Eat Together, Make Life Delicious...

Homemade peanut butter and jelly makes all the difference—it is very easy to make and keeps for 6 weeks in the refrigerator. It is great fun to have everyone prepare their own P&J sandwiches and can be done by putting out the ingredients, plates, and plenty of knifes for spreading.

Peanut Butter is also the base to a lot of really neat salad dressings including my favorite, Sesame Peanut Salad Dressing (and listed below)! This is a delicious dressing that enhances salads and also other dishes too. This recipe is mouth-wateringly thick, to make it more loose, simply add more sesame oil and shake. Try a healthy dollop of this over a seared tuna or grilled burger. It is also tasty tossed in fettuccine noodles with slices of cucumber for a cold salad.

Homemade Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Makes 4 Servings

For the Grape Jelly:
2 cups grape juice
3½ cups refined sugar
1 (3-ounce) package fruit liquid pectin (or powder pectin or gelatin, just follow the instructions to dissolve)

For the Peanut Butter:
2 cups roasted shelled peanuts
1 tablespoon peanut oil
½ teaspoon salt (omit salt if using salted peanuts)

For the Sandwiches:
8 slices white bread

Make the Jelly
Place a medium saucepan over high heat. Add the grape juice and sugar and bring the mixture to a boil. Pour in the pectin, stirring constantly, and allow the jelly mixture to come to a hard boil for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and skim off any surface foam. Pour into a heatproof-glass canning jar and transfer to the refrigerator to cool completely.

Make the Peanut Butter
Meanwhile, in a standing blender or food processor, combine the roasted peanuts, peanut oil, and salt. Pulse until a creamy mixture forms. Carefully scoop out the peanut butter and place it in a clean container.

Make the Sandwiches
Generously coat 4 slices of the bread with peanut butter and the remaining 4 slices with jelly. Place the jelly-spread slices over the peanut butter-spread slices and serve immediately, either plated or wrapped in a heavy-duty paper napkin.

Try my favorite salad dressing...it's a must!

Sesame Peanut Salad Dressing
Makes 1 cup

2/3 cup store-bought of homemade peanut butter
½ cup rice wine vinegar
½ cup orange juice
4 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons sesame oil
½ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
1 teaspoon table salt

Combine the ingredients in a medium metal bowl and whisk until smooth. The dressing will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Labels: Comfort Food, Homemade Jelly, Homemade Peanut Butter, Sesame Peanut Salad Dressing