March is National Peanut Month

We celebrate St. Patricks Day for one day. Peanuts get a whole month of celebration, because they are one of America's favorite foods! Roasted in the shell for a ballpark snack, ground into peanut butter or tossed in a salad or stir-fry, peanuts find their way into everything from breakfast to dessert.

National Peanut Month had its beginning as National Peanut Week in 1941. It was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1974.

One serving of peanuts is a good source of protein, Vitiam E, Niacin, Folate, Phosphorous and Magnesium. Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat.

You could not live without knowing the following facts:
Peanuts are not actually nuts at all! They are legumes, like beans, peas and lentils

American eat 3 pounds of peanut butter per person every year. That's about 700 million pounds, or enough to coat the floor of the Grand Canyon!

Peanuts may be a favorite food, but there are also many uses for the shells! You might find peanut shells in kitty litter, wallboard, fireplace logs, paper, animal feed and sometimes as fuel for power plants.

Two peanut farmers have been elected President of the United States: Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.

One acre of peanuts will make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.


Throughout the month I'll be sharing a few of my favorite peanut recipes. Of course my favorite will always be a PB&J Sandwich. My second favorite is a spoon and a jar of peanut butter and a big shade tree.