We make our Natural Peanut Butter in-house and grind it fresh right here in Skippers. We make it two ways, Smooth and Crunchy, and both start with Virginia peanuts from the same region we’ve been part of since the beginning.
The first thing you’ll notice about a natural peanut butter is that it tastes like peanuts. That sounds obvious, but many shelf-stable brands rely on sweeteners and other additives that change the flavor. Natural peanut butter has a cleaner, roasted taste that lets the peanut shine.
The second thing you may notice is a layer of oil on top. That’s normal for natural peanut butter. Without the stabilizers some brands use, the peanut’s own oil can rise to the surface as the jar sits. Stir it back in with a butter knife or spoon, working all the way to the bottom. Some people store the jar upside down for a day before opening to make stirring easier. Once it’s mixed, keep the jar in the refrigerator to slow separation, though it will firm up when cold.
This simple peanut butter works well in recipes where the peanut is the star. Our Virginia peanut soup, which we’ve written about before, is one example. It also works well in sauces for noodles or grilled chicken, stirred into oatmeal, or blended into a smoothie.
Of course, it’s also great on a sandwich. For our PB&J lineup, we pair our peanut butter with jams and preserves from McCutcheon’s, a family-owned Maryland company that has been making them the old-fashioned way since 1938. We carry their Grape Jelly, Strawberry Preserves, and Red Raspberry Preserves, along with Orange Blossom Honey for anyone who prefers a peanut butter-and-honey sandwich. We also offer Peanut Butter Spreaders to make the job a little easier.
A few combinations worth trying:
-
Crunchy peanut butter with Red Raspberry Preserves on toasted bread
-
Smooth peanut butter with Orange Blossom Honey on a warm biscuit
-
Smooth peanut butter with Strawberry Preserves on apple slices for an after-school snack
A jar of peanut butter and a jar of preserves also make a simple, useful gift. Tie them together with a ribbon and a Peanut Butter Spreader, and you have something anyone will use.
