I do so love these cookalongs! I wasn't able to participate this time, due to being sick as a dog during most of it. I had the flu and now a bunch of fluid has taken up residence in my lungs and refuses to leave. Anyway, here's my two peanut butter contributions, neither of which I was able to make this time, but both of which I have tried and are good, and relatively healthy. Peanut sauce for pasta (from the Smuckers Peanut Butter jar lid) 1 cup natural peanut butter (not the hydrogenated kind with added sugar) 1/2 cup warm water 1/2 cup ketchup 1 TBLSP soy sauce (I use low salt) 1 tsp. garlic powder (or 2 cloves garlic, minced) 1 1/2 tsp. rice wine vinegar (or cider vinegar, but rice is great!) Can add some ginger, hot pepper and lime juice if you want it with more kick. Combine to for a smooth sauce. Pour over pasta and sauteed vegetables. Saute an onion and a green or red pepper at the very least for this pasta. You could add broccoli and many other veggies if you are a veggie lover like me. Can also add pork, chicken or tofu. Serve over pasta--lo mein noodles, or any other shape of pasta you like, or rice pasta or buckwheat pasta. Garnish with chopped roasted peanuts and cilantro or parsley if you like it. Frozen Banana Treats (these are GREAT to make with kids, and are at least a little bit on the healthy side with milk and peanut butter providing protein) 1 large banana 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter 1 1/2 cups milk 1 TBLSP sugar 5 oz. chocolate chips Blend banana, peanut butter, milk and sugar in blender. Put chocolate chips in the bottom of 6 oz. wax cups, pour banana mixture into cups and freeze. Add popsicle sticks after about 1 hour so they will stand upright. Yummy!

Years ago (maybe 30 or so) I had some wonderful Indian peanut butter chicken at a friend's house. Over the years I've often thought about the strange combination and how good it was. Someday I plan to try an Indian Peanut Butter Chicken recipe. Has anyone here ever tried a Peanut Butter Chicken recipe, Indian or otherwise? Here is a link that might be useful: Indian Peanut Butter Chicken recipes (Google search)

Here is the peanut butter spread I was thinking about: Amish Peanut Butter Spread 2c brown sugar 1c water 2T light Karo Syrup 2c smooth peanut butter 2c marshmallow fluff 1/4 tsp maple or vanilla ext. Heat brown sugar, water, and corn syrup stirring well til boiling. Remove from heat and cool Eombine peanut butter and fluff in mixing bowl and add cooled sugar mixture on top. Add flavoring and beat with mixer til smooth.

My favorite is Peanut Butter fudge,only problem is i can't make it!! Mine never turns out the way it should.I don't mean the one on the marshmallow fluff jar either.So my sisters and niece send me some at xmas time. Also like pb&j sandwiches with either apricot/pineapple jam or blueberry jam,like grape jam,but not grape jelly. On a spoon,straight from the jar. On crackers,especially graham with some marshmallow fluff.But even though i love that last one,i don't eat it anymore,too addicting and too fattening. I also have a recipe for PB frosting on a chocolate cake,YUMMO. Just give me PB and i'll eat it someway. Kathi