Some things are just meant to be together. Romeo and Juliet. Converse and high socks. Sundays and brunch. Peanut butter and jelly. Ahhh – the classic PB&J sandwich. It nourished us throughout our childhood and is still a favorite go-to for lunch on the fly or that one thing besides chicken nuggets you know the kids will eat. But what if you could make it even better? Blasphemy, you say? Well read on and decide for yourself as The Hawthorne offers six ways to level up the humble PB&J.
Grill It
Take that plain ol’ PB&J, spread a little butter on the outside of the bread, then grill it on a hot skillet for around 2 minutes each side or until golden brown. Crisp, buttery outside, warm, gooey, fruit and nuttiness inside. Take it a step further and sprinkle some chocolate chips into your sando before grilling.
Add Sliced Apples
Add some thinly sliced, crisp, sweet apples or tart Granny Smiths to your PB&J. It adds a satisfying crunch, and the flavor of the apple marries perfectly with both the peanut butter and the jelly.
Make It Into French Toast
This is taking the idea of grilling your PB&J and shooting for the moon. Make French toast, leaving it just slightly underdone. Assemble your PB&J using your French toast instead of regular bread, return the sandwich to the skillet or griddle and cook for one to two more minutes on each side, then serve and enjoy. Pure genius!
Add Bacon
Because crispy, salty bacon makes everything better. Need we say more?
Use Cinnamon-Raisin Bread
Instead of boring white or wheat bread, go for cinnamon-raisin bread to add some pizzazz to your PB&J. If you prefer savory or spicy rather than sweet, you could try slices of jalapeño cheese loaf or a pretzel roll.
Add Fresh Berries
Kick the fruit flavor of the jelly up a notch by adding fresh berries. If you’re using raspberry jam, add sliced or diced fresh raspberries, strawberries for strawberry jam, and so on. This adds a subtle but delicious freshness that is fantastic. It also looks really pretty when you slice the sandwich.
Enjoy experimenting with your PB&J to find a new favorite, or just stick with the tried and true version. You really can’t go wrong either way. And take a look at our blog for more great food and lifestyle ideas.