In our pantry, we prefer the "natural", sometimes referred to as "old-fashioned", peanut butters made with 100-percent ground peanuts. They are not sugared nor do they contain the hydrogenated (saturated) vegetable oil found in most popular brands. From the supermarket, three brands that make really good, inexpensive natural peanut butters are: Smucker's, Giant Foods and Teddie (we prefer the salted varieties). We also found a terrific new device: a hand-crank mixer [1] that seals and stirs natural peanut butter in its original jar with a few quick turns. Zero mess too.

Recipe: Chinese Noodles in Peanut-Sesame Sauce with Chicken [2]

Know Your Superfoods: Peanuts, botanically, are not nuts or seeds but legumes, relatives of peas and beans. So, it is no surprise to learn that many consider them a superfood - containing omega-3 fatty acids and fair amounts of iron, niacin and protein. It is a good thing because Americans consume more than 4 million pounds of peanuts per day, more than half of that in the form of peanut butter. Eaten in moderation, it does have a healthy place.