By Keith C. Milne
Today, while sitting in my favorite chair contemplating the deeper meaning of life, I was suddenly struck with an idea for a completely new and improved version of one of my favorite snack sandwiches, the peanut butter and jelly or PB&J.
The PB&J has always been one of my main go-to sandwiches when I get the munchies in the afternoon or at night. I think I fell in love with this sandwich ‘at first bite’ when I was so young I was still unable to remember. I’ve never been let down by one of these sandwiches. If you’re also a fan, you know what I am referring to.
Ingredients are critical. Only fresh bread, organic Valencia peanut butter or a high quality almond butter, along with either a top-shelf jelly or jam need apply for this job! It’s has to be fresh, top-shelf, and your favorite flavor of jam, your favorite type of bread, and ONLY Valencia peanut butter, or another high quality, organic almond butter should be used for this sandwich. For those who follow this advice, your PB&J will be all it can be, with potent flavor and ultra-creamy goodness!
I love PB&J’s with either ultra-smooth, soft bread, such as Pepperidge Farms Sourdough, or with a ‘ruff-n-ready,’ coarse, San Francisco style sourdough, along with Trader Joe’s Reduced Sugar Strawberry Preserves (Reduced Sugar tastes less like sugar more like sweet, fresh fruit), and Trader Joe’s organic Valencia peanut butter. Oh my gosh! These sandwiches are so good that it doesn’t matter if the peanut butter was rewarmed in the microwave oven for 20 seconds first (recommended), or with the bread toasted or not. Prepare yourself for the goodness. Definitely a comfort food.
Back at my chair . . . I was just about ready to get up and make one of these to-die-for sandwiches when, like a bolt of lightening, I decided to do something completely different. This time, as described above, I made the smooth, Pepperidge Farms version of my usual, delicious PB&J except this time before putting the two-halves together I laid a nice, big, fat full-sized Hershey Bar across the bread, right on top of the jam, then topped it with the second piece of bread with peanut butter on it.
The first flavor to arrive on my palate was the low-level, but distinct sour flavor of the bread bacterium that gives sour dough its sourness, followed by the squishy texture of the collapsing bread blending with the sharp, fruity, strawberry flavor that was simultaneously mixing in with the full-bodied Valencia peanut flavors, all combining while gently yielding to all ingredients going into final emulsification with the rapidly melting chocolate inside my mouth.
I must say, this completely outstanding new flavor blend created by hybridizing the PB&J with a Hershey bar was an unexpected pleasure. Honestly, I was expecting to have more of a ‘meh’ experience, where it was ‘okay,’ but nothing I would bother going out of my way to make again.
I can tell you right here, right now, this sandwich WILL be made again, OH YEAH! I keep Hershey bars around all the time now, so if the inspiration hits me again, which I’m sure it will, then I’ll at least have that ingredient ready to go! There was nothing I didn’t like about it whatsoever.
While enjoying the sandwich, the creativity continued to flow and I came up with all kinds of variations that I can’t wait to try! Here are some of what I came up with that I plan to try:
Peanut Butter or Almond Butter, Jelly or Jam, and Almond Hershey Bar Sandwich: Replace the peanut butter with Almond Butter, and replace the plain Hershey bar with an Almond Hershey bar.
Peanut Butter or Almond Butter, Jelly or Jam and Nutella Sandwich: Replace the Hershey bar with Nutella spread for a hazelnut-chocolate twist.
Grilled Peanut Butter or Almond Butter, Jelly or Jam and Hershey Bar Sandwich: Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat and grill the sandwich until the bread is toasted and the chocolate is melted.
Peanut Butter or Almond Butter, Jelly or Jam and Banana Sandwich: Add sliced bananas to the sandwich for an extra fruity and creamy element.
Peanut Butter or Almond Butter, Jelly or Jam, and Marshmallow Fluff Sandwich: Replace the Hershey bar with marshmallow fluff for a sweet and sticky sandwich.
The ‘Smore’ Sandwich: Peanut Butter or Almond Butter, Jelly or Jam, and Marshmallow Fluff Sandwich: simply add the marshmallow fluff to the sandwich and be sure to grill it in order to melt the chocolate creating a delicious, sticky, smore-like sandwich, minus the graham crackers.
Peanut Butter or Almond Butter, Jelly or Jam and Bacon Sandwich: Add crispy bacon to the sandwich for a savory and salty flavor profile.
Peanut Butter or Almond Butter, Jelly or Jam, and Granola Sandwich: Add granola to the sandwich for a crunchy texture and extra nuttiness.
Peanut Butter or Almond Butter, Jelly or Jam, and Applesauce Sandwich: Replace the Hershey bar with applesauce for a healthy and fruity twist.
Peanut Butter or Almond Butter, Jelly or Jam, and Honey Sandwich: Add honey to the sandwich for a natural sweetener and extra flavor dimension.
Peanut or Almond Butter and Honey
Chunky Peanut Butter with a Hershey Special Dark Chocolate bar with Orange Marmalade! 😋
Finally, simply add honey to your sandwich instead of Jam. Yum!!
The sky is the limit. Use your imagination and experiment with this and other sandwiches. Have your own variations? PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT and share your creative sandwich with all of us!