In some parts of the United States these are also called ground nuts, but must not be confounded with the true ground nut (Apois tuberosa). The peanut is truly a leguminous plant which ripens its seeds below the surface of the soil.

Composition Of Shelled Peanuts (Church)

Water ......................................... 7.5

Albuminoids, etc............................... 24.5

Starch, etc..................................... 11.7

Oil............................................ 50.0

Cellulose ...................................... 4.5

Mineral matter ................................ 1.8

Peanuts, unroasted, ground and made into meal, make good thickenings for soup and sauces, or may be used in half quantity in breakfast muffins and in peanut bread. Roasted peanuts are used for peanut butter, peanut wafers, or like the unroasted ones, may be added to sauces and soups. They are an exceedingly concentrated food, and must not be eaten in large quantities.

Peanut Wafers

Mix a half cupful of peanut meal with a half cupful of peanut butter and one cupful of sugar. Dissolve a half teaspoonful of soda in a half cupful of warm water, add this to the nut mixture, and work in nearly a quart of Graham flour; the dough must be quite hard. Knead until the dough is smooth; roll it out in a thin sheet, cut it into squares of two inches and bake in a slow oven until a golden brown.

A good bread for persons troubled with constipation.

Peanut Butter

Shell roasted peanuts, put them in a towel and rub them, and then blow away the skins. Dust them with salt, put them through the meat grinder with the finest plate, or use a regular nut grinder. Pack at once into glass tumblers, cover with paraffin and stand away, to use as needed. This may be used plain, or diluted with water.

A meat substitute.

Peanut Soup

Put a quarter of a tumbler of peanut butter into a double boiler, with a half pint of water, a saltspoonfui of salt, a slice of onion, a bit of chopped celery, or a half saltspoonfui of celery seed. When scalding hot, add a level teaspoonful of cornstarch moistened in a little water, stir for five minutes and serve. If too thick add a little hot water.