*From Eleditor Jules: You can also DIY peanut butter. All you need is shelled/husked peanuts and grind (use a coffee grinder or high speed blender) and keep going until you have peanut butter. No oil is needed (peanuts have oil inside). I make my own in small quantities..also a big PB fan!
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Peanut butter is my greatest addiction.

I eat it for breakfast. I eat it for lunch. I eat it for dinner. And I have a cheeky spoonful between meals as a snack.

Peanut butter has been my saving grace through breakups. Through the dark, cold months of winter when I crave some comfort. Peanut butter reminds me of childhood—when my mum would make us homemade peanut pasta sauce and we would lick our bowls clean.

Is there anything peanut butter can’t do? All I want is to share my love of this delicious spread with the world.

Here are five of the best ways to incorporate peanut butter into your daily meals:

Always be sure to get the organic, no palm oil version! Check the ingredients to make sure it says 100 percent peanuts. 

1. In a smoothie.

Here’s my go-to smoothie recipe (for winter months, try this):

1 banana
¼ avocado
¼ cup oats
1 cup nondairy milk
1 scoop vegan protein powder
½ tablespoon flax (or chia) seeds
1 handful of spinach
1 heaping spoon of-however-much-you-want-of-peanut butter

I eat this as a meal, so it’s hefty. You can also opt to leave out the oats/avocado and it will be a lighter snack.

2. Peanut stir-fry sauce.

The best stir-fries are peanut-y. Add this to your favourite stir-fry recipe:

1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 tablespoon soy (or tamari) sauce
½ tablespoon sesame seed oil
¼ cup water

Mix in a small bowl first, and add to your stir-fry once everything else is cooked.

3. Peanut pasta.

My mum’s recipe, adapted from one of the Moosewood cookbooks:

Fry some garlic (two cloves) in a bit of oil in the bottom of a saucepan. Then on low heat, add the following ingredients, stirring to form a smooth paste.

¼ cup peanut butter
¼ cup warm water
3 tablespoons tamari sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 teaspoon hot chili oil (or lots more to taste)

Optional: 2 tablespoons or more of tomato paste to add “depth” to the sauce.

4. Peanut butter avocado pudding.

The perfect (healthy) after-dinner snack to fill those sweet tooth cravings:

½ avocado
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 scoop chocolate (vegan) protein powder or cacao powder
1 teaspoon agave nectar
1 dash cinnamon
½ cup nondairy yogurt
1 banana
Optional: add chia or flax seeds

Blend all together and enjoy!

5. Peanut butter oats.

¼ cup oats
1 cup water or nondairy milk
1 (or ½) banana
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 teaspoon jam or agave nectar
½ tablespoon flax (or chia seeds)

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Bonus: Peanut butter on literally any fruit. Aaaand of course: eat it right from the jar (*spoon*)!