Don’t Miss a Thing!

Subscribe via email to receive the latest recipes in your inbox!

Lynsey Lou's

Enjoying Life One Bite at a Time!

Peanuts

SRC: Homemade Peanut Butter

by 8 Comments

I have made my own peanut butter once.  That one time I made it, it was actually so it could be incorporated into another recipe.  It was for a pie crust, a peanut butter pie crust to be exact.  Of course, after making it I had to sample it.  I was beyond impressed.   Not only with the taste but with how incredibly simple it was to make.  I mean it came together in literally seconds.

I guess in the back of my mind I knew it couldn’t be that hard since I pass those “homemade peanut butter” machines in the market.  I’m assuming if it was very complicated they wouldn’t even give you the option to make your own.  Now I ask myself,  if it was so easy, then why haven’t I made my own for my peanut butter loving son and husband since that very first time?  To that, I don’t really have an answer.

But, all that is changing.  And changing now.  For this month’s secret recipe club I was assigned Enriching Your Kid.  After perusing through several recipes that looked amazing,  I finally decided to go back to the basics and make my own peanut butter.

This time it would be for us to consume rather than going into another recipe.   Boy, was my money right on the mark with this choice.  My peanut butter loving addicts were so excited to hear I was making homemade peanut butter and my little sous chef was eager to assist!

We had so much fun making this peanut butter.  Tucker’s favorite part was watch the nuts twirl around the food processor and transform from pieces of nuts into a smooth cream.  And just like me, he HAD to give that butter a taste as soon as I took off the lid.  He approved immediately!  So what are you waiting for, try making your own peanut butter today! You’ll be hooked too!

Homemade Peanut Butter

Ingredients:

1 Cup dry roasted lightly salted peanuts
1/4 Tsp unsalted butter
2 Tsp sugar
1 1/2 Tsp vegetable or peanut oil

Directions:

Place peanuts and butter in a microwave safe dish and heat for 20 to 30 seconds.  Toss to coat.  Set aside.

Place sugar in the food processor.   Turn on high and let go for a minute, or until sugar is powdered.  Add the peanuts and turn on high allowing the peanuts to turn into a peanut butter.  Once it begins to becomes creamy, stream in the oil while the processor is still running.   If the mixture begins sticking to the sides, stop and stir and continue processing.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge.  Oil may rise to the top while sitting,  simply stir before use.

Recipe source: barely adapted from Enriching Your Kid

Sweet and Spicy Nut Mix

by Leave a Comment

I have long been a fan of snack mix; the regular ol’ seasoned mix, sweet and salty and even the variety that has a drizzle of chocolate.  I’m not prejudice, I like them all.  My favorite part of any snack mix is those little overly-seasoned pieces.  I will pick through an entire bag of snack mix and search for those little pieces of seasoned goodness.

So what’s your favorite part of snack mix?  The nuts, cereal, pretzels, pieces of rye toast?  Or, are you like me, and like the overly-seasoned pieces?

I’m addicted to all the deliciousness so much that I’ve been wanting to make my own for so long, but for some reason or another just haven’t gotten around to it…until now.  And it couldn’t be better timing since Father’s Day is right around the corner.  What better snack to give dad than a big bowl full of sweet and spicy mix filled with a variety of nuts, pretzels and rice cereal.

It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty with a hint of spice.  It’s a subtle spice that hits you kind of in the back throat but then is quickly cut by the sweet brown sugar.  I love this mix of nuts and spices; it came out exactly like I had hoped for.  A little salty, sweet, spicy and a hint of stickiness; which if you think about it it’s kind of like our family.  A little nutty, a hint of spice, a lot of sweet and a little sticky because of all the fun messy chaos we have! 

So make this mix for your special guy and tell him he’s the nut that holds the family together!

Sweet and Spicy Nut Mix

Ingredient:


1/2 Cup almonds
1/2 Cup dry roasted peanuts, unsalted
1/2 Cup walnuts
1/2 Cup pecans
2 1/2 Cups Chex rice cereal
3/4 Cup mini pretzel rods
3 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 Tbsp Worcestershire
1-2 Tsp hot sauce, more or less depending on spice preference
2 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tsp salt
1/8 Tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 Tsp chili powder
1/4 Tsp cumin

Directions:


Preheat oven to 350.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl combine almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cereal and pretzel rods.  Toss to combine and set aside.

Place butter in a microwave safe bowl and place in the microwave, heat in to melt.  Once the butter is completely melted add the Worcestershire, hot sauce, brown sugar, salt, cayenne pepper, chili powder and cumin and stir to combine.  Taste, adjust seasonings if needed.

Slowly pour the butter mixture over the nut mixture stirring to completely coat.  Once all the butter mixture has been added, toss to ensure everything has been coated.  Pour on the prepared baking sheet and spread in an even layer.

Place in oven and bake for 5-8 minutes, stirring every couple minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely then transfer to an airtight container.

Recipe source: A Lynsey Original