Peanut (Almond) Butter Jelly Time

Written by on in Breakfast, Snacks, Tidbits and Treats

Glad you all enjoyed the “Karen” story in my last post 🙂 It certainly made for a good laugh.

Apologies in advance for being a downer, but it’s going to be a rough couple of weeks over here at Eating Bender. We just received some devastating news about my amazing grandma. I’m not going to go into details on here, but just know that if I’m MIA for the next few weeks or so, there’s a reason for it.

Sigh. Can’t think about it too much. I don’t mean to put a dent in anyone’s day by being negative. It’s probably not hard to guess that I strive to keep this blog upbeat, but sometimes life is just not so hot.

I wanted to talk about something before the week ended, however, and as I was looking back on it, I realized that I dove full force into everything PB&J and/or AB&J this week. Case in point:

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Almond Butter & Jelly Oatmeal! One of the best oatmeal creations of all time, I promise 😉 Here’s what I used:

  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1 tbsp. ground flax
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (such a good addition!!)
  • 1 tbsp. Maranatha almond butter
  • 1 tbsp. mixed berry jam

The addition of spices and jam made this bowl pop! I love the way the sweetness of the jam worked with the nut butter.

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And it’s all thanks to this little jar, which I picked up on sale at Whole Foods last weekend. Can anyone tell me the difference between jam and “conserve”? Is there one?

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I’ve also been working the PB&J into my diet in a new way. Thanks to Ashley and Amanda I got my hands on the new Larabar flavor! (I was lucky enough to dine with these two lovely ladies briefly a couple of weeks ago when Ashley was visiting – but I had to leave after 15 minutes to get back to work…long story!)

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I wasn’t really sure what to expect since the “jelly” is actually dried cherries, but it was AMAZING!! I am officially a big fan of these new bars. I’ve been buying them in bulk 🙂

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I guess the moral of my story for today is that sometimes the most basic flavor combinations have the most staying power. Peanut butter and jelly has been around the block a few times, but new ways of using the combo make it fresh and fabulous again.

Now how was that last part for cheesy? Sorry, that’s all I got at the end of a very long week…

Around the Blogosphere

  • Check out Mara’s amazing giveaway of a Gourmet Fall Cheese Tasting Party! Ends Sunday!
  • Guess how small the blog world is? A girl I went to high school with (she was a year older than me but I totally knew who she was because she was a cool kid, haha – don’t even deny it, Molly!) just started a blog of her own! To top that off, she’s now working at my high school and will blog about those adventures – it’s totally surreal! Check her out: something.beautiful.

Have a nice weekend, everyone! I’m probably going to be visiting my grandma 🙂

Abrazos,

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51 Comments

  3. Sorry to hear that you have had a tough couple of weeks — just hang in there. I cracked up when I read the title of this post, I can’t get the Peanut butter, Jelly Time song out of my head!

    Have a great Friday!

  4. I love the small world atmosphere of the blog-world. Megan (meganerdruns) and I were actually roommates our freshmen year of college and Ryan (greensforgood) and I went to high school together!

    I’ll be keeping your fam and your grandma in my thoughts and prayers. xo!

  7. aw I hope everything goes okay with your grandma…Ill for sure be keeping you and your family in my prayers! Keep the faith girl!
    (and I always find the comfort of PBandJ can help lift the spirits for sure! 🙂

    and holy cow you made my day, thanks for the shout out!!! (I just put up a new post about high school!– you’ll find it half amusing Im sure, Im suppose to be recruiting alumni for Homecoming next weekend, you in for a road trip to good old BSM? haha)
    and YES in my post I mention you, Mrs. Guzman was asking about all the haps. from the alumni and asking who was getting married…and of course I mentioned you! She sends all her well wishes, and is SO excited for you and Bobby! So now you have the Red Knight faculty blessing 🙂 haha

    Keep your chin up, and sending MN love your way!

  10. why is peanut butter and jelly so good together? seriously.. i can’t get over it.

    my thoughts are prayers are with you and your grandma, girl <3 all my love! xo

  11. PB & J is so classic. Honestly, there’s nothing like it. I’m yet to try that LARABAR!

    Hope your grandma’s doing well <3

  12. I’m loving all of the nut butter and jelly that’s going on in this post – YUM!!

    I’m so sorry to hear about your grandma! I’m sending your family lots of positivity and keeping you in my thoughts.

  15. You will be in our prayers. Try to keep smiling and stay strong. We’ll be waiting for you when you get back 🙂

    Meanwhile, keep enjoying those yummy LArabars (dried cherries as jelly?? awesome). And your oatmeal creations are super. I wish I could explain conserve vs. jelly, I’d like to know myself!

  20. Aww, Jenn. I am so sorry to hear about your troubles. As always, I am here for you if you need to chat!
    Lovin’ the looks of that oatmeal! To be honest, the whole reason why I bought strawberry jam last week is so that I could have PBJ oats:)

  21. Hmmmm, now I know what i’m having for breakfast tomorrow!! I was JUST thinking that a bowl of ab & j oats sounded delicious. I’d go for pb & j oats, but my mom’s all out!

    And sorry about your grandma Jenn! Stay positive girl. xooo

  22. Been thinking of you since yesterday….sending positive thoughts your way <3

    Looks like I need to buy some pumpkin pie spice. Seems like it was MADE for oats now that you say that. How did I not think of it before?!

  26. Jenn I’m really sorry to hear about your grandma. 🙁 One way I sort of show my “love and support” when things like that are going on, is I make foods that remind of that person. Only a foodie would do this, right? 😀 But it sort of helps me feel closer to them during the times that I can’t be there physically.

  29. What a delicious looking bowl of oatmeal!!!!!! I will def make that some time. I don’t know what the difference is between jam and conserve. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a conserve. I thought it was preserve. Hahah looks yummy though!

  31. could that bowl of oats BE any more beautiful?? i love the idea of making it pb & j since that is one of my all time favorite childhood sandwiches! (well acutally still is!)

    I havent seen that LARA bar yet but I heard it was brand new and came out a little while ago! i have to find it! I love the banana bread and cherry pie ones : )

  32. Just wanted to tell you I’m thinking of you! So sorry about your Gram. Big hugs & lots of prayers coming your way!

    ps..I have this sudden craving for PB 😉 lol

  33. Jenn,

    I hope your grandma is doing okay. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. If you need someone to chat with, know that I am here for you. (You have my email) I recently went through a tough time with the grandmother when she past last year.

    Peanut butter and jelly is one of my most favorite foods so I 100% agree with this post!

  35. I KNOW! You’ve got to come back and visit! We have yet to have our blogger coffee date! haha Although I’d MUCH rather come to Chicago….the pb & J lara bars are SO addicting I can’t even buy them anymore! Anything pb and I go crazy….how’s the wedding planning going!? Not gonna lie it’s all my girlfriends and I have been talking a/b lately???We’ve all got boyfriends & the discussion of age/when to get married….seeing your engagement ring made me all wedding crazy haha!

  36. oooooooo i haven’t tried the PB & J larabar!! JEALOUS. I also would love to get my hands on some almond buttah again. Your oats look so amazing… ALWAYS.

    I’m so sorry about your Grandma. I’ll be thinking of you.

  38. I’m sorry to her about your grandma 🙁 I hope you’re doing okay. PB&J sounds like a wonderful consoler though – comfort food at its finest!

  40. I’m sorry about your grandma. I hope things get easier for your family soon.

    PBJ oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfasts. I bet it’s good with AB too!

  41. Sorry to hear about your grandma 🙁 We just went through something similar…so I can totally relate. I will keep you and your grandma in my thoughts. Hooray for PB&J. Such a great classic combo!

  42. Obviously we’re all thinking about you and your grandma and sending positive thoughts your way — hope you’re alright.
    I have been following you on twitter — still love your blog and the mish mash on it!

  44. pea-nut, peanut butter. and jelly. 🙂 different song, i know, but that’s what i always think of! love that larabar, and it would certainly be dangerous if i bought it in bulk!

    i’ll be thinking of you and the fam hun!

  45. Peanut butter (or any nut butter for that matter) and jelly/jam/conserve (or basically anything involving fruit for that matter) is one of the greatest combos out there, hands down, no matter how you do it. Amazing.

    I hope everything with your grandma is going alright. I’ll be thinking of you! Hugs!

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