chockohlawtay: Peanut Butter & Jelly Uncrustables

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PB&Js and I go way back . . . probably from before I was born!

I blame my peanut butter obsession on my mom. I wonder if she ate PB&Js when she was pregnant with me? I mean, she did tell me she ate three chocolate bars a day when I was in her tummy, which definitely explains my chocolate addiction)

I even remember buying Uncrustables from the store when I was only six years old. I was the pickiest eater and hated bread crusts, so Uncrustables seemed like the perfect solution.

Aka, mom hears less whining from me!

But, since my crustless childhood, I have become a health fanatic, and my diet has no room for the unhealthy, store-bought Uncrustables I used to buy so often. Know why? Look at their ingredient list! (I underlined dirty ingredients, like hydrogenated oils, refined sugars and preservatives)

BREAD: UNBLEACHED WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, WHEAT GLUTEN, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SALT, YEAST, DOUGH CONDITIONERS (DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, DATEM, ENZYMES [WITH AMYLASE, LIPASE, ASCORBIC ACID, CALCIUM PEROXIDE, AZODICARBONAMIDE, WHEAT STARCH].

PEANUT BUTTER: PEANUTS, DEXTROSE, SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: PARTIALLY AND FULLY HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OILS (SOYBEAN AND/OR COTTONSEED AND/OR RAPESEED), SALT, MOLASSES, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES (PALM AND/OR SOYBEAN OILS).

STRAWBERRY JAM: STRAWBERRIES, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: PECTIN, CITRIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE).

(Taken from the Uncrustables website)

Why buy Uncrustables from the store if you can make an exact duplicate in as little as two minutes? Plus, you save yourself a hassle without having to thaw it!

Doesn't the ingredient list look much more appealing, too?

BREAD: WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, WHOLE GRAIN CRUSHED WHEAT, SUGAR, YEAST, WHEAT GLUTEN, BROWN SUGAR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: SUNFLOWER OIL, HONEY, MOLASSES, SEA SALT, CALCIUM SULFATE, VINEGAR, CULTURED WHEY, WHEAT BRAN, SOY LECITHIN.

PEANUT BUTTER: PEANUTS.

STRAWBERRY JAM: STRAWBERRIES, GRAPE JUICE CONCENTRATE, FRUIT PECTIN, LEMON JUICE.

I think I'll choose the this one! ^^

Peanut Butter & Jelly Uncrustables: (low sugar, gluten-free*, vegan*)

(makes one large uncrustable)

2 slices Whole Wheat Bread**, soft

~2 tbs Natural Peanut Butter (no sugar, salt or oil added)

~2 tbs 100% Fruit Jam (I used strawberry)

Note: I didn't measure the ingredients, but I like my fillings more than the bread! I always felt like the store-bought Uncrustables never had enough filling. Adjust to your taste, and it doesn't hurt if it takes two trials to perfect, if ya know what I mean.

*For gluten free, just use any soft, gluten-free whole grain bread

*For vegans, use any soft, vegan whole grain bread (the bread I used had cultured whey in it)

Directions:

1. Spread peanut butter and jam in the center of the two slices of bread (as pictured above). Use however much you want. If you want more peanut butter, use more peanut butter, if you want more jam, use more jam! This is very customizable.

2. Align the slices and put the jam slice over top of the peanut butter slice.

3. Put the pastry press over the mound in the center of the sandwich and firmly press down on the outside rim. If you don't have a press like this, you can use a mug and press the edges down with a fork, similar to a pie crust. If you do wish to purchase the pastry press (I am glad I did!), I got it here.

4. Once the outside rim has cut through the bread, firmly press down on the center rim.

and then . . .

TADA! A healthy, fresh, homemade uncrustables sandwich with no harmful ingredients!

Feel free to toast these in a toaster oven, but make sure to lay it flat to prevent bursting and/or spilling deep inside those slot-machine types.