We go through a lot of peanut butter at our house. We don’t have kids at home, so it is all consumed by two (mostly one – me) adults and one dog.

The dog gets a Milk Bone covered with peanut butter after his twice a day walks. If he is given a treat without peanut butter during the day, he looks at us like we should know better or simply drops the treat on the floor and walks away. Spoiled?  Possibly.

My quick, no-nonsense breakfast is a piece of wholewheat toast with butter, blackberry jam and a glob of peanut butter. It’s high in protein and doesn’t leave a mess in the kitchen - both are high priorities in my book.

I prefer smooth peanut butter. Several uncited studies report most people prefer smooth peanut butter to chunky peanut butter. The National Peanut Board says people living on the East Coast prefer creamy peanut butter, while those on the West Coast prefer the crunchy style.

The only real difference between the two is the crunch, or lack thereof, and just a little more fiber (2%) in the crunchy.

Growing up, there were brief debates between the kids regarding the chunky or smooth issue, but the winner was usually determined by the person who happened to go to the store with Mom.

I don’t remember Dad ever eating peanut butter, except as a filling for pretzels.

Related:Deane family: 2023 Peanut Efficiency Award winners

One fond memory that does stick in my head is when we had peanut butter and honey sandwiches. There is something so good about honey seeped into a piece of white bread and allowed to get a crackly texture.

You can’t spread the peanut butter over the top of the honey. It needs to sit there for an appropriate amount of time in order for the honey to crystalize. Once honey has set, the opposing slice of bread on which the peanut butter has been spread can be married with the honey slice.

Good stuff.

For me peanut butter and mayonnaise or peanut butter and bananas are a no go. It is a personal preference. For me it’s straight up peanut butter and jelly.

The National Peanut Board says it takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter and by law, any product labeled “peanut butter” in the United States must be at least 90% peanuts. The other 10% is salt, sweeteners and vegetable oils.

Check out more peanut facts on the National Peanut Board website.

And demand for peanuts continues to grow as is evidenced by the crop’s expansion in the north part of the Delta. This year’s Peanut Efficiency Award winners, Triple D Farms, have been growing peanuts in the Bootheel of Missouri since 2015.

The Deanes are just one excellent example of the producers who provide good, healthy peanuts in the Midsouth. Read more about them the July 7 issue – online in or in print.