National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
It’s a song. It’s an idiom.
Drive April sales of peanut butter, jelly, and ready-to-eat PB&J products by celebrating nostalgia and encouraging consumers to experiment with premium or novel flavor combinations.
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- Throwback lunch nostalgia: share your childhood PB&J memory
Peanut Butter was first invented by the Aztecs, who ground roasted peanuts into a rich nutritious paste. Peanut paste has been used all over the world in many different derivations ever since, being an absolute foundation of many cuisines.
One thing that made this protein and calorie dense food popular is it’s resistance to going off, and the ease with which it could be transported. Combine that with an amazing taste and texture, and it’s no wonder that peanut butter is a world favorite!
It comes in so many different varieties too! Chunky, smooth, natural, salted, unsalted, even premixed with jelly!
Peanut Butter really is an amazing food, and has been used to feed those who haven’t been able to eat ‘solid food’ for one reason or another.
It’s been used for a myriad of snacks, including ants on a log (Celery filled with peanut butter topped with raisins), peanut butter cookies, but it’s most popular derivation by far is the peanut butter and jelly sandwich!
Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches were thought to be invented during the American Civil war, when the men mixed their peanut ration and jelly ration to create a delicious new treat while out on the field.
When the men finally returned from the war, bedraggled and tired, they also brought with them news of this wonderful treat that brought them comfort on the field. Peanut butter and jelly sales soared at the wars end, all thanks to this delightful combination of sweet jelly and smooth peanut butter!
Jelly in this case is the North American version of the word, referring to a special kind of clear fruit preserve that is created from sugar sweetened fruit juice into a gel-like state often utilizing nothing more than the naturally occurring pectin in the fruit.
Sometimes it needs a little help, such as is the case with grapes, who are notoriously low in pectin. None the less, grape is a very popular flavor when mixed with peanut butter, second only to the luscious red strawberry!
There is a veritable rainbow of flavors of jelly available that can be used to help make this snack new every time! Grape, strawberry, blackberry, boysenberry, the possibilities are only limited by the types of fruit you can find!
There are even more exotic flavors, such as hot chile pepper, habanero, even wasabi, and while these aren’t as popular in the United States, there are those who prefer these spicy kicks to the sweetness every jelly brings!
Enjoy a PB&J Sandwich
Of course, the most obvious way to celebrate this day is to make sure that you have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. If you take a packed lunch to work or school, you know what the filling needs to be on this day!
Get Creative with Peanut Butter & Jelly
You can also have fun experimenting with different types of peanut butter and jelly. There are so many flavors out there for you to choose from, as well as different textures of peanut butter. You are bound to find a number of combinations that you have not experienced before, and so National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day gives you the perfect opportunity to explore this classic combination further.
Eat Other PB&J Foods
Peanut butter and jelly isn’t just found in sandwiches either! There’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Ice cream for those who prefer a cold mix of this treat, it can be found in a special brand of spread called “Goobers” where the Peanut Butter and Jelly come pre-mixed. Try out some peanut butter and jelly cookies, cakes, even the famous breakfast tart company Pop-tarts has come up with a variety of peanut-butter and jelly sandwich Pop-Tarts. No matter what your particular taste, you’re bound to find a variety of this delicious mix to suit your palette.
Host a PB&J Day Party!
You could even make a big occasion of it and throw a sampler party. All you need is a range of different peanut kinds of butter and jellies so that people can try out different options. This is an affordable way to host a party but it is a lot of fun because it is different from the norm. You may also want to get creative and make some baked goods that have been inspired by peanut butter and jelly, as well as ensuring there are some delicious drinks for everyone to enjoy. Or, if you really want to impress, why not try your hand at making your very own peanut butter or jelly? You will find plenty of different recipes online to follow, so you are bound to find something that appeals to your tastebuds. Plus, this is a great way to earn a few brownie points while throwing your event!