Naturally More Peanut Butter

The kind folks at Naturally More sent me a jar of their peanut butter to try. I have to admit I was skeptical, after all their tag line is "what peanut butter should be," and that's a pretty tall order to fill.

Naturally More contains 25% more protein and 50% more fiber than regular peanut butter. They've added egg whites, wheat germ, and flax seed. That sounds healthy, but not necessarily yummy.

After stirring the peanut butter I gave it my knife test: does the peanut butter drip off the knife because it's got a bit too much oil? Yep. Runny peanut butter is never a happy thing for me.

I struggled to keep an open mind, and took out a spoon for a straight-from-the-jar test. Gritty. Again, not a happy thing for me. But the flavor was good! And in spite of the unpleasant texture, there's something compelling, almost addictive, about the flavor. I usually save good-tasting but bad-textured peanut butter for baking, but I've eaten almost half of the jar with a spoon.

The fact that it's full of flax seed and flax oil is a huge plus. Highly recommended as a mega-food, people add flax to their diet to boost their immune systems, fight cancer, and improve cardiovascular health. I'll be buying a replacement jar of Naturally More soon. I might try the organic variety, and they also have an almond butter product. I didn't expect it to work out this way, but I'm such a fan now I may spring for one of each!

Stealing Peanut Butter From the Dead

British comedian Russell Brand has admitted to grave robbing. Did he take something valuable? Jewelry perhaps? No.

During his recent appearance on the Late Show, he told host David Letterman that he took peanut butter from the grave site of writer Jack Kerouac. "Around his grave were all manner of tributes left by well-wishers. Some people had left things like a book of poems or flowers, more conventional, but someone had left a jar of peanut butter. That's no use to you in the afterlife, is it? I was hungry. I took it. I asked the crew, 'is that respectful to steal from a grave?' I was able to argue that in the spirit of the beat, in the spirit of rebellion and revolution he wouldn't mind if I had that peanut butter. So I took it."

Peanut Butter and Jelly Pizza

These peanut butter and jelly pizzas are so easy to make a child can do it--and things always taste better if you make them yourself!

We used Mama Mary's prepared individual size pizza crusts, spread them with peanut butter and then jelly, popped them in the oven for about 6 minutes, and it was time for the pizza party!

These are also delicious with chocolate chips sprinkled over the top--both instead of and in addition to the jelly!

Krema Natural Creamy Peanut Butter

Krema has been making peanut butter for over 100 years. The ingredients are: peanuts. That's it--no salt, oil, sugar, or any of the really bad stuff. A number of people have recommended that I try it, and it sounded like a winner. I hate to admit it, but I think I may have found a peanut butter I don't much care for. The flavor is terrific, and I love the absence of extra ingredients. It's the texture that bothers me: it doesn't feel good straight off the spoon. There's a gritty sort of texture, and although it disappears if you bake it into a recipe, I can't open a jar without sneaking a spoonful for a snack.