National Peanut Butter Day on January 24th recognizes a staple in our pantry. Whether creamy or chunky, with chocolate or with jelly, peanut butter gets the recognition it deserves each year on this day.
Peanut butter didn't become widely used until the 20th century. First, the peanut had to be considered more than animal feed, which wasn't until the late 1800s. At the turn of the century, inventions that made planting, cultivating, and harvesting the legume (the peanut isn't a nut at all) made it possible to see the peanut as a retail and wholesale food item.
We can thank four men for the inventions and processes that bring us the creamy, smooth peanut butter we enjoy today: Marcus Gilmore Edson of Canada, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, Dr. Ambrose Straub of St. Louis, Missouri, and chemist Joseph Rosefield.
I love peanut butter on toast, on celery or with an apple! A dietician said if you need protein, have a tablespoon of peanut butter! I will say, it's my favorite food and always has been. It's how I start my day.