Apparently I missed National Peanut Butter Cookie Day. My google calendar is officially being marked for next year – June 12th. That said, I don’t often encounter peanut butter cookies. Maybe it’s because this recession is driving me into a meals-only-at-home, no cafe, no bakery way of existence. WELL. Summer is dawning on us and it doesn’t quite feel like peanut butter cookie time, but if NPBCD falls in June, I will trust in the peanut butter/cookie higher-ups. Going to try out a recipe in the coming weeks – will post pics and story of succes or failure.

I just had a peanut butter spoon (Arrowhead Mills Valencia Salt Added) and it was a nice change of pace from Smucker’s Natural. What is it about Valencia peanuts that gives them that distinctive, kind of sweet flavor?

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Two days from now, to be exact.

Now is the time when we can make a difference by donating non-perishables to those in need. Peanut butter is non-perishable. Got any extras to spare?

If you’re curious about where to donate food – check out Feeding America. It has resources for how to donate, volunteer, or be an advocate.

To revisit the PB and Processed Meat post from February 2007, I found this great article about a new innovation sweeping over DuBois, Pennsylvania. Inspired by a 7 year old boy who liked peanut butter smeared on his hot dogs, a local meat market operator decided to whip up a batch of peanut butter infused hot dogs in his smokehouse (joining the ranks of previous hot dog mashups – jalapeno cheese hot dogs etc). Apparently these things are selling like crazy. Could it be out of novelty or delicacy?

(photo courtesy of Tony Tye)

Carvel has launched a new line of “blended drinks”, AKA the most over-the-top milk shakes I have ever heard of. The new beverage line caught my attention because of this particular concoction:

Peanut Butter Arctic Blender: A mixture of ice, peanut butter, peanut butter cups, chocolate syrup and Carvel’s own vanilla flavoring garnished with chocolate syrup then topped with whipped cream and crushed peanut butter cups.

I love peanut butter, in a serious serious way, but I don’t think I could handle it.

I was looking for some footage of a peanut harvest, but found this baby panda sneezing instead. You win some!

Tomorrow is supposed to be 58 degrees and sunny. Perfect peanut butter weather. I’m going to make a pit stop at the Brooklyn Public Library to see about a book called “The Ultimate Peanut Butter Book” that essentially looks like a really comprehensivepeanut butter cook book:

Call #:  641.6565 W

On a non-peanut butter related note, a friend and I stopped by Balthazar Bakery in Englewood today. We watched the bakers hard at work mixing, shaping, proofing, and baking amazing breads. We polished off some ciabatta, a baguette, and whole wheat croissant the whole trip home in rush hour FDR traffic.  Delicious!