History Behind the American Favorite In 1880, Dr. Ambrose W. Straub tried to find a protein supplement for his patients with bad teeth, who could no longer eat meat. So, he crushed peanuts into a paste for them to eat. The doctor's paste was taken to the World's Fair in 1893, here the paste's popularity rose. Later on, Dr. Straub met George A, Bayle Jr. who worked to grind peanuts into butter and eventually he bought all of the doctors rights to the peanut paste. George became the first vendor of Peanut Butter in 1903, and shared his product at the World's Fair in 1904 where it became even more successful. Throughout the 1920's and 1930's the offical brands of peanut butter came out. The two brands were Peter Pan and Skippy. From there the story of the actual joining of the peanut butter and jelly is jumbled, but it is believed that the US military men started the tradition. During World War II, many foods were being rationed, peanut butter and jelly were two of the few foods that were not. The military men found that eating peanut butter by itself could be quite difficult, so they added jelly to it to make it more palatable. Thus, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich was born, and has since then, became on of America's all time favorite foods. My Own Love for the Sandwich Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches have been one of my favorite foods ever since I could eat it. To me, there was nothing better for lunch than a sliced peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a small glass of kool-aid. When I was little, I loved when my mom would make my sandwiches. She would spread peanut butter on BOTH sides of my sandwich, and Jelly on just one side. I would not eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with just peanut butter on one side. The more peanut butter the better. When she was finished, my mother would set the glorious sandwich down in front of me, sometimes sliced, and other times not. Instinctually, I bowed my head to say grace and then I dug in. First, I would open the sandwich, and I would lick all the peanut butter off of one side. Put my sandwich back together and eat the rest. I refused to eat my sandwich any other way. As you can see, my dear reader, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches hold a special place in my heart. I am forever amazed at how such a simple food can bring so much delight to my tastebuds even now. |
Yet, my real joy comes from knowing all of the memories this simple sandwich holds for me and my family.
Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches will forever be my favorite food. This american classic has created many smiles throughout my lifetime, and I hope that it will create many more, as I share my love for this simple sandwich with a family of my own someday. |