Don Mauer's Bean-nut Butter

½

cup drained garbanzo beans, liquid set aside

½

cup bean liquid

½

cup smooth, natural peanut butter

Add beans and bean liquid to a medium-size food processor and process, scrapping down the sides of the processor's bowl from time to time until fairly smooth. Add peanut butter and process until combined and fairly smooth. Spoon spread into a small, clean glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled.

Makes about 1½ cups.

Cook's notes: If you only have a large food processor, consider doubling the beans and peanut butter, but use slightly less than double the bean liquid. This spread will have a similar consistency to room temperature regular peanut butter once chilled. Use within a week.

Nutrition values per tablespoon: 35 calories, 2.6 g fat (0.4 g saturated), 1.9 g carbohydrate, 0.6 g fiber, 1.5 g protein, 0 cholesterol, 23 mg sodium.