just for fun - Kids Take Over the Kitchen and Peanut Day!

Today - September 13th - is Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day and Peanut Day, so it seems like a great day to grab the children you love and make peanut butter chocolate chip cookie with them!

But first a few fun peanut facts . . . 

• Peanuts originated in South America, where they were cultivated by natives for at least 2000 years. As early as 1500 B.C., the Incans of Peru used peanuts as sacrificial offerings and entombed them with their mummies to aid in the spirit life.
• Spaniards and Portuguese slave traders introduced them to Africa and Europe.
• Spanish traders brought the peanut plant to Africa from where it was transported to America on slave ships. Thus peanuts ended up in America as a result of the slave trade.
• Dr. George Washington Carver, American Botanist researched and developed more than 300 uses for peanuts in the early 1900s; He is considered “The Father of the Peanut Industry” because of his extensive research and selfless dedication to promoting peanut. He promoted use of peanuts in items such as shoe polish, shaving cream, toothpaste, grease and ink etc.
• India & China together produce almost 2/3rds of the world crop. China overtook Indian production in the mid-1990s. Historically, the largest producer of peanuts in the world used to be India. Currently China produces almost 40% of the world crop, and India almost 25%.
• The first peanuts grown in the United States were grown in Virginia.
• Peanuts were originally used only to feed pigs.
• Peanuts account for 2/3rd of all snack nuts consumed in the USA. Americans eat about 2,80,000 Tons of peanuts and about 3,20,000 Tons of peanut butter each year.
• Peanut butter is the number one use of peanuts in the United States. It takes, on average, about 1200 peanuts to make 1 Kg jar of peanut butter. Amazingly on one acre of a peanut crop yields about 1300 Kg crop enough to make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches!
• Peanuts contain high concentrations of poly-phenolic antioxidants, primarily p-coumaric acid. This compound has been thought to reduce the risk of stomach cancer.
• Peanuts are an excellent source of resveratrol, another polyphenolic antioxidant. Resveratrol has been found to have protective function against cancers, heart disease, degenerative nerve disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and viral/fungal infections. It also decreases stroke risk.
• Astronaut Allen B. Sheppard took with him a peanut to the moon.

If you decide to make cookies with your grandchildren - try this recipe . . . 

• One stick of softened butter
• One half cup peanut butter
• 2/3  cup brown sugar
• 2/3  cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups flour 
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream butter and peanut butter then add sugars, salt and eggs. Beat together until light and fluffy. Add remaining ingredients. Bake at 375 for seven to eight minutes. Cool on racks and enjoy!

Which Peanut Fun Fact is the most interesting to you? I found it interesting to learn about the health benefits of peanuts!