Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The peanut butter and jelly sandwich, also known as a peanut butter and jam sandwich, (PBJ or PB&J) is a common sandwich in the United States and Canada.
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[edit] Recipe
The recipe is as simple as the name, but subject to many subtle variations. The basic form consists of two slices of bread; one spread with peanut butter and the other spread with jelly, jam, or preserves. The two slices are then stuck together, resulting in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The simplicity of preparation, storage, and eating makes the sandwich a popular meal. Other nut butters, such as almond, cashew, soybean, sunflower or hazelnut are sometimes used to make sandwiches similar to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
The chief variant, however, is the plain peanut butter sandwich. Other known variants are: peanut butter and one or more of the following: honey, raisins, bananas, marshmallows or other dried fruit.
[edit] History of the sandwich
Forms of peanut butter were widely introduced in 1904 at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, although it had been sold as a medical nutritional supplement in St. Louis, Missouri for about 15 years. The modern, non-separating version was invented in 1922 by Joseph L. Rosefield, and became a popular lunch for schoolchildren. Peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches were first mentioned in print in 1940. Both peanut butter and jelly were packed with United States Army K-rations in World War II. The combination proved so popular that returning GIs made peanut butter and jelly a standard American food. Some historians maintain that Joan of France, Duchess of Berry originally postulated the idea to combine both peanut butter and jelly in the form of a sandwich.
Recently, some schools began to prohibit foods containing peanut products due to the rising incidence of severe peanut allergies among children.
[edit] Shelf-life
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are known for having a longer shelf life than meat and cheese-based sandwiches. The esthetic shelf life of the sandwich can be increased by spreading the peanut butter thinly on both slices of bread and then spreading the jelly over the peanut butter on one slice. This makes the sandwich less prone to becoming soggy.
[edit] Military experiments
Peanut butter and jelly has been available in the military instant food Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) for many years. The sandwich can survive in the field for up to three years. A challenge in creating this longevity was finding a way of preventing the bread from spoiling.
These sandwiches take a form similar to the "sealed" sandwiches mentioned in the section below. The peanut butter and jelly are baked inside a dough covering, completely contained within.
[edit] Sealed Crustless Sandwich
In December 1999, two independent inventors, Len Kretchman and David Geske, were granted a U.S. patent, US 6004596, "Sealed Crustless Sandwich" for an improved peanut butter sandwich that would have a long shelf life. The J.M. Smucker Co. bought the patent from the inventors and developed a commercial product based on the patent called Uncrustables. Smuckers then made a US$17 million dollar investment in a new factory to produce the product. By 2005, sales of the product grew to $60 million a year with a 20% per year growth rate.
Smuckers attempted to enforce their patent rights by sending out cease and desist letters to competitors, and by expanding their intellectual property coverage via the patenting of a machine to produce Uncrustables sandwiches in high volume (US6874409: Method and apparatus for making commercial crustless sandwiches and the crustless sandwich made thereby). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, however, rejected the viability of the patent citing its similarity to existing processes such as that of fashioning ravioli or a pie crust.[1]
[edit] Use as a health food
It has been suggested that a peanut butter and jelly sandwich can be a delicious and nutritious option for the health-conscious consumer, even those looking to lose weight. Whole wheat bread, natural peanut butter without any added sugar or trans fats, and a natural jelly (or freshly mashed berries) will provide up to 5 g of fiber, a healthy dose of fruit and antioxidants, and the heart-healthy fats in the peanut butter help to lower the risk of heart disease. The whole wheat bread and peanut butter will slow digestion, making a person feel fuller, longer.
[edit] Popular Culture
The frequent use of this food in the United States, especially in children's lunches, has led to many references to the treat in the pop culture. One famous example is the trademark incantation uttered by the Sesame Street character known as The Amazing Mumford, who recites the magic words "A la peanut butter sandwiches!" when performing his stage tricks.
