The Peanut Butter Culture

Being a mom of a sweet toothed 11yr old and to an even sweeter Granny, some items in my pantry is very necessary to keep on hand to eliminate any grey hairs on my head.

Now don’t start waving the judgement finger of “that’s surely unhealthy”! Here we live and let live.

So, we all know and understand the policies and procedures to follow when making a true South African Peanut Butter sandwich. No simple shortcuts will do and no one can classify a Peanut Butter Sarmie (Sandwich) as proper and pure bred when it is not generously covered, in all four corners of your slice, with Golden Syrup and one bite will reveal a cast of your gums from the thick Peanut Butter .

Before I proceed with the sharing of my new found capability. Lets sit back and think about our childhood lunch Sarmie’s. Walking home straight from school, sitting with hunger pangs that will make a Lion think he is on a diet. You will rush home and plonk the heavy homework laden school bag at the front door ignoring, once again, the fact that it will drive your mother up the wall of her newly painted house. You will slip out of your school shoes and with warm feet touching the cold tiles  make your way to the kitchen pantry.

Opening the door, you can hear the angels singing “Aaahh” with the golden rays blinding you as you look at the top shelve right in the middle, that green tin of Lyle’s Golden syrup…

You grab a couple slices of fresh white bread and stand armed with a butter knife, you begin the process passed down from generations to generations in a true South African household. The perfect Peanut Butter and Syrup sarmie.

Now sharing this recipe with you, you are reminded of the code of conduct which is simply to share this far and wide.

This is for generations to come. We never know when peanut butter will become a Pulitzer Prize winner… Ok! Enough dreaming… back to the sarmie making.

Choose your poison, smooth or crunchy peanut butter – this a safe space ladies, here we don’t judge according to your Peanut Butter preference.

You liberally smear each corner of your sliced bread with Peanut Butter, resisting the urge to lick the sticky residue off the knife. And don’t lie we have all been there and have done that. Then slowly taking your Green tin of liquid Gold dipping that knife (you didn’t lick) and scooping up as much syrup as you can and with haste move it over to your peanut butter covered bread slice careful not to drip anything on moms kitchen counter, remembering you forgot to use a side plate once again.

One dip of your knife just wont do. You have to go back and scoop again. Carefully moving the liquid over to the Peanut Butter. .. Now lick that spoon. No one will know.

Covering your perfection with another slice and picking up the sarmie carefully. Holding it in such a way to prevent any drip, you take that first bite!

Can we insert another Angel choir just about now?

Does this bring back fond memories for you? It does for me. Bringing a smile to my face and a sigh that I want my daughter to have the same memory when it comes to the simple things like Golden Syrup.

Recently with the hiking prices. You are allowed to roll your eyes and nod yes as we all are on the receiving end of it, I started to shy away from buying some items. Plainly as my budget is better used on other necessities and not on those special ingredient to fulfill any craving of “I’m in the mood for something but I don’t know what”. Sounds familiar doesn’t it?

So I decided that there will be no gloomy faces in my house and I jumped onto my trusty friend Google. Who, I have to admit, has been so helpful with my raging questions of “How to brew your own wine in lockdown😂 Level 5” straight to “How do I make Golden Syrup?”

I came across a recipe and decided today is the day that I will never buy Golden Syrup again if this works. #Insert-mom-with-sword-in-her-hand-raised-into-the-air-like SHE-RA. Now you know how old I am and if you don’t know who she is. I guess google can help… Shucks!!

I will share the recipe under my recipe tab of which I will also post a link here to make it super easy for you, knowing, of course, scrolling to search does not fit in our time frame of being a busy mom.

I can tell you this. I will never spend another sent on a tin of Golden syrup now that I have discovered the magic of making my own. It tastes even better! It is definitely not a huge hassle to make and the satisfaction from seeing your family enjoy it! Why not try it?

Let me know in the comments your special stories.

Click here or on the image for the Golden Syrup Recipe