As you all know by now, I’ve been a peanut butter fan since I was twelve weeks old. (And by that, I don’t mean three months after my birth. I literally mean, since I was twelve weeks old.) Most fetuses (feti?) usually don’t have a hankerin’ for peanut butter this early, but then again, I’m not most fetuses.
I grew up on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I like them “regular” and I like them grilled. And although I’ve never tried it, I’m sure I’d like them broiled or even sautéed too. It’d be pretty hard to mess up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. (But not impossible: when I was nine I put pepper on one. Not recommended.)
But along the way, I heard tell of something called the “Peanut Butter and Banana” sandwich. Banana? Whaddya mean? Like bananas on a peanut butter sandwich? That’s just … weird. And no, I don’t care if Elvis liked them, thank you very much.
But then I thought about it. Bananas. Bananas are a fruit. Jelly is made out of fruit, right? Maybe this isn’t that far out. In fact, this might even be healthier than a regular peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Let’s compare ingredients.
- Jelly: Concord Grape Juice, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate.
- Bananas: Bananas
On February 15, 2009, I got a little hungry in the evening. I decided to whip up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Little did I know it would be the last one I’d ever eat (at least at the rate I’m going). Because the following Saturday, on February 21, I got out two pieces of white bread, spread out some Jif Creamy peanut butter, then sliced a banana right on it. Still with a hint of trepidation, I brought the sandwich to my face and took a bite.
It went something like this.
Some celestial event. No – no words. No words to describe it. Poetry! They should’ve sent a poet. So beautiful. So beautiful… I had no idea!
And for a brief moment, I think you could actually see my face as a child superimposed over my current face. No alien contact required.
Best of all? This thing is only about 275 calories. If, like me, you’ve always been afraid to try this, now’s the time for you to face your fears. You can do this! Don’t let me down. Don’t let yourself down. And definitely don’t let Jodie Foster down.
on April 7, 2009 at 4:45 am
I still remember you eating grilled peanut butter and jelly sammies when we were little, and everything would ooze out onto your plate.
I had to eat with my hands over my eyes because it was so gross!
I can happily say that in my 41 years, I’ve never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
However, you may have sold me on the peanut butter and banana!
on April 7, 2009 at 5:29 am
PB&B is one of my favorites, second only to PB&B fluffernutters, but those are more like dessert. Ever tried Nutella and banana? Or sprinkling a little cinnamon on the banana before smooshing? YUM!
on April 7, 2009 at 5:30 am
In a situation like this, just ask: What would Elvis do?
on April 7, 2009 at 6:22 am
It only took me about 23 years to discover it, but I LOVE PB&B Sandwiches!!
Try this next time….lightly toast your bread, spread the PB, add the bananas….and….if you’re feeling wild, add HONEY. [swoon] good stuff.
When I’m out of bananas I substitute a few chocolate chips for the banana (emphasis on the few). They end up melting a little on the toast and its so delicious.
I’ve never tried a grilled PB&J or PB&B….maybe its time I should…
on April 7, 2009 at 6:44 am
Knowing as I do that you’re a fan of cheese, you might try my childhood favourite: cheese + banana sammiches. Yeah, yeah, I know…just give it a chance.
(Sharp cheddar recommended, but really the cheese is up to you.)
on April 7, 2009 at 7:31 am
Jess: Warm or cold? (Or either?) And I’d definitely go with the sharp cheddar.
on April 7, 2009 at 7:56 am
Charlie, Have you taken this experiment to grilled yet?
on April 7, 2009 at 7:58 am
Some years ago I returned from a night of over indulgence. In my alcohol induced strike of genius I decided that peanut and banana sandwiches were the only thing that could see me through huge hunger pangs I was experiencing. I ate one, then two and ended up eating three or four. All went well for a while, and then something hit me. Without becoming overly graphic, when that amount of peanut and banana hits the Italian gastro intestinal system things happen. The only way I can describe my restroom experience is with one word…levitation. I am confident I made no bowl on body contact for several moments. I have forever sworn off this combination, safety first!
on April 7, 2009 at 9:51 am
I had an almond butter and raspberry jam sandwich this morning for a midmorning snack! Tasty.
Best sandwich ever: 3 slices of bread with PB, jam, honey, and sliced bananas between all that bread. I use super thin bread for those kinds of sandwiches. YUM.
on April 7, 2009 at 12:44 pm
This is my favorite kind of sandwich, but there is no way mine is only 275 calories. I use at least that much peanut butter alone.
on April 7, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Yum. PB & apple is good also, and fresh blackberries are wonderfully tasty.
However, don’t bother trying orange (I tried that when I was a kid and it was awful… so bad I can’t even think of attempting it as an adult). And my sister used to eat pb & mayo. YUCK.
on April 7, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Peanut butter is not allowed into my house because every time I’m near it I wake up an hour later with an empty jar and a pained stomach. Ok, not quite, but whoever says that 2 tbsp is a serving is crazy. It’s like crack. Crack you can eat with your fingers out of a jar…
One crazy “why-haven’t-I-thought-of-this” revelations I’ve had lately is pizza with crushed red peppers on it. I mean, I love just about ANYTHING spicy, and I love pizza. The two just never came together until one night on 6th street. It was very akin to the Jodi Foster scene you describe above, I couldn’t stop talking about it all night.
on April 7, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Everyone always thinks I am crazy when I tell them this, but my favorite sandwich is peanut butter and tomato. My mother turned me on to these as a kid. I have never actually met anyone other than my mother that likes these but I did see a cooking show recently that had a variation on them. I think theirs had bacon and some other stuff too.
But there is one piece of advice that I must give and is a make or break thing. Your tomato MUST be garden fresh. No grocery store tomato will work. The more ripe and more acidic the better.
You MUST try it!! I admit it sound horrific but it is far from it.
on April 8, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I’ve never obsessed over peanut butter, but I love banana and honey on toast.
Well done for keeping any sarnie under 275. That must take very careful measurements, discipline and dedication!
tusc 🙂
on April 14, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I guess I can’t see PB and banana. I don’t like banana that much. OK, I can tolerate a little in smoothies.
But, now that I am thinking about it, perhaps PB and ripe berries! That sounds like it has potential. Besides, the jelly was all about the berry taste for me.
Oh god. Now I am thinking about PB and berries on fresh, home made, whole wheat bread, lightly toasted. Save me!
Do you know I had not had a PB&J sandwich in decades? But just this past weekend, I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express that featured a PB&J sandwich bar between 9-11PM. I might be hooked again, sigh.