Literature & Lore

"A nut butter mill is desirable for the preparation of nut butter at home. If one designed for the purpose is not obtainable, a coffee or hand wheat mill may be used. Blanch the nuts, but do not roast and grind. The meal thus prepared may be cooked by putting it (dry) in the inner cup of a double boiler and cooking as directed for grains, for eight or ten hours. As it is required for use, add water to make of the desired consistency, and cook again for a few minutes, just long enough to bring out the essential oil of the nuts. Water may be added as soon as the nuts are ground, and the mixture placed in a covered bean pot and baked from eight to ten hours in a moderate oven, if preferred." -- Kellogg, Mrs. Ella Eaton [Ed. John H. Kellogg's wife and professional partner]. Science in the Kitchen. Battle Creek, Missouri: Modern Medicine Publishing Company. 1895 edition. Page 365.

"Peanut sandwiches are usually made from grated peanuts. Have the peanuts thoroughly roasted, and grate them on an ordinary grater. Cut the end from a square loaf of bread, butter the loaf, then cut off thin slices, and so continues [sic] until you have the desired quantity. Spread over a thick layer of the grated peanuts. Put two slices together, trim off the crusts and cut the slices into fancy shapes -- either rounds, crescents, triangles or squares. Or you may buy for these a peanut butter." -- "Ideas for Sandwiches". Massillon, Ohio: The Massillon Independent. Thursday, 30 September 1897. Page 5.

"A new article, known as peanut butter, is said to be on the market. It is made from the oil of the peanut, and has the flavor of the nut. Like all other products of similar kind, the consumers must be educated to accept it. It is not injurious, and is considered beneficial to some, but it will not take the place of butter from cream very soon." -- "The Farm in General" column. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: The Compiler. Tuesday, 16 November 1897. Page 4.

"A new use for peanuts is developing as the peanut butter industry becomes better understood. This product of the peanut answers in the place of ordinary butter for table use and is said to be excellent for shortening purposes and for gravies, sauces, etc. In point of purity it is superior to the best dairy butter. It is well designed for the use of vegetarians who strenuously object to anything animal. There is already a considerable demand for this butter substitute and it is very probable there will be an enlarged market for the nuts." -- Weekly Sentinel. Fort Wayne, Indiana. 24 November 1897. Page 2, column 1.