Nut Butter Mania

What is this?

A box filled with Artisana goodies…

FOR ME?

Yes, friends, you read that right: I was privileged enough to a receive a box of wonderful raw butters from the Artisana company. To say that I was excited when the package came would be a gross understatement.

Along with the copious amounts of nut butters they sent (I’m talkin’ two packets EACH of cashew, almond, walnut, pecan, cashini and macadamia butter, plus an 8oz jar of raw almond butter), I received some awesome coconut-based packs.

Two packs each of coconut oil, Cacao Bliss (<3), tahini and coconut butter (<3 x 10) They were also incredibly generous and gave me an additional 8oz jar of coconut butter. Wow, wow, wow. You guys are amazing, thank you!!

As off-the-wall elated as I was, the addition of this box posed a new problem: an overwhelming abundance of nut butters.

Um, yeah. The above picture shows you all the jars of nut butter that currently live in my house. Since taking this picture I’ve finished the yellow-topped PB to the left and the top Kirkland jar (both were nearly empty) but still–this is ridiculous.

Ridiculous in the best way possible, of course.

I told you a while back about my love of peanut butter, but I think my most favorite nut butter out of all these jars is the one and only Nuttzo PF. Oh my gooooosh. Have you ever tried this stuff? My advice to you is DON’T. You will become addicted, and then you will be forced to shell out $20 for a little 160z jar in order to feed your obsession.

However, if you choose to disregard my advice and enslave yourself to the mother of all things nutty, my recommendation is that you make your purchase(s) here or here. The first option saves you over $12 and you get to try both kinds, but I’ve only tried PF so it’s the only one I can truly recommend in the second option, my shop. (Yes, I finally opened an Open Sky shop! More on that in another post.)

Nuttzo PF, I love you. A homemade version must be created soon, because I simply cannot afford your deliciousness.

So, what is one to do with these ever-increasing jars of nut butter? Make Peanut Butter Cookie ice cream, of course!

It looks so appealing, I know.

Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 1 can full fat coconut milk, room temperature
• 1/2 cup all-natural peanut butter
• 2 tbsp non-dairy milk of choice (or water if you like)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract*
• Sweetener
• Pinch of guar gum (about 1/4 tsp?)

*I didn’t use the vanilla extract because for my sweetener I used about 6 drops of NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia Drops.

Directions:

Before opening, shake the can of coconut milk to make sure the fat is evenly distributed. Pour the coconut milk into an ice cube tray (or two, if needed) and freeze till solid, preferably overnight.

In the morning (or whenever you make the ice cream), empty the frozen coconut milk cubes into a high-speed blender such as a Vita-Mix or Blend-Tec. Add 1/2 tbsp of the non-dairy milk and blend, carefully using more (or less) milk as you need it. At this point the mixture in the blender should be the consistency of soft-serve.

Give the ice cream a good stir, then add the peanut butter, vanilla extract and sweetener. Blend it together, then while the blender is running pinch in the guar gum. It’s important to add this while the blender is going or else you may have guar clumps in your ice cream. Ick.

Taste test your ice cream and make sure it’s to your liking, then either devour it on the spot or put it in the freezer to harden for a few hours!

I did a little of both. 🙂

Ahh, I seriously love this ice cream! It tastes JUST like peanut butter cookie dough and I am so happy with it. I just made up the recipe as I went and I loved the results. This would be fabulous with some peanut butter cookie bites stirred in. Chocolate chips would be awesome, too. 🙂

I chose to cook up some oats, blend them with cocoa powder and tofu (a la Katie’s blended pudding–check out her Larabar giveaway!) and top the oats with my new ice cream. Yum in a bowl.

But wait, what does one do when these ever-increasing jars of nut butter start to decrease?

Make OIAJ, of course!

OIAJ with the rest of the Kirkland PB jar. Yum.

Dark chocolate oats in the rest of my coconut butter jar. Yes, I have already finished the jar Artisana sent. Don’t judge. It’s been over two weeks. 🙂

Topped with ‘nibs and coconut.

And a twist! SPIAJ: Sweet Potato In a Jar.

1/2 steamed sweet potato, cinnamon, a bit of PB Cookie ice cream and cacao nibs in my jar.

Yum.

Huh, well this hasn’t been a monstrous post at all. Just kidding, it definitely has been. Thanks for reading all the way through. 🙂

Question of the Day: NUT BUTTER. What is your favorite kind and your favorite way to use it? Any awesome OIAJ combos lately? Have you ever tried Nuttzo or Nuttzo PF?

Thanks for reading!