Peant Butter Update
A while ago, sassyinkpen posted a nifty tip. Apparently many blender bases are the same size as a Mason jar, so you can screw the jar onto the base and grind or chop away. I mentioned I wanted to try it to make peanut butter, and Sassy asked for an update. Finally, 3 weeks later, here it is.
Sadly, the Mason jar trick was a no-go. The collar on my blender is too small.
I went online to look for PB makers. Most were commercial-type rigs, but there was one retro-looking gadget for about $30 that sounded wonderful. That is, until I read some reviews of it on another page: "Impossible to clean" "got stuck and started smoking" and two "threw it in the trash"s. Pass.
Not one to give up, I bought your basic food processor with a big bowl and a decent motor.
I'm trying to cut down on the salt, sugar & fat, so I started with unsalted roasted peanuts, ground 2 cups of nuts into meal, then added 1 Tbsp. peanut oil. It had to be stirred by hand a few times when the blades just spun and nothing was moving, but it got better when the oil went in. It might not need stirring with more oil added from the start, but I wanted to get away with using as little as possible. It came out fine - and doesn't separate when it sits. It has an interesting texture; it's a thick paste, almost crunchy, but with little flecks, not chunks. 6 cups of unshelled nuts made about 3 1/2 cups of peanut butter. I don't care for it in anything cooked, like pie filling or ice cream sauce, but it's great for toast and sandwiches. (Please don't ask why I'm making my own so I can cut down on salt, sugar & fat, and then trying it out in desserts. Let's just not even go there.)
If I saved any money, it wasn't worth the extra effort, but this was fun. :D
Sadly, the Mason jar trick was a no-go. The collar on my blender is too small.
I went online to look for PB makers. Most were commercial-type rigs, but there was one retro-looking gadget for about $30 that sounded wonderful. That is, until I read some reviews of it on another page: "Impossible to clean" "got stuck and started smoking" and two "threw it in the trash"s. Pass.
Not one to give up, I bought your basic food processor with a big bowl and a decent motor.
I'm trying to cut down on the salt, sugar & fat, so I started with unsalted roasted peanuts, ground 2 cups of nuts into meal, then added 1 Tbsp. peanut oil. It had to be stirred by hand a few times when the blades just spun and nothing was moving, but it got better when the oil went in. It might not need stirring with more oil added from the start, but I wanted to get away with using as little as possible. It came out fine - and doesn't separate when it sits. It has an interesting texture; it's a thick paste, almost crunchy, but with little flecks, not chunks. 6 cups of unshelled nuts made about 3 1/2 cups of peanut butter. I don't care for it in anything cooked, like pie filling or ice cream sauce, but it's great for toast and sandwiches. (Please don't ask why I'm making my own so I can cut down on salt, sugar & fat, and then trying it out in desserts. Let's just not even go there.)
If I saved any money, it wasn't worth the extra effort, but this was fun. :D