Peanut Butter
Matt Seinberg

For as long as I can remember, I've always loved peanut butter. For that matter, pretty much anything with peanuts in it was always on my Top 10 list. The one peanut thing I don't like is peanut sauce, used in some Asian cuisines.

Peanut butter is always an ingredient for brownies.

When my wife makes brownies, I'll ask her to put some peanut butter in them. She always replies, “No,” that the recipe doesn't call for it. Who cares? This isn't a bakery; all the products sell, in a manner of speaking. This is our house, where we all will eat brownies, including the cats, if given the chance.

The girls have made brownies. They included peanut butter, even if the recipe didn't call for it. Guess what, those brownies were great! So, screw the recipe and full peanuts ahead!

Did you know that two successful restaurant chains offer their patrons peanuts before, during and after their dinner? Texas Roadhouse and Five Guys Burgers have buckets of them, just waiting for us to dig in. At Texas Roadhouse, you can drop the shells in a bucket or on the floor; the choice is yours. Five Guys frowns on just dropping them on the floor, that's not their style. That's fine. They have little peanut boats for the shells.

I feel sorry for kids and adults that have peanut allergies. They have no idea the treats that they are missing. So many great snacks start with peanuts. Shall I list some of my favorites?

Here are a few of my favourite peanut butter foods.

(1) Skippy Roasted Honey Nut Peanut Butter: I used to get the crunchy style, but I don't think it’s available anymore, so I just get the smooth.

(2) Skippy Regular Peanut Butter: I don't like Peanut Pan or Jif or store brands. They are just not the same. Michelle, my daughter, is like me, she loves peanut butter.

(3) Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches: I'll usually have at least one a week for lunch. My favorite jelly is strawberry, followed by raspberry and blackberry. It doesn't really matter; the peanut butter is the star of the sandwich.

(4) Shell peanuts are so much fun to break open. Sometimes if you get lucky, instead of just two nuts inside, there may be three! Woo Hoo!

(5) Peanut Butter Cheesecake is a little slice of heaven on a plate. The Cheesecake Factory makes the best one I've ever had.

(6) Peanut Butter Pie is lighter and fluffier if done correctly. As I remember, it's made with yogurt and whipped cream. Done right, it’s another slice of heaven set before you.

(7) Chinese style chicken with vegetables and peanuts or cashews. Who says peanuts can't be in a main dish?

(8) Peanut Butter Blizzards at Dairy Queen: do you drink it or eat it? Who cares? It's delicious!

(9) Cinnamon Raisin Toast with Peanut Butter at breakfast is a great way to start the day!

(10) Who doesn't love Peanut Butter Captain Crunch? Give me a box, with or without a bowl and milk, and I'm very happy. I'd rather be happy than grumpy anytime.

(11) Last, but not least, a bonus: Hershey's Peanut Butter Cup. What's better together than chocolate and peanut butter? Nothing is better!

If you can imagine it, peanut butter can be there for you. It's like a friend that will never let you down and is willing to have a knife or a spoon plunged into it to make your life just a little bit more pleasant.

Easter is time for chocolate with peanut butter.

Oh, I forgot to mention that it's almost Easter, which means only one thing. It's time for the Cadbury Peanut Butter Egg!