And we're back! Welcome to a whole new week ahead and I hope you enjoyed your weekend. Did you have any culinary adventures of your own? Here in Chicago, I'm always in search of some culinary adventure and this past weekend, I enjoyed the following events...
Restaurant Rewind - Olive Garden: Friends joined me in the kitchen to recreate some restaurant favorites of Olive Garden. Surprisingly, some of these homemade recipes were even better than their restaurant counterparts! Check back everyday this week for the recipes of the dishes we recreated.
Movable Feasts: Childhood Favorites, Reinvented! - My friends Jen and Wayne co-hosted this potluck dinner where we got together and brought a dish from our childhood with an updated twist. Dishes I prepared included a Pumpkin Bread Pudding with a Caramel Sauce and Cordon Bleu Croquettes.
Chicago Cupcake Crawl of 2009 - Probably the most exciting of my weekend culinary adventures, friends and I had a blast with our sugar high from all the cupcake shops around the city we visited. Check out where we went, what we thought and pics of some amazing cupcakes found here in Chicago!
This week's freebie is dedicated to all of us who are kids at heart. I'm sure there are quite a few of us that enjoyed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches throughout our childhood. Peanut butter was probably one of those ingredients solely purchased for sandwiches, if not cookies or other baked treats. Oddly enough, when there was peanut butter in our kitchen growing up, it wasn't really for sandwiches. Instead, it was a key ingredient for a Filipino dish called Kare-Kare, a peanut butter based stew. I'd often take the opportunity of snagging the peanut butter to make sandwiches when my mom wasn't looking.
Now in our house, my husband detests peanut butter. He won't go near it with a 10 foot pole and even the smell of it skeeves him out. He says that when he was eating Kare-Kare growing up, it wasn't a fond memory. So with a husband who can't stand peanut butter, I don't usually have it as part of my kitchen staples. Sad, isn't it?!
So for those that have a love of peanut butter or enjoy peanut butter sandwiches as I do even as adults, this week's freebie is just for you. A company called PB Loco is one I had a chance to meet in person a couple years ago and I was sold on their unique line of peanut butters. Move over Skippy and Jif, PB Loco is here and incorporates fun flavors into their peanut butter! For the freebie this week, a lucky reader will get their choice of any of the three following gourmet peanut butters from PB Loco:
Peanut Butter with Caramel Apple: "Delicious, tart apples. Sweet, yummy caramel. Remember this delicious combo? Enjoy it every day now in our smooth PB on a bagel, English muffin, toast, sandwich -- or eat it right off the spoon!"
Peanut Butter with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: "Remember loving chocolate-chip cookie dough more than the actual cookies? You'll be in dough heaven when you dig your spoon into this superbilicious fusion of childhood delights."
Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Duo: "Made with European chocolate. Dark. Rich. Decadent. What this has to do with Europe we're not sure. But we do know this: Imported chocolate and premium peanut butter make your tongue do gymnastics."
Peanut Butter with Jungle Banana: "Deep in the heart of the dark jungle stalk the tasty treats now held in a jar of Jungle Banana premium peanut butter. The untamed flavor of bananas are now caged with the fiercest peanuts. They practically pounce into your mouth. Grrr!"
Peanut Butter with Sumatra Cinnamon & Raisin: "Here is some very special cinnamon in this peanut butter. It is called Korintje and it is from Sumatra. The raisins swimming with the cinnamon in the premium peanut butter are plump and scrumptious. You may want to sit down to eat this one."
I hope a lucky reader will be able to enjoy peanut butter with a twist upon receiving this delicious freebie! So how do you get in on the peanut butter action? Read on...
Some guidelines:
- Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States - my apologies to my international readers!
- You must check back on my blog on Friday to see if you've won so you can claim your prize!
- Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States - my apologies to my international readers!
- You must check back on my blog on Friday to see if you've won so you can claim your prize!
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment answering:
- What is your favorite way to enjoy peanut butter? Sandwiches? Cupcakes? Cookies? Something else?
Deadline: Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 12 midnight CST.
ONE WINNER will be randomly chosen by Random. Org's Interger Generator based on the number of your comment and will be announced on Friday, September 25, 2009. Good luck!
One a piece of toast
ReplyDeleteI love the combo of peanut butter and chocolate so pretty much anything with those two together, you can't go wrong.
ReplyDeleteI love dipping celery into peanut butter, that's my favorite! And that caramel apple PB sounds sooo good!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, my favorite way to enjoy PB is straight out of the jar with a spoon!
ReplyDeleteYUM!
My favorite way to enjoy peanut butter is for sure a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty generic...there's NOTHING like a good PB&J sandwich!
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of the peanut butter sandwich but I have to agree with Erin, straight out of the jar is good too!!
ReplyDeleteI love to eat peanut butter in a bowl with a little bit of honey drizzled in YUMMY!!
ReplyDeleteCrunchy is best eaten with a spoon. Creamy is soo good in icing over a moist chocolate cake. Yumm!
ReplyDeletepeanut butter and bacon toast. YUM!
ReplyDeletepeanut butter and apples is my fave healthy snack...but peanut butter and chocolate is my guilty pleasure!
ReplyDeletePB can be enjoyed in any way in my book from a PB&J sandwich to a piece of celery...or just sticking a spoon into a jar is a great snack in my book. My favorite has to be adding a piece of chocolate to the spoon of PB - YUM!
ReplyDeleteI love eating it straight from the jar with a spoon!!
ReplyDeleteMMM YUM! What an awesome give away! My favorite way to eat peanut butter is straight out of the jar plain ;-) but I also love it in a sandwich with peanut butter and bananas!
ReplyDeletepeanut butter is my weakness! I love PB & banana sandwiches for breakfast or before a big run. I also love the classic PB&J.
ReplyDeleteFor snacking, I like slicing an apple & dipping it in melted peanut butter.
I must confess, I eat peanut butter almost daily.
Peanut butter and fluff on saltines is heaven!
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter spread on slices of green apple. YUM!!!!
ReplyDeletePeanut butter with jam on a toasted english muffin :P
ReplyDeleteI like ot have peanut butter on toast topped with banana slices - its my go-to meal before a long run!
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter on just about everything, but I think my favorite is on celery sticks. Yum!
ReplyDeleteI LOOOOOVE eating a messy, goopy Elvis sandwich!! Please tell me you've heard of this...
ReplyDeleteOn a piece of thick bread, layer peanut butter, bacon slices, and banana slices, and then drizzle honey over it all and top with another piece of bread. Butter the outside of each piece of bread and fry in the pan that the bacon fried in until golden and crispy on both sides (like a grilled cheese sandwich). It's SOOOO delicious-- you cannot be a hater and proclaim it to be disgusting until you've actually tried it!
*Warning: do not consume if you have heart disease or have previous history of heart attacks, because this just might stop your heart!
any combination of peanut butter and chocolate!
ReplyDeleteI actually don't like PB (gasp!) but DH eats it just about everyday. One of his favorites is the Taffy Apple Pizza recipe from Pampered Chef!
ReplyDelete-evitawylie at hotmail dot com
My own, completely unhealthy version of peanut butter and fluff--I take the large marshmallows and dip them in the peanut butter. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteEither that, or I get Wilton's peanut butter flavored melting candy for cake bites, but I am not sure if that counts.
This may sound gross but, butter, then peanut butter spread over toast! (No crust)
ReplyDeleteyum, I love PB! I eat it in sandwiches, add it to various dessert recipes, and eat it with apples.
ReplyDeletemmm, Peanut butter on a freshly made piece of toast, so that the peanut butter is warm and gooey.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite way.. is the classic spoon stolen from the jar!
ReplyDeleteI love melting peanut butter and then putting it on my ice cream.
ReplyDeleteMy way is PB and banana on toast or english muffin drizzled with honey YUM!
ReplyDeleteI have been eyeing these PB's online for a while. My favorite way to eat PB is as a fluffanutter. It is a peanut butter and marshmellow fluff sandwich. I usually eat them for breakfast.
ReplyDeleteOn a toasted english muffin - mmmmm
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter pretty much any way but I think my favorite is cookies with a big glass of milk!
ReplyDeleteI like a big glob of peanut butter on top of hot oatmeal. It kinda melts into the oatmeal and is absolutely divine.
ReplyDeleteI love mixing peanut butter in my oatmeal on mornings I need a little something extra to start the day.
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter in general, but there is just something comforting about a good ol' peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It just brings me back to my childhood.
ReplyDeleteI looove peanut butter fudge or peanut butter on toast, but my favorite has to be my own signature peanut butter frosting that I use for my chocolate peanut butter cupcakes!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE peanut butter! I like it in smoothies, as a dip for a banana, in cookies, on sandwiches (my 33 year old husband takes a triple-decker peanut butter sandwich to work when there aren't leftovers for him)... so many ways...
ReplyDeleteBut I'd have to say one of my favorite ways is on vanilla ice cream, with chocolate syrup and broken sugar cones. Delicious!
On toast has always been a childhood favorite, but lately its mixed into oatmeal for breakfast. So comforting on cold mornings!
ReplyDeleteOn a piece of toast OR standing in my kitchen, right off the spoon. My dog likes it that way too :)
ReplyDeleteTraditional PB&J with strawberry jelly!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE peanut butter. I wish it wasn't so fattening...that doesn't stop me from eating it though.
ReplyDeleteI love pb and honey sandwiches, pb and syrup sandwiches(yes syrup),pb and fluff, pb and banana, pb and chocolate,and I could go on and on.
I can remember my Dad eating pb and bologna sandwiches. I thought that sounded gross too.What can I say though. He was from Louisiana.
My favorite way to eat peanut butter is straight from the jar. With a scoop of Nutella right after.....
ReplyDeletepeanut butter and banana sandwiches! definitely.
ReplyDeleteOn a spoon with some Nutella!
ReplyDeletePeanut butter chocolate chip brownie chunk cookies. The recipe only calls for 1 cup of peanut butter, but I ALWAYS use the whole jar! YUM!
ReplyDeleteI have a favorite recipe with peanut butter... My mom called it Mona's Mess. LOVED it. :)
ReplyDeleteI think my favorite is always going to be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That or in a Reese's Cup!
ReplyDeleteAny combo of PB and chocolate is winner - especially in ice cream or cookies. Yum!
ReplyDeleteJust saw these at the store the other day. Yum! I love peanut butter cookies.
ReplyDeletePB & banana sandwich or PB & marshmallow fluff!! And if I'm really hungry just a spoonful of PB with a few chocolate chunks on top!
ReplyDeleteIn a spicy peanut sauce over some kind of noodles or tofu. I like my peanut butter in savory dishes and hated it in sandwiches growing up.
ReplyDeleteI love PB in every way... but I love a chocolate cookie dipped in PB or a PB coated apple... or a PB&J sandwich... or PB cheesecake! it's goes on, and on, and on! great giveaway!
ReplyDeletepeanut butter and apples, I love it!
ReplyDeleteDo reese's peanut cups count??? I figure why reinvent the wheel!?!
ReplyDeletemy Favorite way is my peanut butter dipping sauce for spring rolls!
ReplyDeletePeanut butter is my favorite! I love it on a piece of fresh, homemade sandwich bread. And a glass of milk!
ReplyDeleteYou will think I am crazy but I have not eaten a peanut butter sandwich in my entire life. I like it on crackers, toast or English muffins.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite way to consume pb is via a peanut butter cookie. MMMM!
ReplyDeleteToast cinnamon raisin bread and crunchy peanut butter sandwich!
ReplyDeletePeanut butter with apple slices!
ReplyDeleteThe best way to eat peanut butter in my opinion is straight from the jar on a spoon into my mouth. YUMMYYYYY!! These flavors look so delicious!
ReplyDeleteI am a purist. Straight out of the jar. If forced to make the pb last longer, it is pretty tasty on unsalted premiums.
ReplyDeleteDelicious flavor combinations!
Peanut butter and jelly toasted sandwich!
ReplyDeleteStraight out of the jar :) I've had PB loco PB before and really love it, especially the white chocolate raspberry - yum!
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow filipina, I love Kare Kare. But it's a tie for peanut butter & granny smith apples & Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches.
ReplyDelete::Happy dance for Peanutttttt Butttttttter & jelllllllllllyyyy!::
haha
I love it on apples, but ever since I became prego, right off the spoon works for me!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite way to eat peanut butter is on a piece of freshly baked whole wheat bread, with a little grape jelly to top it off!
ReplyDeletefor the longest time i been having a craving for peanut butter and pretzels. but right now i been eating a lot of the candy mary janes. loving the peanut butter and molasses.
ReplyDeleteSmeared on a banana bite by bite.
ReplyDeleteOn bread, with marshmallow fluff - fluffernutter. Heaven.
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter on a toasted English muffin with a sliced banana on top.
ReplyDeletePB swirled in vanilla bean ice cream is divine. But, you can't go wrong with a classic PB & J!!
ReplyDeleteAny way! I love PB! On bread, on waffles, a roll,a rice cake, a spoon, my finger! I love to toast up 2 waffles and make a Peanut Butter and Jelly sammy on them... the peanut butter gets all gooey and melty!
ReplyDeleteOn a spoon, straight out of the jar!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite way to eat peanut butter (crunchy please) is on top on pancakes with lots of syrup. Mmmm.
ReplyDeleteI love my PB on toast!
ReplyDeletedefinitely on toast with strawberry jam...although I saw a muffin recipe today that involved bananas, chocolate and peanut butter that sounds yummy enough to try.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, these sound amazing!!! There is no better way to eat peanut butter than to enjoy it straight from the jar on a spoon. Mmm...
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter with a crisp, just picked Gala apple.
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter on toast!
ReplyDeleteOOO, I love peanut butter with banana slices on toast with a glass of ice cold milk on the side!
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter any way it comes. My favorite though, is peanut butter and honey sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteOn whole wheat english muffins with sliced bananas!
ReplyDeleteI put a spoonful in my oatmeal every morning. I also love a good pb&j!
ReplyDeleteI love Peanut Butter on celery.. or just a big heapin' spoonful plain.
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter mixed with chocolate, pretzels, and ice cream. Yum!
ReplyDeleteDo I really have to pick just ONE way that I enjoy peanut butter?
ReplyDelete1. An english muffin with slices of banana.
2. On an apple.
3. In a reece's pb cup.
Hey Jolene, I LOVE your blog!!! Peanut butter is my favorite, I eat it everyday, either on a cracker, sandwich, celery, I also love to add PB to sauces. I hope to be able to try PB Loco.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy peanut butter in pretty much any way! If I had to choose a favorite it would peanut butter with chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI love granny smith & peanut butter...just the right amount of EVERYTHING!! :)
ReplyDeleteI loveee PB on homemade banana muffins.. and also PB chocolate bars. sooo good!! :)
ReplyDeleteOn graham crackers or on celery with raisins.
ReplyDeleteMy all time favorite is peanut butter on pancakes with syrup. It is absolutely delicious and I have loved since I was a child.
ReplyDeletePeanut Butter on Toast with a thin spread of Strawberry Jam. Yummy!
ReplyDeleteDude...peanut butter on ANYTHING!!!! I don't think I could pick just one thing :o( I guess if I have too, probably peanut butter fudge!
ReplyDeleteI am a self-admitted peanut butter-aholic! I love ANYTHING peanut butter, but sometimes there's just nothing better than a simple spoon-ful of peanut butter, right out of the jar! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm really basic. I like my peanut butter on a slice of potato bread. That's it!
ReplyDeleteHopefully 99 is a lucky number...all of those flavors sound AMAZING! I love LOVE PB on anything...for the past couple of weeks it's been a regular for me for breakfast. On toast, with Trader Joe's Blackberry jam...yum!
ReplyDeleteI love PB and banana sandwiches with a bit of honey. :)
ReplyDeleteI love to eat pb with Nutella in croissants.
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter on a spoon - for dessert, nothing beats peanut butter sundaes!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many great things to do with it, but one top comfort food is to smear PB and honey on a tortilla and to warm it in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed how many people have never tried the PB/honey combo... amazing!!
I used PB on vegetables as a way to eat more vegetables :-)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy PB in candy. Homemade Peanut Butter balls are so tasty!
ReplyDeleteOn apples or with chocolate. Yum!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is to mix PB with a little honey and something crunchy (like crushed corn flakes or grape nuts) and spread over apple slices. YUMMY!
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter and jelly!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is peanut butter on a banana, but there are a lot of close seconds.
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter... on most of anything. Apples are probably my favorite. These sound sooo good to go with apples. mMMMMM
ReplyDeleteohhh I Love peanut butter! I like to put it on hot toast and let it get all melty and goey! These look like great christmas gifts and stocking stuffers! I've never heard of them before!
ReplyDelete