The greatest love story ever told...PB & J

Don't they make a cute couple?

"We could fight like Ike and Tina (melody) or give back like Bill and Camille (melody). Be rich like Oprah and Stedman (melody) or instead struggle like Flo and James Evans..." I love my IPOD!  Well its that time of year, Valentine's Day.  There are roses on every corner, nooget filled chocolates and every conceivable heart shaped gift you can imagine.  I am a pretty private person, so I won't go into my love life, but I will tell you a love story.  I consider it the greatest love story ever told...Peanut Butter and Jelly.

Did you know by high school the average American has eaten 1500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? There is nothing like the classic sandwich that gave peanuts, grapes and berries legendary status. On several occasions I have put my Alton Brown hat on in search of where this love story began.

From what I can tell, peanut butter and jelly met in World War II when GI's were given rations of peanut butter and jelly, individually.  Fighting in a war together must make you close, because when the soldiers returned home, the consumption of peanut butter and jelly skyrocketed.  Thus the honeymoon began and  "PB&J" would go onto offspring a gooey collection of inspired creations.

I honestly can't recall my first peanut butter and jelly but I have loved PB & J for as long as I can remember.  The smooth salty and crunchy texture of peanut butter.  The sweet taste of your favorite fruit.  To me, it is the original combination of savory and sweet.

Inspired to take my love for these condiments to the next level I created The Elvis a couple of years ago when I was developing my company's corporate lunch menus.  It's a fitting name for a sandwich the Memphis legend loved so much.  What better way to start sharing my menus with the world than with one of my favs!?!  Hope you enjoy it!

THE ELVIS

Ingredients

(2) Slices of your favorite bread (Personally I love Challah but I didn't have any for this entry.  Taking a page from one of my favorite new foodies http://www.thegourmetpantry.blogspot.com/ I decided to use what was in my pantry :)

(1) ripe banana
A jar of your favorite jelly or preserve
A jar of your favorite peanut butter
1 tbsp of butter
1 egg
1/2 cup of milk
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp fresh ground nutmeg

1. Gather your ingredients.  There is a saying in professional kitchens around the world: mise en place.  It means "everything in place".  There is nothing worse than scurrying around trying to find the next ingredient. Even though this is just a sandwich its a good habit to get going.

Mise en place!

2.  In a shallow bowl whisk together the milk, egg, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg. Twist - swap the vanilla for almond extract and or use cinnamon sugar instead of just cinnamon.

3.  Begin to melt the butter in the skillet over medium heat.

FYI... I love butter

4.  Submerge (not dunk) your bread in the milk mixture.  Let the bread get fully coated.

 

 

5.  Place (don't drop) both pieces of bread in the skillet.

6.  Cook bread on each side for approx. 2 minutes or until brown.  Some people like light toast and some like dark toast.  Cook until you get the color you want.

7.  Let cooked french toast cool for a bit before handling.

8.  Put peanut butter on one side of one piece of bread.  Repeat with the jelly (as if you didn't know).

9.  Peel the banana and slice down the middle lengthwise and then crosswise.

10.  Place two pieces of banana on the jelly side and cover with the peanut butter side down.

11.  Prepare yourself for an experience unlike no other.

Bon Apetite.


Mr. Foodtastic