November is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month.

It is time to come out of the closet, and admit it – you love peanut butter. 210 million Americans eat PB and only 60 million of those are kids! The possibilities with PB are endless. Eat it directly out of the jar (oops, did we say that) to using it in baking & cooking – think: chicken satay, stir fry's, glaze for poultry or lamb, pasta sauces, cakes, salad dressing, dips, we could go on and on. Chefs love the taste, and creative possibilities of your humble friend and if you explore other country’s cuisines, you'll quickly realize just how versatile peanut butter really is. So get out your woks, sauté pans, cake pans, and food processors, and get re-acquainted with your old friend!

We all know Peanut Butter is loaded with protein, it is also a great source of healthy monounsaturated fats and has an abundance of nutrients -folate, niacin, copper, selenium, zinc, magnesium, and fiber. Peanut products also contain significant amounts of phytosterols, which are believed to protect against heart disease and cancer.

Peanut butter is low in saturated fat, and over 80% of the fat in peanut butter is the cholesterol-lowering, good unsaturated fat, and contains no cholesterol. Researchers in a Penn State University study found that moderate-fat diets with peanut butter cut the risk of heart disease by 21% compared with a 12% reduction in cardiovascular disease in low-fat diets. They also found a diet that includes peanut butter was more effective than a low-fat diet in maintaining levels of good HDL-cholesterol and lowering triglyceride levels. In other words, stick with PB and it will stick with you - you will feel full & very satisfied for a long time! Throw out those processed energy bars and start packin’ PB.

See, it pays to stick with your old friends.

The resources we have found offer creative, trans-fat free peanut butters and nut butters.

Point and click your way to Peanut Butter heaven:

PB Loco – They know adults never forget their love for a good peanut butter sandwich. Only now they've got adult tastes, too, so they make it more sophisticated. Flavors such as Dark Dutch chocolate ( made with real European dark chocolate), Jungle Banana (one teaspoon and you’ll sing like Elvis), Raspberry White Chocolate (German white chocolate with juicy raspberries), European Café Moca (European chocolate & espresso – we can’t think of a better way to wakeup). Their products are all smooth & creamy and truly packed with fresh flavors. Visit PB Loco’s website for great recipes. They also have many store locations offering signature sandwiches, wraps & soups – what fun!

Peanut Better - Having been greatly influenced by Asian, African and South American cuisines, Katalin Coburn (founder of Peanut Better), discovered that we have not begun to explore the possibilities using peanut butter Her flavors include: Deep Chocolate, Cinnamon Curran , Vanilla Cranberry and a large variety of savory flavors: Spicy Southwestern , Thai Ginger & Red Pepper, Rosemary Garlic , Onion Parsley, Hickory Smoked . We realize these flavors sound weird - - why savory peanut butters & how to use them , you ask? Katalin has a few ideas: Sandwich/Wrap Spreads with Cold Cuts, Baked Potato Topping, Party Dips, Hearty Soups, Meat Glaze, Condiment for Sausage, dips, dressing – need we go on. Certified Organic, Kosher (OU), Parve (dairy free), vegan, gluten free , hydrogenated oil free, trans fat free, and cholesterol free product line. Naturally lower in fat - ranging from 5% - 20% - because of how clean they are. Check out the Penaut Better website for creative uses/ideas, as well as, wonderful recipes.

Peanut Butter & Co – Six fun flavors, they also offer sandwich spread accompaniments. Visit their website or stop into their NYC store that offers sandwiches, milk shakes and desserts all made with their own Peanut Butters.

Futters Nut Butters - Wide variety of high quality nut & seed butters. Made daily! The ingredients are just nuts and seeds nothing more! Almond, Hazelnut, cashew, Macadamia, Pecan, walnut, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed and many other flavors

Sources for Peanut Butter Information & recipes:

Peanut Butter Lovers – Entire website is dedicated to those who love Peanut butter – recipes, nutrition, history, etc.

National Peanut Board - Find creative new recipes. Learn more about the nutritional benefits of peanuts and peanut butter. Meet some of the farmers and their families who work every day to help provide peanuts and peanut products to your family. Discover the history & fun facts of peanuts and how they have become one of America's favorite foods.

Peanut Institute - Read the latest studies on Peanut Butter (reduces heart disease & Type 2 Diabetes), Peanut Butter diet, Nutrition update and more

Learn Fun PB Facts & Impress your friends:

• The average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before he/she graduates high school.
• The peanut is not a nut, but a legume related to beans and lentils
• The older you get the more Peanut butter you eat, and wealthier you are the more Peanut butter you buy!
• People living on the East Coast prefer creamy peanut butter, while those on the West Coast prefer the crunchy style.
• Two peanut farmers have been elected president of the United States: Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.
• Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth