Peanut Butter Play Dough
My mom used to make this for and with me when I was little, and even though it seems like a snack made for kids, this wondrous treat has kept me going through some of the toughest physical challenges of my life. When I was 19, studying abroad in New Zealand, my friend Jen and I did a 2 week backpacking trip. We ate this literally by the bucket, mixing it directly in massive peanut butter containers once we’d already inhaled/drank/slurped from spoons half of the peanut butter. In Pakistan, on a ski mountaineering expedition in 2008, we had a pre-trip planning mixup whereby we showed up without any of the on-mountain food we were meant to bring. The news sent me into a panic—I’m supposed to climb and ski this 8000m peak way out of my league and only eat POWDERED FOOD IN A BAG?!?? Luckily my snack-hoarding tendencies meant that I had just happened to bring two big jars of peanut butter, and a massive bag of powdered goats’ milk. (The milk was for coffee if there wasn’t any, and the peanut butter was my mental security blanket. If the shit hits the fan, I will be fine as long as I have some peanut butter.) I remembered this energy packed comfort food from my childhood, borrowed some honey from the camp cook and we made a bunch of these squishy little power balls. They powered us up to 24,500 fleet where we were stuck in a storm for three days but thankfully had energy to get down safely. I credit the edible playdough for our successful failed attempt. :)
At the moment, I’m on an adventure of another kind with my family. We saved up, rented our house out, and have taken an extended trip for the fall to absorb some culture, warm temperatures, Spanish language, and hopefully a wave or two if we can, in between working and schooling. With a minimal kitchen and lots of moving pieces, brainstorming easy and delicious snacks has been difficult until this old favorite jumped into my mind. There’s no cooking involved, it takes a minute to make, keeps fine for the day without refrigeration, and the ingredients are readily available. It’s infinitely adaptable: maple syrup, or other sweeteners, try almond butter, or different powdered milks, dip frozen balls in melted chocolate, mix in oats or chocolate chips or cinnamon or whatever else you fancy! You have full permission to play with your food.
PEANUT BUTTER PLAY DOUGH
Ingredients:
—3/4 c powdered milk (cow, goat, nut, coconut)
—3/4 cup natural peanut butter (preferably just peanuts and salt)
—1/4 honey
Mix the ingredients thoroughly and adjust for taste and consistency (more milk powder if it’s too runny, more honey for sweetness, etc.). Eat immediately! Unused portion can be stored, covered, in the fridge for up to one week.
