Crunchy, Creamy, Perfect

Guys...

Arts and Thefts comes out in two weeks and one day!

HOORAY!

Wow, it's really coming up fast. I'm going to have a book launch on March 2, 7 pm, at The King's English bookstore in Salt Lake City, so I hope to see you there! It's going to be great, and I'm sure I'll have more information as the date gets closer.

As for today's post, well, I'm pretty much torn. Half of me wants to write something deep, meaningful...something that would be interesting to read.

But I'm also a week into training for marathon, and the run-ger appeared quickly and without mercy, so the other half of me wants to write an ode to peanut butter.

Which I got a whole new, full jar of today. HOORAY PT. 2!

I figure I can't have it both ways, so an ode to peanut butter it is.

Let's be honest: peanut butter is one overlooked food item. Banned from some locations due to allergies (although from what I've learned, that may soon be a thing of the past due to allergy-free GMO peanuts), it's still a staple in kids' lunches all over the country.

And for runners it's a freaking godsend. Peanut butter is a filling snack high in protein that I don't need to feel guilty for indulging in. It's the perfect recovery food, going well with chocolate to create a delicious recovery treat.

I know that peanut butter isn't much cared for in other countries, and having tried English peanut butter, I can see why.

I also know that peanut butter isn't as flashy or fashionable as sports gels, protein shakes, or nutrition bars. It's the kid's sandwich treat, after all. Everyone has a jar or knows someone who does. You don't have to go far to get a supply. We pair it with jam, bananas, marshmallow creme, or Nutella to dress it up on our bread.

But it still remains delicious and nutritious, supporting us whether we're running a marathon or just running late for work. Our humble jar of peanut butter.

I think that's admirable. Moving away from praising a food, I think the ability to do one's job well without seeking praise for it, just because the work is worthy, is admirable. It's why I love the character Sam Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings, as well as Frodo and pretty much every other character in that book. It's why I'm driven to admire characters who are good, honest people, and it's why I think Hidden Figures was such a powerful movie even beyond the discussions about race and gender it raised.

Good people, humble people, who are always there, supporting others. Whether they themselves are the hero in the story, or just the hero of their own story, they are powerful, likeable characters who can share so many important lessons with a reader without needing to be preachy.

Well, huh. I guess I could have it both ways, after all.