Peanut butter
A St. Louis physician invented peanut butter in 1890 to provide his patients with an easy-to-digest, high protein food. Several dozen commercial brands of peanut butter were on the market by 1914, and in 1923 a process was invented to keep the oil and peanut butter from separating. Peanut butter is a blend of ground shelled peanuts, vegetable oil and salt. You can make it yourself in a blender or food processor.
Plural
Peanut butter
Season
available year-round
How to select
Sold in both creamy and chunky (with bits of peanuts) style. Natural peanut butter does not contain any additives to keep the oil from separating.
How to store
Natural peanut butter must be refrigerated after opening and will last 6 months this way, while other commericial kinds will last as long at room temperature.
How to prepare
Used commonly as a sandwich spread, a favorite of children, as well as a primary ingredient in many desserts as well as savory sauces.
Substitutions
almond butter, cashew butter or other nut butter