It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

"Peanut butter jelly...peanut butter jelly, peanut butter jelly with a baseball bat." If you have no idea what I just said then never mind me, but for those who do know what just happened...big shout out to Homestar Runner!! Whoop! Whoop! Ah...The classic PB& J, my son would eat it everyday for lunch if I let him. There is something about the perfect combination of the nut and the fruit...it is simple, easy to make, not too pricey, and packs well for on the go. But sometimes you just need to spice it up a bit.

First thing to know if you didn't already, and I hope you did, is that in most store bought peanut butters and jams there are added sugars. why? eek. They always have to go and ruin a perfectly yummy food with adding junk to it. Solution=make your own! Throw some peanuts in your food processor or Vitamix and blend it up. The natural oils of the peanut will eventually release and give you a beautiful creamy and smooth peanut butter. I like to add a little sea salt too. As for the jelly, there are a few creative alternatives we have discovered...

1. Remember the chia gel jam I made a while back. Make your chia gel and mash up some fresh fruit. Stir. Easy as that! It will only last a couple days in the fridge so we usually make it a little at a time.

2. Soak 1 cup of dried fruit in 1 cup of water for 15 minutes. Then puree the fruit and soaking water until smooth. {as seen in the picture above, apricot jam}

3. Support your local vendors!...we like the real stuff too. :)

And now, the creative part...a few ideas we like to do from time to time.

Sprouted bread with almond butter and sliced strawberries

Better yet, cut them in fun shapes with cookie cutters!



Quesadilla anyone?! Sliced apples and nut butter.



Or don't use the bread at all. Remember Ants on a Log?



Put it on an apple slice!
{You totally could spread the jelly on these too, I think at this time nuts and seeds sounded better}


Or if you are really feeling gutsy...spread it on a leaf of lettuce.

 And roll it up. I promise you, it actually is really really good. Crazy huh?

How do you make your "PB & J?"