Peanut Butter AND Butter ... On Graham Crackers?

 

In May of 2015, Derek sent out an email to the Westra Siblings, inquiring about a strange combination. Graham crackers with butter and peanut butter. He sent along a picture to nudge any memories ...

Westra Siblings,

I need you to help jog my memory. :) I don't have many memories of Dad fixing the food at home -- in fact the only things I can really remember Dad making was a salad, and on occasion, spaghetti-o's with cashews (weird, I know). However, I distinctly remember eating graham crackers sandwiches with butter on one side, and peanut butter on the other (as pictured in the attached photo). For fun (and fatness) I made these yesterday and it brought back childhood memories. 

So, was this something that we ate as kids - and if so, was it Dad that made them, or am I remembering wrong? Was this a thing?

These are all very important questions. 

Inquisitively yours,

Derek 

There wasn't a flood a memories from the Westra Siblings (or from the Father in question)... at least at that time, or not "reply all" anyway for me to have had access to (but keep reading, the memories ARE there). Jen did answer immediately...

I don't really remember this ... I KNOW I NEVER ate one! Disgusting! Maybe I'm just repressing memories ... Of course we all dipped graham crackers in milk. And frosted them with leftover icing ... they were better when they'd sat overnight and softened. I don't know how many other people do either of those things either. I recall my roommates in college thinking I was a bit strange for both of those. ~Jen

Years later, Jen made said "frosted graham crackers" and posted a picture to Facebook, asking if this was a "Westra" thing, or if it was more widespread. There was actually quite a bit of feedback from neighbors and friends with fond memories of frosted graham crackers. Frosted Graham Crackers have their own blog post and Chris responded there saying ...

"I remember them, especially when Mom was gone. Dad didn't cook, so we resorted to Graham Crackers, which we didn't mind at all." ~ Christopher

Frosted graham crackers were mentioned in Shane's childhood journal also!

When the call came out for memories of Dad for a Father's Day tribute June of 2020, one of Scott's memories was a mirror of Derek's original inquiry ...

"I remember the terror of finding out mom was going fishing with grandma and grandpa and knowing that we would have to live on graham crackers with butter and peanut butter in between them or maybe toast if we were lucky until she got back." ~ Scott

((Read more memories of Dad in the Father's Day 2020 blog post.)) 

Before THAT post of memories, even before Derek's email inquiry, Wendy had written up some of her recollections for Dad's birthday back in 2003. In it, she also made mention of graham crackers ...  "Making peanut butter and butter graham cracker sandwiches!" was on her list.

So Derek - you weren't remembering wrong! 

Great memory prompt!

Mom had some graham cracker memories (prompted by Derek's 2015 email & the answers there) ...

I really miss graham crackers dipped in milk-- because of my diabetes and too many carbs. It is hard to limit it if I start. I never ate the graham crackers with butter and peanut butter--sounds yucky!.

My labor with Scott was quick--especially for a 1st baby. I had just eaten lots of graham crackers and milk before I went into labor. So at the hospital and I was sick and lost it all! But that experience didn't turn me against graham crackers and milk, as sometimes happens. 

When we moved to Richland and I was 3 months pregnant with Scott. Dad started work and I sat in the empty house waiting for the moving truck to arrive. I had a bag of barbecue-flavored potato chips to munch on. With morning sickness I was experiencing, I have not been able to eat barbecue-flavored potato chips for 50 years!

Now we just need DAD'S input ... "I think the depiction by Derek is a bit overdone.  I would never have put that much butter, or peanut butter on my Graham Crackers.  That is one thing I do miss with my Celiac, not being able to eat Graham crackers.  I think someone has come up with a gluten free Graham cracker, but I haven't really tested them out yet.  Some gluten free products have been very good, like GF Oreos, but others have not been as good."

Have any grandchildren been exposed to this unique treat? Tagging this with the "Recipes" label ... NOT that this is a recipe (not that it needs a recipe) but just so it's included with the other food posts!