Lots of peanut butter!

"A peanut sat on a railway track
His heart was all a-flutter
A train came roaring round the bend
TOOT TOOT
Peanut butter!"

That little ditty (courtesy of Jonathan's Grandpa) has been going around our house a bit lately :) Peanut butter has been made successfully and tastefully (in my food processor!). Here's what I like to use it in:

*Nut bars: http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/11/nourishing-protein-bars-a-great-whole-foods-snack.html (I don't bother with the chocolate topping)

*Healthy peanut butter cups: http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2009/09/back-to-school-treat-homemade-healthier-reeses-peanut-butter-cups.html (again, no longer bother with the chocolate, sometimes add sultanas)

*Peanut butter bikkies: 1 cup p.butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, and opt. 1 tsp baking powder. Mix and bake approx 10 minutes in a 180' oven (my Grandma really liked these!)

*Peanut butter and coleslaw sandwiches (yum yum - my darling hubby used to bring these sandwiches to school for lunch {almost 10 years ago now!})


What else is peanut butter good in???

Peanut butter and bulk buying!

I read so much about co-ops for bulk buying but had no idea how to join/find one or if they even existed this side of the equator! But recently one of Jonathan's work mates sent round an email about buying bulk nuts through her. When I ordered some almonds she asked if I wanted the full product list - did I ever! So I now have 5kg of black beans, 5kg of kidney beans, 5kg of green lentils, 2kg of almonds, and 3kg of peanuts sitting in my kitchen!

I bought the peanuts to try and make my own peanut butter as it is something I've started to use a lot, and at $2.95 a jar for Sanitarium's natural peanut butter I thought I'd look up how to make my own. And it is really very simple! I made my first lot last night. TIP: Make sure you thoroughly roast your raw nuts first! Half raw peanut butter doesn't taste too great so I am using it to make peanut butter biscuits. I shall have fully roasted nuts sometime by the end of today and tomorrow I will try again. TIP 2: don't use olive oil. Try and get peanut oil. I'm going to give coconut oil a go first as I have that on hand and I think it might add a nice sweetness to the butter. Fingers crossed!

The start!

I have come to like blogs - collections of other people's research and experiences shared for others to learn from. So very handy! I've decided to start my own to share some of what I'm learning - through other's blogs and through life - and as a way for those family and friends so far away to stay acquainted with or become better acquainted with me and our growing little family.

I have called this blog Kirstie's Kitchen - a place where you can enter in and sit with me, have a cuppa while we 'chat'. Feel free to add your comments, ideas, experiences, stories.... - may this blog be a place to share and learn from one another in the colourful journey of life!

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