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From the moment Ina Garten stepped on our TV screens (and cookbook shelves), she showed us how classic, everyday cooking can become something special. Whether that means updating a recipe or serving it in her Hamptons garden, she has always shown fans how to add a little more fanfare to the basics. When we saw this photo of a gorgeous peanut butter and jelly sandwich on Ina’s Instagram, we knew she’d done it again.
“Date for lunch!” She wrote in the headline about a delicious rendition of the classic PB&J sandwich. The sandwiches, she explains, were packed for the drive to the beach, where she and Jeffrey sit in the car together, have their picnic and listen to a podcast. “Simple pleasure,” she said, as the basis for how easily they turn a typical lunch into a special experience.
The commentators were very impressed with Ina’s take on the classic lunch box staples. “Why does your PB&J look like Henry Cavill in a tuxedo and mine looks like my dad in a 1978 casual suit?” asked a commentator. Another commenter said, “I love how you make a pb + j look like the best sandwich in the world.”
Like so much of what Ina does, the reason the sandwich looks so good comes from the time and care that is put into the little details. What is Ina Garten’s secret for the best PB&J? Apparently the sandwich is made up of Pepperidge Farm white bread, Skippy creamy peanut butter, and Eli Zabar’s “amazing raspberry jams”. Another commenter pointed out that the bread is lightly toasted – which is a plus as it not only improves the sandwich’s taste and adds a bit of texture, it also prevents the bread from getting soaked with the spreads.