The Peanut Butter Boy » Vegetarian

Peanut Butter Kettle Corn

Nick — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:17:00 +0000

Movie night! Tonight on the agenda was a flick called “Black Sheep”. I was searching for the classic Chris Farley comedy from 1996, but it seems the title was rehashed in 2006 for a very different type of movie; a movie about blood-thirsty zombie sheep in New Zealand. How could I resist? Naturally, a movie of this caliber requires popcorn. Thanks to the invent of movie theater “butter” popcorn is usually not considered health food, but I intend to change that. Corn is a whole grain, therefore popcorn is a whole grain. Popcorn kernels contains more fiber than an apple, a banana, 2 oranges or a serving of barley. The only problem is that the carbs in popcorn digest super-quick into your bloodstream, bad for people with diabetes or those watching their weight. Guess what dramatically slows down the digestion of these carbs? That’s right, nature’s perfect food: peanut butter.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter

Nick — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:55:00 +0000

Individually, dark chocolate and peanut butter are two of my favorite foods. But when these powerhouses combine forces, you’ve got a rich, creamy and gourmet spread that is unlike anything else. However, a few words of wisdom: It does not work with everything. A toasted chocolate peanut butter and banana sandwich? Incredible. But, a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich may or may not hit the taste buds correctly, it all depends on the jelly. For example, dark cherry preserves will complement fabulously while a grape jelly will clash. Second word of wisdom: Keep spoons away from the jar. This peanut butter is extra creamy and extra delicious, resistance is futile. Hungry yet?

Walnut Snowballs

Nick — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:29:33 +0000

Every child likes to eat snow. And who can blame them? The only reason, as adults, that we don’t eat snow is we don’t want the neighbors to see. Well that’s about to change. You’ve probably seen these cookies before since they assume several identities – Mexican Wedding Cookies, Princess Tea Cakes, Honey Sandballs – but no matter what you call them, these are perfect for wintertime. Many people will tell you that these cookies can’t be made without butter – they’re wrong. While the flavor or consistency may be slightly different, this heart-healthy version is just as delicious. However, while healthier, these cookies are still high in calories, so if you’re watching your intake, you may want to stick with real snow.

Sweet Potato and Yam Casserole

Nick — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:48:46 +0000

If you want to be praised and heralded for bringing the best dish at Thanksgiving, then make this casserole. The dish is inspired by Elisabeth’s Tia Herlinda who made a stellar sweet potato casserole one year. I’ve made a few Peanut Butter Boy conversions that, I daresay, make it even tastier. My favorite way to eat this dish is actually the next day, cold, straight from fridge. But speaking of potatoes, do you know the difference between sweet potatoes and yams? I thought I had it figured out, believing the orange colored ones to be yams and the white ones to be sweet potatoes. Well I thought wrong, and Google and Wikipedia actually added to the confusion. The definitive answer can be found here: The Sweet Potato vs Yam Debate. While technically both are sweet potatoes, I’m still calling this dish the Sweet Potato and Yam Casserole (I enjoy mass confusion). As a bonus, I’ve also included instructions to perfectly cook 2 turkey breasts, for all the white-meat-loving or small-group Thanksgivings out there.

Express Eats: Peanut Butter and Cheese

Nick — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:20:49 +0000

I’ve paired peanut butter with some pretty strange things that turned out to be awesome. Such recipes include Peanut Butter with Eggs, Peanut Butter and Tomatoes and of course, Peanut Butter and Buffalo Wing Sauce. Along those lines, I bring you another seemingly-odd combination for the latest Express Eats installation, Peanut Butter and (cold) Cheese. This one was suggested by a reader, and while I was skeptical at first, one bite had me pleasantly surprised. This is a perfect protein-loaded midday snack or appetizer for a formal gathering (sure to start conversation). Be sure to pair the cheese and peanut butter so neither one is stronger in flavor than the other. If you really want to get fancy, sprinkle some sea salt or crumbled bacon on top.

Cabbage, Carrot and Peanut Bulgur

Nick — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:53:33 +0000

I don’t know why I made this. The combination of ingredients is strange, the name isn’t particularly appetizing (it was originally called braised bulgur and cabbage) and it doesn’t look all that good, but I had all the ingredients so it was too easy to pass up. Did you ever make a recipe you were skeptical about but it wound up being way better than expected? We served this with leftover Chicken Chana Saag (chicken and chickpeas in a spinach and garlic sauce), which is one of our favorite Indian dishes, and expected this odd recipe to simply be filler to round out the meal. We were so wrong. I couldn’t stop eating it and finished it all before I even touched the Saag. There were crazy flavors going on that I can’t fully describe – there was sweetness, saltiness, and something else that was just plain delicious. This taught me to never judge a recipe by its recipe.

Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Nick — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:42:03 +0000

Eat less processed meat. That’s our plan for our packed lunches. Peanut butter is a fantastic start, but PB&J will only get you so far. Leftovers are a great option but that requires leftovers, and I’m not going to make a fancy meal just to put it directly in the fridge. That’s when I turned to the blogging world for some vegetarian lunch ideas. The first and best-sounding one was Smitten Kitchen’s recipe, or perhaps I was just getting some recipe-vibes from Smitten’s kitchen across the river. I followed the recipe for the most part, but the chickpeas wouldn’t stick together. That’s when I got all giddy inside and whipped out the peanut butter jar. Problem solved and it became even tastier!

Peanut Butter Apple Crisp

Nick — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 01:25:34 +0000

Apple picking – a common fall activity enjoyed by thousands of people ever year. Yet somehow, for the past 5 years we’ve tried and failed to apple pick. Apple picking is the type of party you don’t want to be fashionably late to, yet we always were – and there were never any apples left. But this year we did it! A successful 26-lb haul of fresh picked apples. We tried to remember all the varieties we picked but couldn’t, there were just too many! Enjoy my first apple crisp ever – naturally a peanut butter one!

Tomato, Olive and Brussels Pasta

Nick — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:41:07 +0000

In a last desperate attempt to hold on to the summer season, we ventured to the farmers market to collect the colorful remnants of warm weather. We got the last couple of bright red tomatoes and the last yellow tomatoes on the farmers table. The pick of brussels sprouts was plentiful, probably because they are often overlooked and under-appreciated in my opinion. Plus, I just discovered a kickass way to cook them, a method which deserves a post all on its own. The recipe is based on one of my favorite recipes my mother makes. You can add fresh grated parmesan or mozzarella on top, but this dish is so fresh, simple and delicious that it doesn’t even need it.

Express Eats: Peanut Butter Hot Dog

Nick — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:40:00 +0000

This scary-sounding recipe is a long time staple of mine, but don’t let the name fool you. This recipe is for anyone, anywhere, anytime. There isn’t a market in the world that doesn’t sell bread, bananas and peanut butter (or peanuts, in which case you can make your own!). It’s so simple and delicious that it deserves the Pulitzer Prize and at least one Grammy. This recipe is further proof that Express Eats don’t sacrifice on creativity or flavor.