Peanut butter sandwiches have to be one of the most simple and also most satisfying lunches around. I know that offering my own method can be dangerous territory, since everyone has a preference and a specific way that they like their peanut butter sandwich. Creamy or crunchy? A thin layer of peanut butter or almost as much peanut butter as bread? When I was little I could always tell the difference between the peanut butter sandwiches that my mom and dad made for my lunchbox. My mother is more of a minimalist when it comes to peanut butter (I take after her) spreading only a thin layer. My father, on the other hand, would put so much peanut butter that I remember sometimes being rendered speechless at the lunch table, unable to move my lips because they were literally glued together.

Now that I’m older I still enjoy a good peanut butter sandwich for lunch. I’d like to think that this is a slightly more grownup version (it is Panini after all!). I bought strawberries today just for this occasion but you could try the same method with any other fruit you like.  What’s your favorite way to eat a peanut butter sandwich?

My favorite Peanut Butter Sandwich

Time: 10 minutes   Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 2 slices of whole wheat bread
• at least 1 tbsp peanut butter
• 2-4 fresh strawberries
• a drizzle of honey

Substitutions

• Use any kind of bread that you have/like
• I like Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter with Flaxseed. I find their peanut butters to be extremely creamy and usually only containing peanuts and salt (no scary oils or trans fats!). Use your favorite type of peanut butter.
• If you don’t have/like honey, omit it or use jam/jelly instead

Wash your strawberries, cut off the hulls and then cut into thick strips.

Take your bread and spread as much peanut butter on both sides as you like. I tend to not like it with a thin layer of peanut butter, but for the real peanut butter enthusiasts I say go for it!

Add your sliced strawberries on top, drizzle some honey, and close up the sandwich.

If you have a Panini press, heat and place the sandwich in. Otherwise (i.e. if you’re living in a toy kitchen), take a small pan, place it on the stove and bring to medium low heat. Add the sandwich. Fill a small pot with water and place on top of the sandwich so that it gets compressed.

Watch carefully, after about 2-3 minutes flip the sandwich (should be browned on the face-down side).

When browned on both sides and warm, place on a plate, slice and half and enjoy! Serve with vegetables (carrot sticks?) on the side!