P-nutty Goodness

by Francine

photo via montebellowkitchens.com

Those ready-made pie shells are handy and usually readily available in your local markets. That said, there are a slew of interesting pie crusts you can make on your own. A friend of mine recently made one using spelt, ground up dried fruits, walnuts, and lots of cinnamon! And it was amazingly good. Now whatever your choice of crust, here's a yummy filling. And btw--you could use almond or cashew butter if you prefer. . .

Blend until smooth and creamy (in a blender or Cuisinart):
1 lb. tofu
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt (optional)

Pour all that into a baked pie shell. Decorate with semi-sweet chocolate shavings or curls. You may want to throw in some raspberries as well. Freeze. The when you're ready to serve, thaw for about10 minutes beforehand.

Here's what livestrong.com has to say about the nutrition value of peanut butter:

"On average 1 tbs of peanut butter has about 90 calories, 9 g fat (about 80 percent of which are mono and poly-unsaturated), 4g protein and 1g fiber. The protein in peanut butter helps contribute towards your daily protein needs and it provides energy while helping to keep you feeling full. Peanut butter alone has some fiber, which will also add to the feeling of fullness and help regulate your bowels. But, if you eat peanut butter with a fruit or whole grain bread, such as some suggestions listed below, it can really boost your daily fiber intake.

"Peanut butter is rich in mono and poly-unsaturated fats, which are the "good," cholesterol lowering fats. While these fats have heart-protective benefits, they also are what make peanut butter a high calorie food. So, as with most delicious foods, moderation is key. A general guideline is to try to limit yourself to 2 tbsp, which weighs in at about 180 calories."

Sources:

Tofu Cookery by Louise Hagler
livestrong.com