Peanut Butter – Homemade

by Anne Paddock

Grocery stores in the best of circumstances can make our lives easier and in the not so best times, can make us think we are incapable of making certain products because we don’t have the time, knowledge, or confidence. Before you buy a jar of commercially prepared peanut butter, read the label and notice how much sugar, corn syrup, salt, and other ingredients are added to a product that tastes better plain.

Peanut Butter is one of those foods that doesn’t need to be bought at a grocery store because America’s favorite sandwich spread is so simple to make. With no sugar or unnecessary additives in the homemade version, fresh peanut butter tastes better than commercially prepared varieties. The only tool needed is a food processor or access to a Whole Foods store that has a nut processor. Peanut butter in its purest form contains peanuts – that’s it and there are two ways to make fresh peanut butter.

The first way is to take a jar of unsalted or lightly salted peanuts. Pour the nuts into a food processor. Turn the food processor on, stopping periodically to scrape the sides and within minutes, watch the peanuts turn into peanut butter. It’s that simple.

The second way is to go to a store like Whole Foods that has a machine containing fresh peanuts that processes the peanuts for you. All you have to do is put a plastic container under the spout, turn the switch on, and watch fresh peanut butter pour out the spout. One taste and you’ll never go back to commercially produced brands again.