March 07, 2009

Peanut Butter and Caramel Smores

As I’ve said before, I find blogging events useful when I’m looking for inspiration. Sometimes the theme alone is enough to get me thinking in different directions. Although whether or not those different directions actually make sense is another matter entirely. When I found out The Peanut Butter Boy is hosting The Great Peanut Butter Exhibition #5 and the theme is sandwiches I immediately had an idea of what to make. It was like a cartoon light bulb went on above my head. For some reason all I could think of was a peanut butter, apple and cheddar panini. It’s not completely out of left field though, there’s a logical train of thought that brought me to that idea. It went something likes this: I like granny smith apples with peanut butter. I like apple pie with cheddar cheese. I keep seeing paninis on all the blogs and don’t use my panini maker nearly enough. Therefore, if apples are good with both peanut putter and cheddar cheese, all three should also be good together. And what better way to put them together than in a panini? Once I had the thought, I knew the only way to get it out of my head was to actually make this concoction.

When I went to get my panini maker out of the cupboard it had the waffle plates on as opposed to the panini plates and I decided that a waffle shaped sandwich was the way to go. I then built my sandwich on homemade bread, with a thick layer of peanut butter, thin slices of granny smith apples and smoked applewood cheddar cheese. I squished the whole thing into the panini/waffle maker and waited for it to do its thing. The result? Ah… it was ok. It seemed like pure genius in my head but once it was on the plate I just wanted to deconstruct it into apple slices smeared with peanut butter and a grilled cheese sandwich. The sum was not greater than its parts. Sigh.

But I couldn’t submit a less than stellar sandwich to the Peanut Butter Boy so something else had to be made. It was about at that time that I reverted back to my love of desserts for inspiration. I had some caramel sauce in the fridge, leftover from making apple strudel and I knew there were graham crackers in the cupboard, leftover from making cheesecake and before you knew it I had built a peanut butter and caramel smore. Now that’s a sandwich to be proud of! As if smores weren’t already good with layers of graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate, I jacked them up with caramel sauce and peanut butter too! The only problem is that I now believe that all smores should be made like that… After you try it my way you’ll be a believer too.

25 comments:

RecipeGirl said...

Oh, I'm a believer all right! Those sound soooooo good!

Sharon said...

I can't even begin to tell you how delicious those look! I love everything about 'em :)

Manggy said...

Hah! A waffle-shaped sandwich? That's awesome. Even more awesome is the peanut butter and caramel combo. Maybe there's a way to get popcorn into that...

Anonymous said...

I am drooling all over the place!

Anonymous said...

I think you went in the right direction on this one! It looks gorgeous and the flavors sound just right. I've done apples and cheddar on panini before but not with peanut butter...that's great you went ahead and tried, though!

Mary said...

Oh I totally want one of these right now!

Snooky doodle said...

wow these smores surely make want some more, :) awesome . nice idea :)

test it comm said...

Those smores look so good!

Anonymous said...

This is unfair, you're not even giving the other contestants a chance! Nice take on a sandwich =)

Lauren said...

drool . . .

Peabody said...

Holy moly, those are my kind of smores. I will take caramel over chocolate anyday. Job well done Bri.

Unknown said...

Mmm, mmm, mmm! Great flavor combos. I saw this contest and thought about it but just don't think I have time to devote to it...though I think a sandwich of cream cheese and apples on peanut butter bread would be yummy...throw in some cinnamon too!

pepsakoy said...

It looks really scrumptious !

Emily said...

You genious - that sounds delicious.

As for the panini, I see where you were going with it. I would have eaten one if you fixed it for me! The waffle plates make sense to me because peanut butter on waffles is delicious. Yeah?

Maria said...

Holy hell those look good!

Mike of Mike's Table said...

Too bad on the sandwich, but awesome on the s'more! Yay for peanut butter to the rescue

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Yes, I'm a believer now I'm ready to try one, two would be just fine as well. I say a peanut butter caramel smore is a natural winner.

Mehgan said...

Oh, you are pure evil!! These looks so delicious! The only thing that would have made me faint from foodie passion would be if you had added some caramelized bananas. OMG, I'm drooling on my keyboard.

Donna-FFW said...

Just stumbled upon your blog, I know I must live under a rock, however, just wanted to say these look absolutely delicious! My children thank you in advance for this treat!!

Katrina said...

Awesome Smores! Yum. Can't wait to try them this way. Congrats on the big PBE win!

Katrina said...

Oh, quick question, is the only chocolate the grated stuff on top and on the plate? Just want to try it just like you've posted!

MaryBeth said...

Congrats on taking first place...my husband is so happy that he made 2nd place. You dessert sammie looks fabulous!!!

Unknown said...

holy yum, that looks fantastic!! if only the screen was interactive :)

Grace said...

That looks so tasty!

Anonymous said...

Wow. Just wow. Had to repost these treats!
http://momentumoffailure.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/peanut-butter-and-caramel-smores/