Crunchy or creamy?

Today I'm celebrating Peanut Butter Lovers Month!

Peanut butter is the leading use of peanuts in the USA. It was first introduced to the USA in 1904 at the Universal Exposition in St. Louis by C.H. Sumner, who sold $705.11 of the "new treat" at his concession stand. Peanut butter was the secret behind "Mr. Ed," TV's talking horse. Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth. The world's largest peanut butter and jelly sandwich was created in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on September 7, 2002. It weighed nearly 900 pounds and contained 350 pounds of peanut butter and 144 pounds of jelly. The amount of bread used to create the sandwich was equivalent to more than 400 one-pound loaves of bread. Sixty percent of consumers prefer creamy peanut butter over crunchy. The amount of peanut butter eaten in a year could wrap the earth in a ribbon of 18-ounce peanut butter jars one and one-third times. Americans eat enough peanut butter in a year to make more than 10 billion peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Women and children prefer creamy, while most men opt for chunky. People living on the East Coast prefer creamy peanut butter, while those on the West Coast prefer the crunchy style. Personally, I'm a creamy fan!

Here's a short quiz: how much do you know about peanut butter?

1. How many peanuts does it take to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter?
   
2. How many peanut butter sandwiches can be made with one acre of peanuts?
   
3. What percent of USA households consume peanut butter?
   
4. How many jars of peanut butter are churned out by the world's largest peanut butter factory each day?
   
5. Approximately how many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches will the average child eat before he/she graduates from high school?
   
6. How much do Americans spend on peanut butter each year?
   
7. When was the patent for peanut butter awarded?
   
8. How much peanut butter does the average American eat each year?
   
9. How many pounds of peanut butter are eaten by Americans each year?
   
10. What two peanut farmers have been elected President of the United States?
    
11. Approximately how long does it take to manufacture peanut butter?
    

While you're thinking about your answers, watch the music video of the cute Peanut Butter Song by Joe Raposo from Sesame Street :

As posted on YouTube by kidsongstvshow

The Answers: how did you do?

1. About 540
   
2. 30,000 sandwiches
   
3. 89%
   
4. 250,000 jars
   
5. 1,500
   
6. Almost $800 million
   
7. In 1895 to Dr. John Harvey Kellogg
   
8. 3 pounds per person
   
9. More than 700 million pounds
   
10. Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter
    
11. About 3 hours
    

What's for lunch today? Have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to celebrate Peanut Butter Lovers Month. Toss in a Nabisco Nutter Butter cookie too! Before you leave the site today, post a description of your favorite memory about peanut butter or your favorite recipe that requires peanut butter.


Credits: Special thanks to the National Peanut Board and Peanut Advisory Board for fun facts.