The Octo-Butters

People are missing their peanuts.

While not all peanut and peanut products have been recalled, many people are experiencing the peanut moratorium. No need to suffer though-let's look at the alternatives!

Any nut can become a butter. Check out the photo to the left. Nut butters are a terrific source of plant protein, heart healthy fats and rank high in the vitamins and mineral departments. Cashew butter, for example, is a great source of folate, magnesium, potassium, Vitamin K and calcium. Creamy and satisfying, nut butters do carry the same caution as peanut butter--if calories are a concern, be warned. The aforementioned cashew butter is 94 calories per tablespoon and 8 grams of fat.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of February 19, 654 people in 44 states had been sickened by Salmonella Typhimurium, with the most recent reported illness on Feb. 3. There have also been nine deaths in five states linked to the outbreak. Be sure to check the Peanut Product Recall List frequently at www.fda.gov to see if your favorite peanut butter product is listed. Remember your energy bar may be on there as well.

What nut butter are you enjoying these days? Gotta recipe to share?