Peanut Butter Loving

Peanut butter often gets bad reviews from diet gurus. Yes it is calorie-laden (approximately 100 calories per tablespoon), so portion control is essential with this spread. But just one tablespoon of peanut butter a day is actually good for you (unless you have a nut allergy ofcourse). It’s an easy way to have your recommended daily nut intake, and stock up on your protein and potassium reserves. Protein gives you healthy skin and hair, and is also a far better source of energy than empty carbs. Potassium aids in heart, muscle and bone function and a lack of this vital nutrient can make you seriously ill. One tablespoon of peanut butter gives you 100 mg (you need 2,000 mg a day).

If you find peanut butter on toast too boring, follow the Americans and have the peanut butter and jelly combo (jelly is their lingo for jam). I have come up with my own version of this, a wee bit healthier I think:

Peanut Butter & Banana Honey Toast

-        Lightly toast two slices of bread

-        Spread peanut butter on one slice

-        Slice up a banana and place the pieces (as many will fit) onto the toast

-        Drizzle with clear honey

-        Cover with the other slice of toast, and bite in!

Peanut butter and banana is another yummy combination. I sometimes sandwich slices of banana with peanut butter for my toddler, a perfect finger food.

For chocaholics, a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich would be just perfect. I love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate. Some things are meant to be together, and for me peanut butter and chocolate is a match made in decadent calorie-loving heaven! I love how the sweetness of chocolate is redefined by the salty earthy taste of peanuts and the added dense thickness of peanut butter. Yes it is a dangerously decadent combination. One tablespoon of peanut butter has approximately 100 calories, and I’m not even counting the chocolate part.

I am a huge fan of Reese Peanut Butter Cups. Hershey’s has nailed the salty-sweet combo to perfection with these wee gems. Snickers is another popular chocolate that mixes peanuts with chocolate, but I’ve never been a big fan of this bar. Perhaps it’s too heavy-duty for me, and its peanuts, not peanut butter (big difference there!).

In ice-cream, I am currently obsessed with Cold Stone’s Peanut Butter Cup Perfection. It’s a divine combination of rich chocolate ice-cream slammed in with a generous dollop of peanut butter and mashed up with a Reese Peanut Butter Cup (yes, they literally slam and mash up the ingredients together right in front of you on an icey slab, aka ‘Cold Stone’). I have been indulging in the ‘Gotta Love It’ cup (which is the largest cup size), and was quite aghast to later discover it’s loaded with approximately 1,000 calories per cup (what was I thinking?!). Maybe I can have salads all day and then indulge!

I've also been meaning to try out Nigella Lawson's Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae:

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/chocolate-peanut-butter-fudge-sundae-23

And here’s a little gem for you… perfect for those emergency sweet-tooth cravings!

One Minute Peanut Butter Cake

Serves One

Ingredients:

-        1 egg, beaten

-        1 tablespoon brown sugar

-        1/2 teaspoon baking powder

-        1 heaping tablespoon flour

-        2 tablespoons peanut butter

-        1 teaspoon milk

-        1 tablespoon powdered sugar (give or take)

Directions:

In a small bowl, whisk together egg, brown sugar, baking powder, peanut butter and flour.

Pour batter into a greased ramekin. Microwave for 30 seconds.

While the cake is microwaving, stir together milk and powdered sugar, adding more powdered sugar if necessary to thicken frosting.

Remove cake from ramekin (or don’t), pour frosting over top. Enjoy!

I added chocolate chips to mine; loved the gooey melted chocolate with peanut butter. You can also try adding salty peanuts to give it an earthy, salty kick.

For those of you who prefer savory over sweet, I have this extremely easy satay sauce recipe for you (created by yours truely!):

 

Super Easy Satay Sauce

- 4 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter

- 2 tablespoons soya sauce

- 2 cloves garlic, crushed

- 1/2 teaspoon crushed chilli flakes

- 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Whip all the above together and enjoy! Own this recipe by playing with the proportions and adding your own ingredients (I also like this with some freshly grated ginger).

 

Bon Apetit! Big Sis.