What is your choice of PB?What jelly etc. do you add,if you use jelly etc.?

[jsr2836]

I just used jif for awhile.I tried smucker's natural,was ok.Then planters natural,been my regular.Lastnight I spent 20mins looking at PB lol.I ended up getting "naturally more".Still got planters pb to go through before I crack the seal.Have you tried it,any good?Here is a few other PBs I want to try. Krema-smooth,Maranatha Creamy,Walden Farms Whipped Peanut Spread,soybutter,& kettle cashew butter.

I like to toast my bread & add smucker's simply fruit:Seedless Black raspberry.I like it alot because its not extremely sweet like most jelly etc. I tried.

[rccola]

Kirkland natural PB and Strawberry Preserves (? don't know if it's called preserves or just fruit) are great and cheap and the jam/preserves/fruit is not very sweet. Cheap, too. Costco.

[iL Divo]

so this morning I had toast and peanut butter and Philadelphia brand white chocolate cream cheese spread....oh my heavens
I also bought the dark chocolate version and the milk chocolate version, just in case I want variety :)))

[FriedClamFanatic]

oh man.that is great combo!

[Rodzilla]

I've tried PB & Co and all of those, I still prefer Skippy Natural - I just don't think it gets any better.

[Rodzilla]

I forgot to mention for Jelly my all time favorite is Giant Eagle Wildberry Fusion Fruit Spread

Giant Eagle is a regional grocery chain in Western PA, Ohio, and WV

[Steve Green]

Laura Scudders PB (either chunky or smooth) with Smucker's Orchard's Finest strawberry preserves. I pour off most of the oil before mixing the PB.

[Ariadanz]

When I was growing up Acme Supermarkets had what I still consider to be the BEST crunchy peanut butter - house brand. It is no longer the same, I remain convinced however that it really was superior back then and I'm not just remembering it fondly. Currently hubby pretty much only eats Smooth/Creamy style Jiff. He eats so much of it that we buy it at Costco/BJ's in the bulk packs and when they announced last year there would be a peanut shortage and price increase he bought a year's supply give or take. He was not going to be denied if he had another downsizing at work etc, whatever else we had there WOULD be peanut butter.

Currently I'm waffling between Skippy Super Chunk and Planters Chunky. I haven't quite decided which one I prefer, but I will eat the creamy Jiff in a pinch.

As for Jam, I grew up on homemade strawberry jam. I unfortunately do not have as much access to that as I'd like so right now its usually Smuckers Orchard Finest Strawberry preserves. If thats not available then plain Smuckers Strawberry Preserves will do. I prefer jams made without hfcs but I will take one with that but tons of chunky fruit over one without and not enough fruit chunks.

We also usually keep some hot pepper jams on hand, there's an amish farm a couple hours away that makes various fruit jams with different chiles in them. Blackberry with Czech Black Chiles, Apricot with Lemon Drop Chilies etc plus Raspberry and so forth with various types of chiles. Those make nice PB&J's sometimes, as does good Orange Marmelade or Ginger Preserves from time to time.

Still 8 times out of 10 its just plain old chunky pb plus strawberry jam. Unless I'm splurging, then its buttered toast, spread with peanut butter, then freshly ground cinnamon sugar and sliced bananas. I usually forgo the bacon, but not always.

[happybaker]

I used to make my own PB - fresh roasted peanuts (from TJ's or a can of planters) whizzed in the cuisinart till soupy and - done.

But you know what? Skippy super chunk is awfully good. Really.

And I am with mamachef too, unless I have given away all my supplies, it's PB with homemade jam. Nectarine, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry or apricot. Plum jam if we are lucky, but we have a holiday waiting list for that...

[JenJeninCT]

Planter's Chunky and homemade muscadine jelly on soft white bread
or
Fresh peanut butter from the grind your own at WF, Fresh market or Fairway, with local honey (with the comb- yum!), on wheat or white toast, or on white bread with bananas and grilled

[bagelman01]

+! on the honey, I don't like jelly

About 35 years ago I was given an electric peanut butter maker which I still use to make/grind my own (don't know the brand, the label has long since peeled off).

I do keep several of the largest size jars of Skippy Super Chunk in the pantry for either emergencies (loss of power from a storm) or for baking (my wife and daughter like peanut butter bars made from a yellow cake mix, Skippy Super Chunk and with melted hershey's chocolate on top). I like it just spread on matzo.

[bamagirl30]

+1 on the raspberry jelly. I use my home made blackberry/raspberry jam that I put fresh ginger in for a little heat. I don't like any kind of jelly like grape jelly, the consistency is weird to me where it doesn't so much spread, but blobs. I also like smuckers strawberry jam. I usually use JIF creamy, but I am beginning to prefer a little more chunky.

[pine time]

Sprout's Extra Crunchy (I think the Sprout's stores are Wild Harvest in the east). However, if I have Maranatha Almond Butter from CostCo (also crunchy), I'll take that over PNB any day. Even better is a grilled (think like grilled cheese) PB&J sandwich for decadence.

For an adult PB&J drink, try Frangelico with a goodly splash of Chambord--and I'm not usually a Frangelico fan.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Anderson natural PB - nothing but peanuts, and homemade apricot, or pomegranate jelly.

[iL Divo]

loved when I used to have apricot, plum & peach trees. I ate dozens at a time I swear.

[eclecticsynergy]

In recent years I've taken to buying organic cashew butter from the bulk section at the local CoOp. Sometimes almond butter, for variety's sake. The thing is, I can buy as much or as little as I want so it's never been sitting around for very long. Freshly (and locally) made from good quality nuts too, whereas peanut butter often tends to be made from the ones that didn't make the grade to be sold on their own, and of an indeterminate age by the time it reaches the store shelves.

I love cashew butter and good peach jam, or Hero imported strawberry or raspberry. Or black currant. On toasted twelve grain bread, buttered and still warm. Or a nice bagel, split, buttered and then broiled so the butter browns a little as it's toasting, with almond butter and good honey.

Not that I don't still love toasted Wonder bread with Jif and Welch's grape jam, too. It's just that I've found versions that are a little more indulgent.

[FriedClamFanatic]

Cashew butter is a wonderful, slightly exotic taste. I have bought it, made it (with a Salton PB maker).and on my own bread or Eng Muffins, it is divine.......but i find, I often add just a smidge of gourmet salt to it to give it some "bite"

[peanut329]

Koeze's Cream-Nut peanut butter or Smucker's Natural. Just peanuts and salt in both. I like that they both have a little bit of texture without being crunchy. And I love the glass jars! I like my peanut butter all melty on toasted bread or an english muffin with raspberry jam (has to have the seeds) or sliced banana on top.

[jujuthomas]

My perfect PB&J is whipped Peter Pan on soft bread, with a light schmear of my grandmother's home made raspberry currant jam. Now that she doesn't can any more, store bought raspberry or strawberry. Never been a huge fan of grape, but will eat it if it's the only jelly in the house.

[jbsiegel]

For PB, we tend to use Peanut Butter & Co. How pathetically lazy am I that with the flavored ones, I can make a PB wrap by spreading the PB on a flour tortilla and rolling it up. No jelly/honey/whatever needed!

I also just bought some of the PB Crave, but haven't tried those yet.

Other than that, grinding my own is fun. We buy those large canisters of nuts from Costco and make assorted different nut butters. Right now, we're working on cashew/almond.

And...Jif vs. Skippy? Skippy creamy all the way!

[Chi_Guy]

My favorite brand of PB is Whole Foods 365, both the creamy and crunchy varieties. It has only two ingredients: peanuts and salt. It's the only one that actually tastes like a fresh ground peanuts. Was rated #1 in a natural PB taste test: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02.... It also pairs really well with Nutella.

For jelly, I like to use Trader Joe's reduced sugar raspbery preserves. I find most preserves too sweet and this one has just the right amount of sweetness. Usually though I prefer to use a fresh fruit compote or sauce if I happen to have it lying around in the fridge.

[greygarious]

ChiGuy, if you've never had it, you might like Costco's Kirkland Organic Strawberry Spread. It is more of a compote texture than a jelly/preserve, and is noticeably less sweet (and somewhat less red because there's no dye) than other commercial strawberry preserves. It's also very suitable for shortcake and as a topping for ice cream, pudding, yogurt, etc.

[Chi_Guy]

Thanks! Never tried it but Costco products have always been consistently good. I was planning to go there this weekend and I'll be sure to check it out.

[pinehurst]

Having spent a childhood eating smooth PB, I now trend toward chunky. I like Teddie chunky **a lot** but will do Peter Pan or Jif; Skippy tastes "sweeter" to me, and I like the PB to trend toward salty.

We've gone all healthy in our house so we are now doing Polaner All Fruit No Sugar Strawberry Jam, but my fave if I'm not doing straight PB on whole wheat is thin thin thin slices of strawberries or occasionally granny smith apple.

[mpjmph]

I like Trader Joe's creamy salted PB, but will occasionally get Smucker's natural if I need to resupply and don't need anything else from TJ's. I prefer jam to jelly, grape and strawberry are both acceptable. Apple jelly is good too. I also like honey or banana. Sometimes I like to stir the PB and honey together with a little cinnamon. For bread, I like homemade white bread untoasted, or toasted whole grain. In a pinch, I will make a PBJ roll up on a tortilla.

[Taralli]

Teddie's super chunky on toasted "When Pigs Fly" Mango, Pineapple, Raisin w/Toasted Sesame & Ginger bread.

[grubstake]

trader joes PB is good...no oils or sugar just peanuts

[FriedClamFanatic]

OMG..it;s midnight and i came back to read new posts.....and had to run out a make some English Muffins with PB (Chunk) and some butter..........divine!

[Novelli]

For PB&Js

Peanut Butter = Maranantha No Stir Creamy Peanut Butter
Jam = any of my homemade varieties

[iL Divo]

care to share what kind you make Novelli? I happen to have many large ripe plums that I'd like some help with.

[Jen76]

I have plums sliced, pitted, and coated in sugar sitting in the fridge right now. Tomorrow or Monday they'll be put in the slow cooker (which is really my rice cooker with a slow cook setting) with a couple lemon juice cubes (from homegrown and homesqueezed lemons) until they turn into jam. Will keep a jar in the fridge and the rest will go into freezer jars. Yum.

As for the PB, Trader Joe's Organic Crunchy currently resides in my fridge along with a jar of homemade peach jam (made from locally grown peaches) to be eaten on Trader Joe's Multigrain bread. I love the oats on the crust.

[iL Divo]

"love the oats on the crust."

I think you love TJ's :)))

[Jen76]

Guilty. It's just so convenient, small, friendly, next door to my favorite local book store, and close enough to ride my bike. :)

[iL Divo]

well there you go, it's a hole in 1 for you then

[iL Divo]

home made white bread sliced thin
Skippy original
Lyle's Golden syrup
------
Milton's Seed and Grain bread
Skippy original
Crisp Iceburg lettuce
Crisp fried Bacon
Hellman's

[randyjl]

Skippy with Black Currant jam on toasted english muffin!

[iL Divo]

oooooh that does sound good.
wonder if anyone has attempted making their own English Muffs?
so good

[FriedClamFanatic]

I make my own Eng Muffins with a sourdough mix/starter that I have been cultivating for 10 years. The "plumpness" of my muffins don't equal Thomas's.but the taste is divine

[Emme]

i make my own as well. not from a sourdough starter though. one of my favorite easy (slightly impressive) breakfast breads. i love using the rings i have for my frying pan.

[iL Divo]

did you get your rings from Smart&Final?
wonder if anyone makes JC's English muffs?

[Emme]

no... i think i got them at Surfa's or Restaurant Depot... or possibly another supplier... truth be told, i didn't know smart & final carried 'em... good to know! thanks!

[sandylc]

Emme, care to share your recipe?

[iL Divo]

*Fried Clam

if I might request: how do you supply your starter when you've used some? water/flour-milk/flour-flour/water/yeast? I just replace what I've used with = parts milk+flour. do you leave it out or keep it refrigerated? mine is in a huge glass container with the rubber closure lid but it becomes a tainted color of water/liquid. > what is that?

[FriedClamFanatic]

the tainting is the process of turning the stuff into alcohol.....just mix it back in. when i use my starter, I actually have 2 containers going. I use one in the recipe, divide the other one approximately in half...then add 3 oz of flour and 3 oz of water (both by weight!) to both

[JolokiaJen]

Maranatha Almond Butter is Awesome! I like to try different interesting jams and jellys, all different fruits. I have a rhubarb one now that's pretty good.

[FriedClamFanatic]

I always used Skippy;s.chunky. my local Supermarket stopped carrying in larger jars, so I switched to the store Brand which was surprisingly similar. I also like Planters. And a little hint....a TBS or so of PB for every serving of chicken soup......veg.....rice......noodle,,,,,,,,,,adds a nice texture and taste

I used to make Cashew Butter wikth my Salton PB maker...ok......Then! I found Almond butter at Whole Foods!..............divine!

[Emme]

Freshly Ground PB with a little sea salt (sometimes smoky)
Jam is either apricot or blackberry, or plum, preferably homemade (jams/spreads not for pairing with PB - apple or pear butter; pumpkin butter)
back in the day, on the rare occasion i paired them, it was on a saltine or Club cracker

[thelittlemiller]

Whole Foods' grind-your-own honey roasted peanut butter is my favorite. We usually have a jar of Skippy Super Chunk on hand. Smucker's all natural is also well-liked in my house.

Spread with a substantial layer of apricot or raspberry preserves. I bought a jar of apricot jam from Lenôtre in Paris. It's to die for. On dark, nutty wheat or Martin's potato (depending on how nostalgic I'm feeling... it's what my mama always bought).

[greygarious]

Skippy Extra-Crunchy with either Trappist Damson Plum jam, Trappist Currant Jelly, or Trader Joe's Blueberry preserves. Preferably on Martin's Whole Wheat Potato Bread, which is as soft as Wonder Bread but actually has flavor and nutritional value.

[rohirette]

Soft whole wheat bread. Store bought... Wonder wheat or store brand. Not gummy white and not nutty real whole grain.

Creamy PB - can be Jif, Jif Natural, Skippy, Peter Pan.

Smuckers seedless raspberry jam, or homemade if I have it. Don't like clumpy jelly, don't like chunky preserves. But jam... it spreads across the bread and it tastes of fruit.

[FrankJBN]

I asm very surprised that no one has yet mentioned Crazy Richard's.

It is made from peanuts and only peanuts. No sugar, no salt, no oil, no preservatives. Been around since at least the 70s.

Crazy Richard's - real peanut butter.

[mucho gordo]

Is that a national or regional brand?

[FrankJBN]

I wondered the same thing myself as I wrote - as I tend to only buy PB near home, I don't know for sure.

Taking a quick search, I see it is manufactured in OHIO and it is available by mail over the web. I imagine searching a little further might reveal distribution.

[mpjmph]

I bought a jar a Crazy Richards last year, but didn't care for it - I need salt in my PB. I found it at the regular mid-range supermarket here in central North Carolina. I ended up using Richard's to make dog biscuits.

[meatnveg]

All Natural PB and...wait for it....NUTELLA! orange marmalade sometimes added for variety.

Excuse me while I go eat some right now.

[njmarshall55]

I thought of Nutella. Lord knows I LOVE that stuff. But not sure I'd care for the peanut AND the hazelnut flavor's together. I think I'll keep mine separate for now.

[njmarshall55]

Any GOOD PB will do. Have even ventured into "all natural." I DO prefer CHUNKY, as in other aspects of my life. Jelly is usually orange marmelade or strawberry....and boysenberry when I can find it. Even sugar free is good when there's enough actual fruit in the jelly.

[montrealeater]

My PB tastes are lowbrow. I won'r eat anything with the word 'natural' on the label and much prefer the big brands that add sugar. Can't stand OB without added sugar. And my favourite way to eat it is a)on white bread with strawberry jam OR with a chilled banana.

[almond tree]

Your comment reminds me of a funny story: When my son was 3, I took him shopping with me. Told him I was going to buy the "good" kind of PB (meaning no sugar or preservatives). His immediate response was, "But I like the yucky kind!"

[montrealeater]

Yeah, if I`m making a shopping list and someone queries `what kind of PB` I just say `get the crappiest`. :)

[almond tree]

:)

[sandylc]

Parker's or Skippy Natural. NO JAM! Not a good combination - ! On whole grain toast.

[Bacardi1]

Frankly, I don't really care about the peanut butter brand, but prefer "chunky" style. And the bread HAS to be white & untoasted. And the jelly HAS to be Welch's Concord Grape.

[junescook]

Teddie's Super Chunk PB on rye toast or dark wheat toast with sliced banana. Also same pb and toasts with Smucker's orange marmalade (that's the kind that that tastes like oranges, not the bitter kind).

[Uncle Bob]

Ooooooooooooooo......... Nanner and P-nut butter will definitely bring a tear to your eye,.,

[mamachef]

....sniff.

[Uncle Bob]

Skippy Super Chunky!!!! ~~~ Wild Plum or Blackberry ~~~ Steen's Cane Syrup will bring a tear to ya eye.

[John Francis]

Skippy's smooth, what else? Haven't had a PBJ sandwich since I was 12 or so, I believe it was Welch's grape jelly, but I don't use jelly now. Marmalade, yes. Bacon, yes.

[biondanonima]

I'm not a PB&J fan but as far as peanut butter in general is concerned, I like Simply Jif, which has very little added sugar. I use it in sauces, baking, etc. I almost never eat jelly or jam, but if I did I'd make my own elderberry jelly, gooseberry jelly or maybe sour cherry preserves - I like tart fruits!

[LindaWhit]

Jif Creamy (although I used to be a Skippy Extra-Chunky gal), and usually a good store-bought preserve - strawberry, blackberry, or apricot.

[ipsedixit]

See here. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/432685 and here http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/843505

But recently it's been homemade PB with lemon curd.

[wyogal]

I like a peanut butter that doesn't contain sugar. "Natural" doesn't always meant that. So, I go and read labels. I currently have Adams No-Stir on hand. My favorite way to have it is on fresh rolls, straight out of the oven.

[cstr]

jiff and homemade strawberry perserves on a graham carcker.

[nofunlatte]

That graham cracker is a nice touch!

[jmcarthur8]

I used to use Naturally More, after my trainer at the gym recommended it. I liked it very much. These days, I use what's on sale but I am a Jif creamy fan. I haven't seen Naturally More lately and forgot all about it!
For jam, I'm like mamachef..I have so many of my own jams in the pantry, I don't ever buy any. I will use strawberry or fig, or some local honey, mostly, though.

[cresyd]

I recently got a jar of Smart Balance peanut butter which has been amazing.

[shaebones]

I like the Trader Joe's pb's and jams. Do NOT buy the Walden Farms pb spread. Its vile!

[team_cake]

Ditto on the Walden Farms. I have tried a couple of their spreads/sauces and I agree -- vile. Wouldn't try another WF product if you gave it to me for free.

[wadejay26]

Creamy Jif and strawberry preserves on super soft white bread!

[mamachef]

I love either Jiffy or Skippy. For some reason Peter Pan is hard to find here. I love Smucker's grape jam, and that being said, I prefer jam to jelly any day, except in the case of orange marmalade, which I don't like as a spread, but will combine it with other things and slather it on a pork roast. Bonne Maman - anything from that product line is absolutely delicious. But I won't be getting any anytime soon, because this has been my Summer for preserving, and I've got an entire shelf of jams - strawberry-cherry, apricot, tomato, plum, plain strawberry, and kumquat. :)

[LindaWhit]

Oh, I love that you have a shelf of homemade jams - enjoy!

[mamachef]

Linda, canning and preserving have made me feel all pioneerish and accomplished :) and it's so much fun to look on the shelves and see them - such pretty colors, beautiful fruits and veg. preserved in different ways. My little foodinista survivalist cache. Between that, feeding people, and looking after a little dude (3) named Jamon (No, I don't call him ham :) who likes to careen around the yard with a bucket on his head, it has been one helluva busy Summer.

[LindaWhit]

OK, the visual of Jamon careening around with a bucket on his head is a GREAT one, mamaC!

[mrbigshotno.1]

Never cared much for PBJ's until recently, I likes Peter Pan creamy or Skippy nut n' honey on white with a quality peach preserve or the new Welch's grape jam made with sugar ( I'm not an anti corn syrup nazi) it just tastes better. About once a week with a cold glass of milk.