with jelly!? But, in soups, muffins, biscuits, and bread (gluten free for at least the third of us who are sensitive to gluten) it adds a succulent flavor unequaled by any other food. Of course, you can also make peanut butter cookies with the basic gluten free recipe and a touch of honey!
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PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA
??????????? Melt in a double boiler:
????????? 12 oz old fashioned peanut butter (Smuckers is best!)
??????????? ?4 Oz butter
??????????? ?1/3 cup honey
??????????? ? 1 teaspoon vanilla
??????????? ? 3 teaspoons cinnamon
Stir the liquid into 6 cups of old fashioned GLUTEN_FREE (from Bobs Red Mill) rolled oats and spread into a flat pan. Place into the oven at 375 degrees. Stir every 5 minutes. It is done in 20 minutes. Add then, 1 cup raisins and one cup of any nut desired.
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Serve with milk or half and half and any fruit or yogurt.
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