When it is a Peanut! Peanuts are not even close to being a nut, they are a legume. What is a legume you ask? It is a member of the pea family. Why are they called peanuts? Well, that is a good question. I couldn’t find the exact reason why. They were called ground peas or ground nuts at one time so maybe someone said hey let’s call them peanuts!
Who invented peanut butter? I thought it was George Washington Carver a scientist who created over 300 peanut products, but it was actually physician John Harvey Kellogg. Peanut Butter had a celebrated debut at the 1904 World Fair in St Louis Missouri.
All I know is besides peanut butter and jelly sandwichs, peanut butter cookies and I LOVE peanut sauce on chicken satay, crispy tofu or soba noodles!
Easy Peanut Sauce
Recipe makes 4-6 servings
4 tablespoons peanut butter, natural
4 tablespoons hot water
2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar or coconut sugar
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon or lime juice
Directions: In a small bowl combine peanut butter and water; mix until smooth paste forms. Stir in soy sauce, then brown sugar, cayenne and lemon juice. Mix by hand until well combined and smooth.
Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
1 Cup peanut butter
1 large Egg
1 Cup sugar
Optional: ½ cup mini chocolate chips and 1 tsp. real vanilla
Mix together ingredients. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Use 1 Tablespoon dough per cookie roll into a ball. Take a glass and press gently to flatten ( you may sugar the bottom of the glass so the dough doesn’t stick)
Bake at 325 for 10-12 minutes. Leave on cookie sheet a couple of minutes.
Move to a cookie rack to cool. Makes about 20-24 cookies.
Variation Use ½ cup white sugar and ½ cup brown sugar.
May try other sweeteners as well honey, maple syrup, Sucanant, or coconut sugar probably will have a different texture and baking times.
May try other nut butters, or add small amounts of seed, nuts, dried fruit – like raisins
