Peanut Butter Purist
Someone, please tell me I’m not the only one who cringes inside when I see peanut butter in the jelly jar!
I know I’m supposed to be fostering independent life skills in my kids, but the truth of the matter is I can’t stand the mess. This is a problem I don’t know how to solve.
When they make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I find peanut butter mixed in with the purple-y goodness of the Welch’s grape. I find myself fishing for peanut butter with a spoon in 12 seconds, flat.
I was really disturbed by this issue (apparently I have a lot of free time on my hands and emotional energy to spare) so I did a Google search of “peanut butter in the jelly jar.” I got a good giggle out of this Yahoo answers thread:
“Q: Is selling peanut butter and jelly in the same jar immoral? I saw this thing called Goober at the store today and it’s peanut butter and jelly together mixed up in a can. I thought that God wanted us to work for our food, not have it pre-made together in that way. Is Goober immoral or can I eat it and not go to confession?
A: It’s called Goober, that should answer your question. Eat it and go to hell with the rest of us while you enjoy the “oh so delicious” peanut-buttery & jelly sin.”
I agree the mixture isn’t immoral, but it is extraordinarily frustrating for the purists in the world.
While I was Googling my elitist peanut butter and jelly questions I came across a new invention: The Cuisipro Peanut Butter and Jelly Spreader. This may very well be the answer to life’s problems, up to and including world peace!
The Peanut Butter and Jelly Spreader has two color-coded non-stick silicone ends that allow for easy spreading of the peanut butter and jelly. The brown end is for the peanut butter and after you spread that layer on the bread, simply flip it over and now use the purple side to spread the jelly. The tips have soft smooth edges and won’t tear or damage the bread during the spreading phase.
Besides the fact it looks vaguely like a pregnancy test, I’m on board with the separated spreader and I’d like to request one for my birthday, please!
Just in case you’re rolling your eyes over my obsession with the minuscule, I do realize the course of history will not be changed by condiment fraternization.
Do you have any silly pet peeves?
Frankly, while I am in complete agreement with you about sacrilegious contamination of said jars, I think this gadget is a waste of money.
Cheaper solution: Use a spoon for the jelly (which eliminates the inevitable slippery jelly struggle when retrieving it with a knife) and a knife for the PB. Train your kids to put the PB on all the sandwiches being made first, then scoop the jelly with the spoon and spread it with the back of the spoon (or the knife). Teach them to wipe any mess up when they’re done. Yes, it requires some time to train them, but having a child able to make lunch for everyone is well worth the effort and worth you exercising restraint to not nit-pick their performance! 🙂