YumSugar

Go Nuts: It's National Peanut Month

Laura Marie Given — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:33:28 PST

Did you know that March is National Peanut Month? Let's celebrate the sometimes-creamy, sometimes-crunchy ingredient with some of our favorite peanut (and peanut butter) recipes. From supersweet desserts to one of our favorite snack mixes of all time, here are 10 delicious recipes to satisfy your peanut cravings.

Know Your Nuts? What's in an Ounce

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:50:45 PST

Nuts are one of the best foods you can nosh on because they're full of healthy fats, contain protein and fiber to fill you up, are cholesterol-free, and they're a great snack you can easily pack with you wherever you go. A serving size of nuts is one ounce, which is about a handful. Considering my handful and my hubby's handful look a lot different, I thought it'd be good to go over what exactly one ounce of nuts looks like. Take this quiz to see if you know.

Question 1 of 5

How many almonds are in one ounce?

Watch Out For the Great Peanut Butter Price Hike of 2011

Susannah Chen — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:53:19 PDT

If you love peanuts and peanut butter, then it might be wise to get yourself to the store and stock up sooner rather than later, thanks to a certain price hike on peanuts and peanut products.

After a hot, dry Summer devastated much of this year's peanut crop, the wholesale price of peanuts has skyrocketed from $450 a ton to $1,150. In response, top peanut butter brands are being forced to increase their prices: Skippy is up 30 to 35 percent from last year, and other big sellers will all raise prices between now and November (Peter Pan by as much as 24 percent, Planters by 40 percent, and Jif by 30 percent).

Sounds like there might be an opportunity for some peanut butter alternatives here. Almond butter, are you listening?

Healthy Treat: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Sandwich Cookies

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:50:02 PST

If you're craving a chewy peanut buttery treat, this might just become your new new favorite cookie. While a cookie is still a cookie, this recipe offer a slightly healthier goody. The chewy oatmeal cookie coupled with the creamy peanut butter and mashed banana mixture makes a perfect flavor combination. The only downside to whipping up a batch of these cookies is you may find it impossible to hold back from eating the entire batch. Plus, it's National Peanut Butter Month, so get baking and celebrate.

Ready to see the recipe?

Peanuts: They're What's For Dinner

Susannah Chen — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 11:00:34 PST

After a few rough years, it seems that peanuts are finally making a comeback on menus. According to research firm Technomic, the listing of peanuts on menus has jumped nearly 45 percent between 2006 and 2010.

With growing talk about potentially fatal peanut allergies on the rise, everything (including many schools!) put the kibosh on the legume - and a widespread salmonella scare only made things worse.

But according to Nation's Restaurant News, peanuts have begun making a showing across all food sectors, from chains like P.F. Chang's to independently owned upscale restaurants, and in everything from soups to sauces to frozen yogurt and desserts.

I'm glad to see more of this classic nut in San Francisco eateries; for instance, an upscale riff on the Snickers bar at San Francisco's Commonwealth left me blown away. Are you excited for the trend of peanut dishes?

Peanut Butter: Love It or Hate It?

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 04:36:30 PST

Whether it's sandwiched between two pieces of white bread and grape jelly or oozing out of a melty chocolate shell, peanut butter is one of life's simple pleasures. Peanut butter is so delicious, it has its own holiday, which happens to be today: happy National Peanut Butter Day! To celebrate, make peanut butter cookies, pudding, or blondies. But before you do, tell me in the comments, are you a fan of the smooth and creamy (or crunchy!) spread?

Source: Flickr User rusvaplauke

Take Me Out to the Ball Game With Homemade Cracker Jacks

Lauren Hendrickson — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:15:46 PDT

Since the Giants will be playing in the World Series this year, there's quite a buzz in the air in San Francisco. It only seems appropriate to celebrate with a quintessential ball park dish, Cracker Jacks. While there might not be a prize, the flavor is a home run! The recipe has you pop your own bag of popcorn, and I was amazed at how easy it was. All you need is a little bit of olive oil. The popcorn is fresh and ready for a deliciously easy caramel sauce. In less than a half hour, you'll have Cracker Jacks. Don't forget to occasionally stir the mixture once it's drying on the cookie sheets - this ensures that it won't stick. Enjoy the World Series this week with a homemade batch of Cracker Jacks: just keep reading for the recipe.

Nut-Free Treats Help Allergic Kids Celebrate Halloween

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 09:00:02 PDT

No tricks, just treats! Halloween is a particularly spooky time for tots with allergies. With so many sweets passing through kids' hands, it's best for mama to have a few holiday-themed treats on hand to alleviate any accidents. As nut allergies become more prevalent, many bakeries are going nut-free – guaranteeing that their goodies are baked with ingredients and in facilities that have never been contaminated by the highly allergic nuts. Here are a handful of nut-free bakeries that will ship their Halloween cookies nationwide.

Boston-based Fancy Pants Bakery ships their nut-free goodies nationwide, including their Monster Mash Cookie Gift Set ($40), pictured here.
Eleni's adorable Halloween cookie tins (starting at $25) are all nut free and perfect for a group gathering, or to send to fellow costumed pals.
Though not up on their site yet, Seattle-based Little Rae's Bakery will be shipping their peanut- and tree nut-free Halloween-themed shortbread cookies nationwide again this year.
O My Goodness' Kosher and nut-free cookies are available in a wide selection of spooktacular shapes and will be a hit with allergic trick-or-treaters.
Want to make your own nut-free party treats? Cherrybrook Kitchen Sugar Cookie Mix is peanut-, dairy-, and egg-free, making it safe for most of the kids who'd be attending your event!

Are You Nuts For Peanuts?

YumSugar — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 08:30:00 PDT

Peanuts have taken quite the blow in recent years, with everything from peanut allergies to salmonella scares making headlines. But with the passing of National Peanut Day (yesterday!), I think it's time to reconsider the little treat that plays a starring role in everything from brittle to cookies to spicy chicken dishes. What do you know about this natural and satisfying protein source? Find out when you take our quiz!

Take the Quiz

Food Section Sampler - June 9, 2010

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:30:20 PDT

Manhattan bakery Magnolia is bound for Los Angeles. - Los Angeles Times
Reservationless restaurants usher in a new era of exclusivity. - New York Times
For those who suffer from allergies, a low-risk peanut is on the way. - Telegraph
Puttanesca is a 30-minute sauce suited for both pasta and chicken. - Boston Globe
How to make a little crab go a long way. - Washington Post
Goat meat is popping up on Bay Area menus. - San Francisco Chronicle
Ten can't-miss items at the farmers market right now. - Chicago Tribune
Long Island rosés are as good as their Provençal counterparts. - Wall Street Journal

Source: Flickr User biskuit