Last Monday, January 24th was National Peanut Butter Day in the U.S.
(Looking back on when I was a little crew-cut headed boy. When my only worry was for Christmas, what would be my toy?)
PB&J was my favorite grade school sack lunch washed down with a 5-cent carton of cold milk. Either with chocolate or with jelly, or creamy or chunky scooped right out of the jar. Peanut butter is like a time machine that can transport me back to those hot summer childhood days.
The early peanut butter was made by the Aztecs and Incas around 1000 BC and was more of a paste. In 1884, a process was developed to make peanut paste from milling roasted peanuts between two heated plates. In 1895 Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, patented a process with raw peanuts.
(Even though we sometimes would not get a thing, we were happy with the joy the day would bring)
In 1903 Dr. Straub was responsible for patenting a peanut butter making machine. And finally, it took off after being introduced to audiences at the 1904 Universal Exposition in St. Louis at C.H. Sumner’s concession stand.
Peter Pan, Skippy or Jiff. Reese’s, Butterfingers or M&M’s. Ice cream, cookies, cupcakes or pies. Peanut butter is everywhere. It’s no wonder that more than $4 billion spent on peanut butter purchases contributes to the GDP of the U.S. every year.
About 1.1 % or 3 million Americans have peanut allergy, which can vary from mild to severe. Nearly 20% of peanut allergies can be outgrown. Guess I’m one of the lucky ones.
So, today in celebration, I’ll make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, play hooky and hang out with those hoodlum friends of mine. (You nasty boy, I wish those days could come back once more . . )