National Peanut Butter and Jam Day is celebrated annually on 2 April. This food holiday is a classic favourite of many.
Peanut Butter was considered a delicacy in the early 1900s and was only served in New York City’s finest tearooms. In a May 1896 article published in the Good Housekeeping magazine, a recipe “urged homemakers to use a meat grinder to make peanut butter and spread the result on bread”. That same year, in June, the culinary magazine Table Talk published a “peanut butter sandwich recipe”.
It is thought that the first reference of peanut butter paired with jam on bread to be published in the United States, was by Julia Davis Chandler in 1901. In the late 1920s the price of peanut butter declined and the sandwich became very popular with children.
According to the Peanut Board, both peanut butter and jam were part of the United States soldiers military ration list during World War II.
In 1968, The J.M. Smucker Co. introduced Goober, a jarred product that combined alternating vertical stripes of peanut butter and jam.
It may be a good day to try something “ouside the box”, according to Petra van Rensburg from OK Foods. Following are a few ideas to help you out!
• Peanut Butter and Jam Cupcakes
• Peanut Butter and Jam French Toast
• Peanut Butter and Jam Pie
• Peanut Butter and Jam Coo-kies
• Peanut Butter and Jam Donuts
• Peanut Butter and Jam Pancakes
• Peanut Butter and Jam Fudge