We are a peanut butter loving family. Smooth, crunchy, extra crunchy, in cakes, in snacks, on toast, in ice cream – you name it, we love it! Since having children I buy sugar free and preferably salt free peanut butter and it tastes just as nice as the sugar and salt loaded versions. Peanuts are a great source of protein so I’m more than happy to give my kids peanut butter as a snack and The Boy frequently has it on toast or with breadsticks as a bedtime snack. Here are 3 of my favourite recipes using peanut butter and, especially if you use the sugar and/or salt free versions, they are really healthy. Enjoy and go nuts about peanut butter!

Peanut Butter chicken:

This is a take on satay chicken but less spicy and easier to make. It does contain honey so won’t be suitable for under 1’s but you could leave the honey out if you wanted. The sauce will still be yummy just not as sweet (which I guess isn’t a bad thing!). It also has some soy sauce in it. I prefer to use the low salt versions especially when I use it for my kids. I rarely use any salt in their food so every now and then won’t hurt but again you can leave it out if you wanted. Like honey, soy sauce isn’t really recommended for under 1’s. This freezes nicely and this recipe makes 2 adult portions or 4-6 baby/child portions.

4 tablespoons chunky or smooth peanut butter

1 tablespoon low-salt soy sauce (optional)

200ml water

1/2 clove crushed garlic

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 teaspoon honey

1/2 tbsp sesame oil

6-8 chicken boneless and skinless thighs or 2 chicken breasts

1/2 onion finely diced

Chop the chicken into bitesize pieces or strips. Mix the soy sauce, oil, garlic, honey and onion together and then pour over the chicken and let it marinade for 20-30 minutes. You can cook it immediately without marinading if you are in a rush or leave for a few hours or overnight if you wish too. The length of marinading time just affects the intensity of the flavour. Spoon the peanut butter covered chicken into a frying pan and fry in some sesame oil for about 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Serve with rice or noodles and remember to spoon any remaining peanut butter sauce from the pan over the chicken.

Peanut Butter and Banana Cookies:

These were a HUGE hit with both my children (and Mr MMM) and I received really positive feedback when I posted the recipe a few weeks ago. With only 3 ingredients they are so simple to make and the result is a soft cookie with a really yummy peanut butter taste. I think they work best with smooth peanut butter and an oil free one (like Meridian) but they are still as tasty with oil containing versions.

Peanut Butter Muffins:

You all know by now that I LOVE muffins and these ones combine my love of muffins with my family’s love of peanut butter. The original recipe I found had sugar and a lot of honey in it but I swapped the sugar for extra bananas and they work just as well. As there is honey in it if you are making this for a baby under under 1 then just add in an extra half a banana instead of the honey.