Let me just start out saying my roommate, Hope “Hoprah” Watts, is a blessing.
We get along famously, and besides my constant bewilderment for her knack for knowing when I need my space and when I need some quality hang out time, she is pretty cool. She basically decorated our WHOLE apartment (which I do NOT have an eye for, I’ve gathered), and she constantly encourages me with my artwork (which is experiencing quite a nasty dry spell lately).
But there is something you need to know about Hope. She loves two things:
1) my homemade peanut butter
2) The Oprah Show
She doesn’t even like Oprah Winfrey, she says defensively. Isn’t it funny how the things we like commonly follow this logic? “What logic?” you ask. Simple. The Guilty Pleasure Logic. The “Oh-I-Don’t-Even-Really-Like-This” Logic. But you do. There lies the guilt. Self-denial commences. It’s this push-pull internal struggle that is delightful, yet dangerous. I never thought the words delightful, dangerous, and Oprah would be in the same paragraph..moreover, one that I wrote.
The peanut butter fetish has been a big deal the past couple of weeks.
Personally, I think Hope needs an intervention. I have made roughly 8 lbs of this peanut butter since December. I haven’t eaten too much of it. Maybe a half pound, collectively. Hope cannot get enough. I’m worried. That’s a lot of peanut butter I know I didn’t eat. In her defense, this isn’t just any peanut butter. Ohhhh no. This peanut butter is unique because it contains pretzels and white chocolate. Yum? Yum.
But revisiting the logic of guilty pleasures: What is it about something forbidden that makes it so enticing? It’s not “cool” to like Oprah, and I agree. I can’t stand Oprah.
But I do enjoy this peanut butter. Why is it forbidden? It’s terrible for you. White chocolate is the least healthy for you of the chocolate family tree. It is basically devoid of nutrients or anti-oxidants. BUT I LOVE IT…because I shouldn’t have it. Typical female, right? NO. Typical human nature.
Admit it. We all want we can’t have. It wouldn’t be a cliche if it weren’t true. And sure, I believe we are allowed to indulge now and then. And I think that is allowed. In fact, it is in my personal food philosophy called AIM (appreciation, indulgence, and moderation). We need to find the simple pleasures in life and not be scared to treat ourselves. BUT, I do believe there is a fine line between a guilty pleasure and a closet addiction…and I’m pretty sure you know the difference, or I hope so.
So here is to hoping you indulge sometime this week, for the sake of your sanity 🙂
Hope’s Favorite Peanut Butter
-half a bag of Ghiradelli White Chocolate
-16 oz peanuts (I prefer regular, salted peanuts…try honey roasted if you have a sweet tooth)
-handful of pretzels
-2 t canola oil (possibly more)
-1/2 T cinnamon
-2 T nutmeg
Pour peanuts into food processor and run for about 2 min. Peanuts should be forming into a good, thick butter. Add the Canola oil as needed. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg until blended.
Crumple the pretzels into pieces, or bits. Drop in the white chocolate pieces and pretzel bits. Pulse to achieve the consistency of your liking. You can add more from here, depending on how much “crunch” you like.
#food #oprah #peanutbutter #recipes
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