Peanuts are planted in April and harvested 120-160 days later. They are roasted, shelled, and ground into peanut butter. Peanut butter is most famously used in PB&J sandwiches but also in many baked goods. A classic recipe is for peanut butter cookies, which are made by creaming butter and sugars together before mixing in peanut butter, eggs, and dry ingredients. Peanut butter festivals celebrate the popular spread with activities like cook-offs and contests.

1. Peanut Butter By: Kristin Wilhelmy

2. Field to Fork: Growing the Crop Peanuts are planted after the last frost in April, when soil temperatures reach 65° to 70° Fahrenheit. Specially grown and treated peanut kernels from the previous year's crop are planted two inches deep, approximately one to two inches apart in rows. Peanut seeds crack the soil about 10 days after planting and grow into a green oval-leafed plant about 18 inches tall. flowers from the plant pollinate themselves, then the petals fall off as the peanut ovary begins to form. Peanuts are harvested 120 to 160 days after planting, usually in September and October

3. Field to Fork: The Factory After they are fully grown they are harvested, inspected, cleaned, shelled and ,finally, shipped to be made into peanut butter. Then the peanuts are roasted in special ovens which provide an even roast. After roasting, the peanuts are fast-cooled by suction fans that circulate air quickly. Another machine rubs the peanuts gently between rubber belts to remove the outer skin The kernels are split, the hearts removed and the peanuts are cleaned and sorted a final time. Finally, the peanuts are ground in two stages In the first stage, the peanuts are ground alone. In the second stage, salt, sweetener and stabilizer are added. Then when it is all done it is finally packaged and shipped to a store near you.

4. Cooking The most famous form of consumption of this product is of course is the PB&J sandwich: millions of American eat this classic sandwich everyday. Peanut Butter is also used in cooking, such as: cookies, pies, topping, cheesecake, muffins, and many more. Regardless of its many cooked forms its raw store bought form still remains at the top of the list.

5. Recipe: Peanut butter cookies Ingredients 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup butter, room temperature 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 egg 1 1/4 cup flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt Method 1 Cream the butter for 2 minutes. Add the sugars, cream for 2 more minutes. Mix in the peanut butter and egg. Mix together the dry ingredients - flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir into the sugar butter mixture. 2 Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate at least 3 hours. 3 Preheat oven to 375°F. Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. Place about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten in crisscross pattern with a fork. Bake until light brown, 9 to 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for a minute; transfer to rack to cool completely. Makes about 2 dozen cookies. For chewier cookies, bake at 300°F for 15 minutes.

6. Where You See the Product Peanut butter products often comie with their own catchy catchphrase, such as: Jif: “Choosy Moms choose Jif” Skippy: “Fuel the Fun” Elvis Presley’ s favorite sandwich was a grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich They are also used in similes such as: Calculus is like swimming in peanut butter There is also a peanut butter festival held in New Bethlehem, PA and Brundidge, AL At these festivals there are peanut butter cook-offs, craft contests, eating contests, festival queens, and much more all related to one thing: peanut butter

7. What I Learned How popular peanut butter really is in America and the world The nutritional benefits of peanut butter Knowing where and how one of my favorite foods are made from a little seed to a delicious creamy(or chunky) spread.

8. Bibliography Bauer, Elise. Simply Recipes, Inc., http://elise.com/recipes/archives/001641peanut_butter_cookies.php New Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce 2005 http://www.newbethlehemarea.com/default.htm