Growing up, I was raised in a household where peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were a staple. These sandwiches were crafted on either white or wheat bread, cut into perfectly neat quarters, and always prepared with separate utensils for the peanut butter and jelly to prevent any unwelcome mingling. Sometimes, even the crusts were trimmed away, creating a tidy and timeless treat that truly epitomized the classic peanut butter and jelly experience.
When I was around ten, I found myself at the home of a close friend during lunch. As we rummaged through her pantry for something delicious, I expressed my craving for a PB&J. She pulled out the peanut butter and jelly, but to my dismay, discovered the bread box was empty. “We have hot dog buns,” she suggested. I grimaced at the thought. Hot dog buns? That just seemed wrong. “Jenna,” she sighed, “they’re still bread, just shaped differently. I’m not asking you to eat a hot dog with your PB&J.” Despite her reasoning, I refused and watched as she enjoyed her sandwich, raving about its flavor while I sat there hungry, eagerly awaiting dinner.
Fast forward three decades, and a few months ago, our household was out of bread for my son Max’s regular peanut butter and jelly sandwich. In a moment of desperation, I remembered that childhood experience and offered him a PB&J on a hot dog bun. To my surprise, he exclaimed, “A hot dog sandwich? Awesome!” and devoured it in mere gulps.
Since that day, I’ve mostly been making his sandwiches on hot dog buns. It’s a cleaner option with no jelly dripping down the sides, and it eliminates the need for cutting and assembling. Plus, it brings a playful twist to the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It makes me think about what other fun ideas I might have overlooked by sticking to rigid traditions.
However, I remain firm on one belief: mixing playthings, like dolls and action figures, is just plain wrong.
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In summary, it’s never too late to rediscover the joy in culinary traditions. Sometimes, a small change, like using hot dog buns for a favorite sandwich, can open up new experiences and fun in the kitchen.