Today, January 24th, is National Peanut Butter Day.

Peanut butter is a paste made from primarily dry roasted peanuts (not actually a nut but a legume). Peanuts have been used food pastes for centuries, but modern peanut butter originated at the end of the 19th century. John Harvey Kellogg, of Kellogg's fame, patented a process using boiled peanuts and George Washington Carver, who created many products from peanuts, is often credited as the inventor of peanut butter.

Peanut butter is available in both crunchy and smooth textures and, as well as being eaten by itself, is used as an ingredient in many other recipes, both savoury and sweet.

Image: Morguefile