Planters NUTrition Energy Mix Peanut Butter

A few weeks ago a marketing agent representing Planters Peanut Butter asked me in I’d be interested in trying the company’s new “Energy Mix” Peanut Butter. Obviously I said yes, even though I already have about seven jars of Peanut Butter in reserve in the family pantry. But hey, even though I had a jar of Peter Pan Natural Honey Chunky and a couple of flavors of Peanut Butter and Co. products, I didn’t have any jars of Cinnamon Raisin Granola Nut Peanut Butter. Clearly, I’ve been most spoiled.

The marketing sheet Planets sent me has health buzz words like “wholesome,” but I could honestly care less about the nutritional angle the company is going for. Peanut Butter is, at worst, decent for you in moderation, even when it has hydrogenated oil blends (an interesting read, btw, for those who live in fear of the label). As far as this stuff goes, the sample I was sent has some pros and cons.

On the plus side, the peanut flavor is well represented. A thick, stick-to-the-roof-of-your mouth roasted peanut flavor and texture permeates, which combines the best elements of chunky (whole peanuts) and smooth (spreads great). I find it less gritty than Peanut Butter and Co.’s Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter (a plus) but not quite as sweet (but minus) The Cinnamon blend is definitely assertive, but it’s a bit spicy given the level of added sugar, which seems a bit low given the intensity of roasted flavors. Likewise, the raisins are a bit dull and don’t necessarily ”pop” at you. I wasn’t a big fan of the granola. Actually, I have no idea why it was included. I felt like the crisp rice pieces detract from applications of the Peanut Butter, taking away the option of the steady and reliable P&J, and my personal favorite, the PB&DP&PC (Peanut Butter and Dill Pickle and Potato Chip.)

If you like thicker and really peanuty peanut butters to eat with fruits like apples or pears, I’d say this new line of Peanut Butter is worth a shot. It actually spreads pretty well (in my case, on Monk’s Cinnamon Raisin Bread) and has a good amount of Cinnamon mixed in. That being said, I’ll be passing on this flavor at the store. The 12 ounce container runs about four ounces smaller than most Peanut Butters, while the granola just isn’t memorable. If you’re that crazy about the coronation to begin with, I’d think you’d probably be already mixing your favorite Peanut Butter and favorite granola as it stands.

As for me, I’ll stick with topping my slices of Monk’s Bread with a Peter Pan.

• Price: $3.99 retail (Sample provided from Planters)
• Ranking: 5/10
• Chances I’d Buy: 10%

On the Virtues of Blue Cheese Herb Mustard

I can be a bit of an authoritarian when it comes to mustard. “Snob” isn’t the right word because that would imply I dislike something as simple as yellow ballpark-style mustard (which I like) and will only eat fancy European mustards that come in specialty stores (also which I like).  I’m not a snob though, I’m just a guy who puts one type of mustard or another on everything, and likes certain mustards for certain things. How bad is it? Lets just say I answer a lot of “what’s that yellow stuff on your shirt” questions.

I have a special love of coarse grain, whole-seed mustards, but recently I’ve been enjoying Stonewall Kitchen’s Blue Cheese Herb Mustard. It’s one of the most assertive mustards I’ve ever sampled, and a look at the ingredients proves why. Made from a Dijon base, it combines the sour notes of white win with the tang of a strong fermented buttermilk and bitterness of dried herbs. I can’t for the life of me place the herb(s), but the strong, almost meaty foundation of the mustard tastes heavily of garlic and has just enough sinus clearing ability to not overpower a portion of honey ham or roast beef. As the son of two Buffalo, NY expats, I can only imagine how good this would be with some Roast Beef on Weck.

Definitely worth checking out the next time you’re hosting a gathering featuring organic pretzels and/or strong red meat.