"Peanut butter and jelly?" Topic

Hi all, I have just got back from a rather splendid holiday in Florida (first time in the States for nearly 30 years). While I was there I decided to try a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and I really did enjoy them (to m surprise). These were made for me so I am not sure what make of peanut butter or jelly was used.

I always thought American jelly was the equivalent of British jam but the jelly was not as sweet as UK jam nor did it have bits of fruit in it as is found in jam – so I wonder what exactly is jelly and where might I get it in the UK? (I am not sure what flavour of jelly I had – it was reddish in colour, might have been grape?).

I also had a peanut butter sandwich with a sort of chocolate spread – this also was not overly sweet and was more like chocolate blanmache.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Kev.

Peanut Butter and Nutela are a favorite in theis house. I prefer Jam or Preserves (Peach and Apricot!)

just a warning…. UK peanut butter tastes nothing like US peanit butter. (you guys dont remoe the butter nibs prior to mashing)
ymmv,
R.

Glad you enjoyed your holiday here in the Colonies, Kev.

The most popular brands of peanut butter sold in the United States is Peter Pan and Jif. As for jelly, Welch's and Smucker's are very popular here, with grape jelly outselling most other flavors. The chocolate spread you mentioned may well have been Nutella, which consists of chocolate mixed with hazelnuts. Also, several manufacturers produce peanut butter and jelly already mixed in a jar.

There are variations to the classic "PB&J", such as substituting bananas for the jelly, and something called a "fluffernutter", which is a peanut butter and marshmallow creme sandwich. Just recently, Smucker's introduced a product called Uncrustables, which are refrigerated circular PB&J sandwiches without the bread crust.

Well, that's all I know about PB&Js. Here are a couple of links about the fabulous world of peanut butter and jelly, Kev:

link

link

Thanks, Kev.

In the States, use of the phrase "peanut butter and jelly" is so prevalent that people often use it for any sort of preserves. Personally, I never really liked jelly. I'm a jam man. I wonder what the proportion of sales of jelly to jam is. About the only jelly I eat these days are apple and mint, and nearly always with a piece of pork.

Jelly is fruit juice thickened and kind of solidified (I think with pectin, but I never did get into canning). Jam is crushed fruit. Preserves contain chunks of fruit either in jelly or in juice.

It's a shame to ruin any of them with peanut butter.

Thanks all, and thanks Larry (good to hear from you as ever). I did try Smucker's and thought it was really good (Apricot flavour). I like the idea of peanut butter and bananas – I am going to try that now.

Neo/Steve, thanks for that. I think I understand now, Steve you mentioned putting jelly on your Pork – thinking about it a bit more I would describe the jelly I had as the same consistency as the mint jelly us Brits put on our lamb roasts.

Kev.

Jelly is fruit juice thickened and kind of solidified (I think with pectin,

Yes, pectin (usually).
They generally use pectin in jams and fruit preserves, too.
-Kle.

This should answer all your questions. I suggest you take notes!

YouTube link

Now, there is no one way to make a PB and J. This is left up to the individual chef. Jellies, jams, fruit preserves all work. American peanut butters can be had all over the world. I know that in the UK there are stores that sell US products. Use Reeses, Smuckers, Peter Pan, JIF, Skippy and some others. Try them all. Watch the video and study very carefully and will soon find yourself preparing the most delicious PB and J in the world.

Regards,
Chef Combatpainter

Grape jelly tends to be purple in color, being made from concord grapes. I would guess a red jelly would be Strawberry. Raspberry is also red, but less common and usually has hard seeds in it.

The chocolate sandwich may have just had chocolate syrup. I have never had one, but I think that is done in the south and syrup is more common than nutella.

If you can't find American jelly, can you get foods from Poland or Sweden in the UK? The Polish jelly I've seen in stores here is without chunks of fruit, but with a more firm consistency and smoother texture than American. It is slightly waxy. Swedish style is closer in consistency and texture, but is more often a jam than a jelly.

I prefer chunky peanut butter and strawberry jam or bananas.

Yeah we can get Polish foods – I live in the SE and there is a very large Polish community, quite a few of the local supermarkets have a Polish food section – so I will look out for that.

I have had Nutella before and the stuff I had in Florida was something different so probably the syrup you mention.

Just out of interest I had a PBJ at the space centre (it was circular with no crust) it was about 700 calories and was incredibly gooey (quite difficult to chew).

Remember MORE Peanut Butter is a GOOD THING. Spread a layer at least 1/8th inch (3mm) thick.

Use Reeses, Smuckers, Peter Pan, JIF, Skippy and some others.

Oy! I totally forgot about Skippy, Smucker's, and Reese's. Shows y'all how long it's been since I've made myself one!

Great to hear from you, too, Kev. I don't know if you're familiar with the story, but reportedly Elvis Presley had a hankerin' for a grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich (amongst his other food conquests). In looking the recipe up, it's ingredients are surprisingly simple, and it's easy to make; it's the epitome of "comfort food". Here's the recipe for it:

link

Just out of interest I had a PBJ at the space centre (it was circular with no crust) it was about 700 calories and was incredibly gooey (quite difficult to chew).

You sure it wasn't a Smucker's Uncrustables, Kev? Here's what they look like:

picture

Man. You people are getting me hongry (notice the "o" substituted for the "u" – means that I'm really hungry! ).

Yeah, that's it – it was a Smucker's Uncrustable – I really struggled to eat it (it was incredibly sweet and nowhere near as nice as the other PBJ sarnies that I had earlier n the holiday).

K

That is a vile US habit. ;-)

Peanut butter is best unsweetened with sweet peppers.

"The most popular brands of peanut butter sold in the United States is Peter Pan and Jif"

This could lead to an interesting confusion – over here (UK), Jif is a disinfectant spray …..

No, Jif is a lemon juice brand

Maybe you are thinking of Cif

Either would probably taste better than peanut butter.

Occasionally I make breakfast of peanut butter and bananas with honey on toast. Preferably with unsweetened peanut butter and orange blossom honey.

A bit of peanut butter also adds a bit of go to curry sauce.