Peanut Butter Granola Bars - for National Peanut Butter Lover's Day

Happy National Peanut Butter Lover's Day!!

With today, March 1st, being a day of ultimate celebration - National Peanut Butter Lover's Day - thoughts of the luscious, creamy butter were with me as the sun broke through the night sky.  Right up there with Christmas and birthdays on my important days of the year list, peanut butter holds an honored place of high esteem in my life.

As a peanut butter lover since birth, my reverence for Dr. John Kellogg (of the cereal fame), remains high for the simple task of taking the humble peanut and turning it into the luscious, creamy composite that has become an American way of life.  Turning the peanuts into an easily digestible protein for his patients with no teeth, he most likely had little idea that the product would one day sell some 90 million jars a year.

According to the National Peanut Board, it takes about 540 peanuts to make one 12-ounce jar of peanut butter, with a one acre field producing enough peanuts for about 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.  Statistics show that men prefer the crunchy version while women's tastes tend towards the creamy.  Geographically, the crunchy version remains more popular in the western regions of the US as the East leans towards creamy.

Can you name the two American Presidents who had careers as peanut farmers (see answer below)?  And did you know that peanut butter was the secret behind Mr. Ed, TV's talking horse?  And who knew that Arachibutyrophobia actually stops some people from eating peanut butter with their intense fear of getting peanut butter suck to the roof of their mouth?

1928, another very important date in history, earns kudos with the introduction of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup by matching "two great tastes that taste great together".  Definitely a match made in heaven and a marriage that will indeed last into eternity, chocolate and peanut butter remain my personal favorite combo as evidenced by some of our most popular Liv Life creations:

Layered Triple Peanut Butter Krispie Treats

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Banana Muffins

Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread Bars

Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

While peanut butter and chocolate may be my favorite combo, I'm certainly not opposed to peanut butter on its own...

Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Apple Rings with Peanut Butter and Chocolate Krispies

Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce

On this most special of celebratory days, Liv Life wishes you a

Happy National Peanut Butter Lover's Day

as we bring you the newest addition to our Peanut Butter Collection:

Peanut Butter Granola Bars (with chocolate chips, of course...)

 

PS... Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter are the two American Presidents who were also Peanut Farmers.

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

adapted from Taste of Home

Chewy, peanutty and chocolaty... filled with rolled oats, a touch of flax, and an egg these bars pack a decent amount of nutrition with energy providing ingredients making them a wonderful before dance rehearsal or after school snack.

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup honey

1 egg

2 Tbs oil (I like Avocado Oil)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

3-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/4 cup ground flax meal

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 

3/4 teaspoon salt 

1/3 cup peanut butter chips 

1/3 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, beat the peanut butter, honey, egg, oil and vanilla until blended. Combine the oats, flax meal, brown sugar and salt; add to the peanut butter mixture and mix well. Stir in chips. (Batter will be sticky.) 

 Transfer to a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until set and edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.