Some Gratitude and Peanut Butter

Hello lovelies!

 Did you know that today, something struck me? Something that I know, and that I try to tell myself everyday, and yet don’t really know. This morning, I was standing in the kitchen scarfing down my breakfast and it suddenly occurred to me how lucky I really am. My breakfast this morning consisted of banana and homemade peanut butter on homemade sourdough toast. For me, that’s everyday stuff and I take it for granted that my house will always be stocked with homemade bread and homemade peanut butter. For lunch, I had homemade marmalade and homemade yoghurt (obviously not together) and I know that if I want one, there is a homemade chocolate biscuit that Freckles (my second youngest sister) has made. For me, these occurrences are natural – it’s just a given of living in my house that you will never be short of things like this. And yet, for so many, homemade basics and indulgences are things of imagination, found in somebody else’s house – not theirs.

I don’t know why today I remembered and am truly appreciating all these things, but I am. I truly am blessed to have these things around me, as well as my beautiful, healthy family and the support and love they provide. A little love can go a long way – and I believe that can start with food. A little time and love put into the preparation of the fuel and nourishment that we put into our mouths can do wonders for our body and mind as well as the relationships we cultivate and maintain. I also believe that everyone can do just a little bit of the homemade – for the pride it creates in making something beautiful and tasty, the health benefits we gain by removing store-bought, processed stuff and the true deliciousness of the homemade goodie.

While I understand that not everyone has the time, or want, to invest in the making of a sourdough loaf (I nurtured that starter for a week and a half before I could bake with it), but I swear, everyone can and should at least try making their own peanut butter. Kraft crunchy peanut butter has: peanuts (85%), oil, sugar, salt, stabiliser and preservatives. Homemade peanut butter has: peanuts (99.9-100%) and salt (optional). Time taken to acquire Kraft peanut: 10+ minutes (depending on where your nearest shops are). Time taken to make peanut butter: 10 minutes max (well, assuming you have the peanuts). See the difference? Trust me, this is something you are not going to look back on. All you need is some peanuts, a food processor, a jar and maybe some salt. Oh, and I like to use a mortar and pestle, but that’s just because I’m fussy… :)

xxLissa

Homemade Peanut Butter

Makes 1 jar

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: -

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups peanuts

Salt (optional)

Method (smooth)

1.     Place peanuts in food processor and process until smooth and buttery .The nuts will go through several stages, including: chopped, crumbly, powder, giant ball of nut dough before finally reaching smooth paste. Do not be alarmed – just keep blending, it will take about 3 minutes.

2.     Taste and add salt if desired

3.     Pour into jar

Method (crunchy)

1.     Place a little less than 1 cup of peanuts into food processor and process until it becomes peanut butter (see smooth method)

2.     Add salt if desired

3.     Add in rest of nuts and process until butter is of desired texture

4.     Pour into jar

Tips and Notes

Do not be alarmed as your peanuts go through the ‘stages of becoming butter’ – it will happen, just keep blending

I like to buy roasted, unsalted peanuts and them dry roast extra in a frying pan for that extra roasty flavour (I find it doesn’t need so much salt if I do that)

If you use salted peanuts, I do not think you will need salt

I personally like to break up my extra nuts for the crunchy peanut butter in a mortar and pestle and then stir them in – I just find it helps keep the peanut butter really smooth, but still crunchy

Feel free to experiment with other nuts but you may need to add oil, depending on the oil content of the nuts. I tried cashew butter, which I may like better than peanut butter, I can’t quite decide, and I did need to add a little oil – so go with your own judgement. :)