Thread: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich

On Jul 5, 3:57*pm, "DavidW" <n...@email.provided> wrote:
> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've never heard of
> anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that it's very common in the
> U.S. I have heard that what Americans call jelly is more like what we would call
> jam. Is that true? (If so, what do Americans call what we call jelly?) Either
> way, it seems like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really go
> together well?

Jams here in the US tend to have seeds. Jellys are just smooth with
nothing in them. and yes peanut butter and jelly go well together
especially on toast or an english muffun!

On Fri, 6 Jul 2012 08:57:48 +1000, "DavidW" <[email protected]> wrote:

>AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've never heard of
>anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that it's very common in the
>U.S. I have heard that what Americans call jelly is more like what we would call
>jam. Is that true? (If so, what do Americans call what we call jelly?) Either
>way, it seems like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really go
>together well?
>

Yeah, but you Aussies eat Vegemite, which has to be the vilest
substance anyone ever called food! ;-)

John Kuthe...

John Kuthe wrote:
> On Fri, 6 Jul 2012 08:57:48 +1000, "DavidW" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Yeah, but you Aussies eat Vegemite, which has to be the vilest
> substance anyone ever called food! ;-)

I regularly have butter and Vegemite on toast. Yum!

DavidW wrote:

> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've never heard of
> anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that it's very common in the
> U.S. I have heard that what Americans call jelly is more like what we would call
> jam. Is that true? (If so, what do Americans call what we call jelly?) Either
> way, it seems like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really go
> together well?

To troll or not to troll, that is the question....

You can find out the difference among jam, jelly, and preserves by
looking up the words in a dictionary.

One point about American food culture: Jelly donuts rarely have actual
jelly in them. As far as PB&J: Children like sweetened peanut butter
and grape jelly on Wonder bread. (That's an abomination foisted on
generations of ignorant homemakers by a huge food factory company.)
When adults make PBJs for themselves, they typically use unadulterated
PB and the preserves of their choice, sandwiched on real bread.

George M. Middius wrote:
> DavidW wrote:
>
>> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've
>> never heard of anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that
>> it's very common in the U.S. I have heard that what Americans call
>> jelly is more like what we would call jam. Is that true? (If so,
>> what do Americans call what we call jelly?) Either way, it seems
>> like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really go
>> together well?
>
> To troll or not to troll, that is the question....

So your first thought is that this was a troll? Ridiculous.

> You can find out the difference among jam, jelly, and preserves by
> looking up the words in a dictionary.

But my point was that they have different meanings in different countries, and a
dictionary is not likely to give the sort of information I'll get here. Why not
just cancel the newsgroup altogether and everyone can get what they need
cooking-wise from dictionaries, encyclopedias and recipe books?

> One point about American food culture: Jelly donuts rarely have actual
> jelly in them. As far as PB&J: Children like sweetened peanut butter
> and grape jelly on Wonder bread. (That's an abomination foisted on
> generations of ignorant homemakers by a huge food factory company.)
> When adults make PBJs for themselves, they typically use unadulterated
> PB and the preserves of their choice, sandwiched on real bread.

Thank you. Would I have got that out of a dictionary?

On Jul 5, 8:13*pm, George M. Middius <glanb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> DavidW wrote:
> > AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've never heard of
> > anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that it's very common in the
> > U.S. I have heard that what Americans call jelly is more like what we would call
> > jam. Is that true? (If so, what do Americans call what we call jelly?) Either
> > way, it seems like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really go
> > together well?
>
> To troll or not to troll, that is the question....
>
> You can find out the difference among jam, jelly, and preserves by
> looking up the words in a dictionary.
>
> One point about American food culture: Jelly donuts rarely have actual
> jelly in them. As far as PB&J: Children like sweetened peanut butter
> and grape jelly on Wonder bread. (That's an abomination foisted on
> generations of ignorant homemakers by a huge food factory company.)
> When adults make PBJs for themselves, they typically use unadulterated
> PB and the preserves of their choice, sandwiched on real bread.

Agh - a bad memory just surfaced. I had made and offered scratch
blueberry muffins to a house guest - he wasn't interested, then
proceeded to go buy some white bread a la Wonder and spread it with
grape jelly. Talk about feeling insulted...he hasn't been in my house
since.

"DavidW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:jt569o$42j$[email protected]..
> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've never
> heard of anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that it's very
> common in the U.S. I have heard that what Americans call jelly is more
> like what we would call jam. Is that true? (If so, what do Americans call
> what we call jelly?) Either way, it seems like a very odd combination of
> spreads to me. Do they really go together well?

I think the most common jelly in the US is concord grape jelly. I'd rather
eat it, with pb, on buttery Ritz crackers than bread.

I was looking at this Summer Desserts magazine (America's Test Kitchen)
today and they had this blackberry cake with a brown sugar frosting. And I
thought the combination of these flavors probably isn't much different than
peanut butter and jelly.


W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)

DavidW wrote:
> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've
> never heard of anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that
> it's very common in the U.S. I have heard that what Americans call
> jelly is more like what we would call jam. Is that true? (If so, what
> do Americans call what we call jelly?) Either way, it seems like a
> very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really go together
> well?

My mother liked to point out that PB&J was my lunch, 5 days a week, for
a number of years when I was a child - she said I wouldn't have it any
other way. I still enjoy it although I don't eat it terribly often
because there are other ways I prefer to indulge my sweet tooth. But
PB&J is still good enough that I've been known just to mix the two
together and eat them - who needs a sandwich, anyway?

I haven't bought peanut butter in years - I make my own nut butter -
mostly almonds and described regularly on this newsgroup - and that
works fine in place of peanut butter - we actually still call it peanut
butter here even though it only has a small amount of peanuts in it.

-S-

Kalmia wrote:
> On Jul 5, 8:13 pm, George M. Middius <glanb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> DavidW wrote:
>>> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've
>>> never heard of anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that
>>> it's very common in the U.S. I have heard that what Americans call
>>> jelly is more like what we would call jam. Is that true? (If so,
>>> what do Americans call what we call jelly?) Either way, it seems
>>> like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really go
>>> together well?
>>
>> To troll or not to troll, that is the question....
>>
>> You can find out the difference among jam, jelly, and preserves by
>> looking up the words in a dictionary.
>>
>> One point about American food culture: Jelly donuts rarely have
>> actual jelly in them. As far as PB&J: Children like sweetened peanut
>> butter and grape jelly on Wonder bread. (That's an abomination
>> foisted on generations of ignorant homemakers by a huge food factory
>> company.) When adults make PBJs for themselves, they typically use
>> unadulterated PB and the preserves of their choice, sandwiched on
>> real bread.
>
> Agh - a bad memory just surfaced. I had made and offered scratch
> blueberry muffins to a house guest - he wasn't interested, then
> proceeded to go buy some white bread a la Wonder and spread it with
> grape jelly. Talk about feeling insulted...he hasn't been in my house
> since.

I love blueberry muffins.

Concord grapes are pretty tasty.

Was the bread toasted and buttered? Pan fried in butter?


W. Pooh (AKA Winnie P.)

On Fri, 6 Jul 2012 08:57:48 +1000, DavidW wrote:

> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've never heard of
> anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that it's very common in the
> U.S. I have heard that what Americans call jelly is more like what we would call
> jam. Is that true? (If so, what do Americans call what we call jelly?) Either
> way, it seems like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really go
> together well?

How are we supposed to know any better than you? You didn't describe
your Australian jams or jellies so how are those of Americans supposed
to know of they're different?

We have both jellies and jams in America. Obviously some of us think
they go well together with peanut butter. And don't be offended by
people who may think you're a troll and not just here asking stupid
questions.

-sw

On 5-Jul-2012, "DavidW" <[email protected]> wrote:

> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've never
> heard of
> anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that it's very common in
> the
> U.S. I have heard that what Americans call jelly is more like what we
> would call
> jam. Is that true? (If so, what do Americans call what we call jelly?)
> Either
> way, it seems like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really
> go
> together well?

Pb and j is a common sandwich in the US, often found in "bag" lunches taken
to school or work because it requires no refrigeration and is tasty.

Jelly, jam and preserves are three ways fruit has traditionally had its
useful life extended. The best explanation of the difference I've seen on
the web is at:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-...-preserves.htm
At its simplest, the difference is jelly is made from fruit juice while jam
and preserves are made from the fruit, pureed or in chunks respectively.

Since I've not encountered what you call jelly, I can't comment on which of
our fruit spreads it best matches; however, the referenced website can
likely help you answer the question.
--

Change Cujo to Juno in email address.

On 7/5/2012 6:57 PM, DavidW wrote:
> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've never heard of
> anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that it's very common in the
> U.S. I have heard that what Americans call jelly is more like what we would call
> jam. Is that true? (If so, what do Americans call what we call jelly?) Either
> way, it seems like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really go
> together well?

I like a nice peanut butter and strawberry preserves sandwich
once in a while, I think they go together great.

Do you call gelatin (Jello) Jelly? Because that's not what
is meant by jelly in the US.

nancy

"DavidW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:jt5bc1$ej1$[email protected]..
> ...........
> But my point was that they have different meanings in different countries,
> and a dictionary is not likely to give the sort of information I'll get
> here. Why not just cancel the newsgroup altogether and everyone can get
> what they need cooking-wise from dictionaries, encyclopedias and recipe
> books?
> ...........

Well said. I've heard that people like either Vegemite or peanut butter
but not both. I like both; Vegemite on breakfast toast and peanut
butter any other time, preferably on a buttery cracker (Ritz, here in US)
with some butter and honey. Jam and jelly tend to be interchangeable
except in recipes which call for a clear jelly (red currant to be melted
into a sauce for Goose, i.e.) specific to the clear substance. Jelly
is by far the predominant descriptor and these days applies to either
form of crushed, coagualted fruit. It would be a bit pretentious to ask
for jam with the breakfast toast. Marmalade, of course, follows its
own rules of conduct. This is subject to numerous objections,
demurrers and criticisms, not to mention local taste variants.

pavane

On 7/5/2012 6:57 PM, DavidW wrote:
> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've never heard of
> anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that it's very common in the
> U.S. I have heard that what Americans call jelly is more like what we would call
> jam. Is that true? (If so, what do Americans call what we call jelly?) Either
> way, it seems like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really go
> together well?
>
>
I just love the culture wars.
What would you think of pickles and peanut butter?
Has to be kosher dills.
I like whole wheat toast with mine.

Tom

On Fri, 6 Jul 2012 10:02:07 +1000, "DavidW" <[email protected]> wrote:

>John Kuthe wrote:
>> On Fri, 6 Jul 2012 08:57:48 +1000, "DavidW" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> Yeah, but you Aussies eat Vegemite, which has to be the vilest
>> substance anyone ever called food! ;-)
>
>I regularly have butter and Vegemite on toast. Yum!
>

Yep, like I said!!

I had some Australian housemates years ago and one left me a jar of
Vegemite which sat in my cupboard forever until my son asked me what
it was. So I told him and he wanted to try it. So we opened it and he
took a taste and was like YUCK! And I told him "That's why I never
opened it!"

I threw it in the garbage then.

John Kuthe...

"Nancy Young" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:4ff63bdf$0$28669$[email protected] .com...
> On 7/5/2012 6:57 PM, DavidW wrote:
>> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've never
>> heard of
>> anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that it's very common in
>> the
>> U.S. I have heard that what Americans call jelly is more like what we
>> would call
>> jam. Is that true? (If so, what do Americans call what we call jelly?)
>> Either
>> way, it seems like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they
>> really go
>> together well?
>
> I like a nice peanut butter and strawberry preserves sandwich
> once in a while, I think they go together great.
>
> Do you call gelatin (Jello) Jelly? Because that's not what
> is meant by jelly in the US.

Excellent point, Nancy. Since "jelly" in the Brit-speak is what
we call Jello, they cannot use the term for strained fruit goody.
Hence ''jam" or "preserves" where we would say "jelly." My
vague recollection from the years in Canada is that jam is
more the breakfast fruit stuff; preserves a more manipulated
condiment served often with meats, sort of chutney-like.

pavane

On 7/5/2012 4:57 PM, DavidW wrote:
> AFAIK this sandwich doesn't exist at all here in Australia. I've never heard of
> anyone here eating it, yet I get the impression that it's very common in the
> U.S. I have heard that what Americans call jelly is more like what we would call
> jam. Is that true? (If so, what do Americans call what we call jelly?) Either
> way, it seems like a very odd combination of spreads to me. Do they really go
> together well?
>
>


Peanut butter (salty) does go well with jam/jelly/preserves (sweet.)

Jam/preserves = fruit and sugar cooked together with some fruit texture
remaining

Jelly = juice extracted from fruit cooked with sugar, smooth texture

Australian jelly = Jello in the U.S. (gelatin used as a dessert or in
some places, salad)

gloria p

John Kuthe wrote:
> On Fri, 6 Jul 2012 10:02:07 +1000, "DavidW" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> I regularly have butter and Vegemite on toast. Yum!
>
> Yep, like I said!!
>
> I had some Australian housemates years ago and one left me a jar of
> Vegemite which sat in my cupboard forever until my son asked me what
> it was. So I told him and he wanted to try it. So we opened it and he
> took a taste and was like YUCK! And I told him "That's why I never
> opened it!"
>
> I threw it in the garbage then.

There is a belief here, whether true or not, that Americans don't like it
because they use far too much (i.e. spread it on like peanut butter). You are
also not likely to like it straight out of the jar, if that's what you did. I
don't think you could tell what it's like with butter on toast by tasting it on
its own. You should have got your housemates to make you a slice before they
left.

On Jul 5, 9:27*pm, John Kuthe <JohnKu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 6 Jul 2012 10:02:07 +1000, "DavidW" <n...@email.provided> wrote:
> >John Kuthe wrote:
> >> On Fri, 6 Jul 2012 08:57:48 +1000, "DavidW" <n...@email.provided> wrote:
>
> >> Yeah, but you Aussies eat Vegemite, which has to be the vilest
> >> substance anyone ever called food! ;-)
>
> >I regularly have butter and Vegemite on toast. Yum!
>
> Yep, like I said!!
>
> I had some Australian housemates years ago and one left me a jar of
> Vegemite which sat in my cupboard forever until my son asked me what
> it was. So I told him and he wanted to try it. So we opened it and he
> took a taste and was like YUCK! And I told him "That's why I never
> opened it!"
>
> I threw it in the garbage then.
>
> John Kuthe...

I just threw out a bottle of Mescal that I bought in Mazatlan in the
late '70's. I could never get into it seeing that worm in the
bottle.