We have a new product in our house. One that delights me and calls me by name...often.

We ousted all peanut products from our house 6+ years ago. When we realized the danger they were to our boy, it was an easy decision. But I have missed the creamy goober spread that has such versatility...sandwiches, toast, as a dip for apples, fudge, cookies and frankly a big dollop just right off the spoon.

David and I have tried some of the "substitutes". YUCK! I found none of them to be even slightly acceptable and snubbed my nose at them figuring I would much rather do without than grimace as I ate. What fun is that?

And then.... Ahhhhhhhh.... And then...

I was researching sunflower seeds on the web, trying to find some that were uncontaminated with peanut/nut debris (Something crunchy for salads and the sort was my goal. I like a crunch, don't you?) and was having some issues. I clicked the next link of many on my Google page, sunbutter.com, and started browsing. Cool, I thought. They have sunflower seeds. Their site was littered with "Peanut Free" and "No nuts" banners and signs. I looked around the site a bit more and decided to order some sunflower seeds. I noticed that they also carried "Sunbutter", a sunflower seed spread. I was skeptical but intrigued and ordered a few variations. And then I waited for it to arrive.

It came and I promptly opened a jar and sniffed it. Ooooooooooo. It smelled enough like peanut butter that cold chills ran down my spine and I stuck the jar in front of my face and carefully read every word on that jar, a bit nervous I was that it was peanuts in disguise. The label practically screamed at me that it was indeed free of the offending goobers and nuts...so I tasted it. Eyes open and mouth curling into a smile, I shook my fist in the air and gave a gutteral "YES!"

After giving Parker the lecture (many times actually) that "This stuff smells and tastes so much like peanut butter that you should NEVER assume you can tell the difference. Don't eat it unless YOU make it." he hesitantly tasted it. It is okay to him, nothing special...and I am good with that. Caroline doesn't like it at all.

But...It makes no difference if the kids like it or not. David and I have a creamy, yummy and totally Parker safe "butter" to spread on bread, pancakes, apples, bananas...Ahhhhh.

Good food is, well, good. I think I need a Sunbutter and banana sandwich. How about you?

Posted by stephanie at May 24, 2007 09:07 AM