Some Nutty Fun!
Colour In These Peanut People
Peanut people always go nuts when it comes to having a good time … whether they’re cooking in the kitchen, having fun at a party or just hanging about being healthy!
Here’s some pictures of peanut people having a good time which you can download, print out and colour in:
Snack & Baking Ideas
Peanuts are a delicious, healthy and easy snackfood … Here’s some handy hints to include peanuts as part of your healthy diet!
- Always keep some fresh peanuts on hand – snack on peanuts instead of biscuits, cakes or chips
- Include peanut pieces in home-cooked biscuits, cakes and muffins
- Sprinkle peanuts over salads for added crunch and flavour
- Start the day with a sprinkling of chopped peanuts on your favourite breakfast cereal
- Add some finely chopped peanuts to breadcrumbs when preparing coatings for fish, hamburgers or chicken pieces
- Pour peanut satay sauce over cooked vegies
- Use peanut butter instead of margarine on salad sandwiches and rolls
- Toss raw peanuts into a beef and vegetable stir fry
- Top toast with peanut butter and banana or grated apple
- Mix pureed fruit & crushed peanuts through yoghurt
- Leave a bowl of peanuts in their shell on the kitchen bench for a quick nibble
- Mix popcorn, peanuts, raisins, crunchy breakfast cereal and dried apricots
- Add peanut butter to banana smoothies
Bugs on a log
You’ll need three stalks of celery, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 140g low-fat cream cheese or cheese spread and sultanas or small pieces of dried fruit. Cut the celery stalks into four on a chopping board. Mix peanut butter and cream cheese in a small bowl. Spread mixture into each celery piece. Place sultana or dried fruit pieces on the peanut mixture and serve!
Dry roast your own peanuts!
Place raw peanuts (either still in their shell or without the shell) one layer deep in a shallow baking pan. Roast at 160 -180 degrees celsius in the oven for 15-20 minutes (without shell) or 20-25 minutes (in their shell). Remove from heat just short of ready as the peanuts continue to cook as they cool.
The Peanut Butter Sandwich…
Some new ideas for an old favourite! Try adding grated carrot, sliced apple, lettuce, sultana, banana, celery, dried fruit, sprouts or cucumber to a peanut butter sandwich. And how about using wholemeal bread, bagels, bread sticks or rice cakes to mix it up?
Make your own fresh peanut butter
Take one or two cups of dry roasted peanuts (remove the shells!) and blend in a food processor … simple!
Peanut Trail Mix
Mix sultana, your favourite seeds, dried fruit and peanuts in a bowl …. Store in an airtight container or place in smaller containers to grab and go!
Tip: Add some Nutrigrain to boost carbohydrates for sports days or high energy activities.
An Activity For Young Farmers
Can You Name The Parts Of A Peanut Bush? Print out the image at right and then label the following important sections of the plant:
1. Root
2. Peanut
3. Stem
4. Flower
5. Leaf
6. Peg
PS: You can get a larger size picture of this peanut bush to print out by clicking here
Grow Peanuts At Home
Anyone can grow their own peanuts at home in a pot … or in the backyard!
This can be a great holiday project for schoolchildren. Plant the nuts from October to December when the soil temperature is about 20 degrees celsius. Here’s how to do it:
- Purchase raw unroasted peanuts from a health food shop.
- De-shell the peanuts carefully if they are not already unshelled, making certain the kernels stay complete and the skins stay on. Split kernels will not germinate.
- A light dusting with tomato dust (available at gardening stores) will also help the peanuts to successfully germinate.
- Sow the peanuts kernels about 50-100mm below the soil surface and water in well.
- If growing in a large pot, cover the soil with a few sheets of newspaper and place in a sheltered spot.
- Do not water the peanuts again until they have sprouted about a week later.
- After that, be careful not to overwater as peanuts dislike water close to their roots for long periods. A few deep waterings to ensure water reaches the taproot should be sufficient.
- Within six-seven weeks, the plants should be producing yellow flowers. When these self-pollinate, the flower stalks (or “pegs”) grow into the ground and begin to develop peanut pods.
- The crop should be mature in about 18 – 20 weeks.
- The peanuts are ready for harvesting when a peg eased from the soil reveals a mature nut.
Peanut Butter Bird Feeder
Here’s an easy and fun project to do at home … and your feathered friends will love you for it! Hang a Peanut Butter Bird Feeder in a tree; birds will soon find it and keep coming back.
You’ll need:
- A large open pine cone (you’ll find these at the base of pine trees in many parks)
- A small packet of wild bird seed
- Peanut butter
- String
Put the birdseed on a saucer. Roll small balls of peanut butter into the seed and then press the balls into the pine cone. Finally, tie the string around the pine cone and carefully hang it from a low tree branch. Birds will soon discover your feeder and if you refresh it regularly they’ll continue to come back.
