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New Jif spread calls and won't let her go

Move over Nutella, there's a new chocolate and hazelnut-flavored spread in town: Jif Salted Caramel Flavored Hazelnut Spread.

I was a little reluctant to try it.

I was disappointed with the flavor and texture of Jif Chocolate Silk, released a few years ago.

But mostly I was reluctant because the first ingredient in Jif Salted Caramel is sugar followed by vegetable oil, and one serving (2 tablespoons) contains 230 calories and 14 grams of fat.

For comparison, Nutella's first ingredients are also sugar and vegetable oil, and it weighs in at 200 calories and 12 g fat per 2 tablespoon serving. Regular Jif peanut butter has peanuts listed first in the ingredients, followed by sugar, and contains 190 calories and 16 g fat per 2 tablespoon serving. Yet, peanut butter contains 7 g protein compared to Nutella's and Jif Salted Caramel's 2 grams.

I had good intentions of sharing the jar with my co-workers. The plan was to

bring some fresh (and otherwise nutritious) dippers like sliced apples and bananas and let everyone have a taste.

Plans don't always work out.

An after-lunch sugar craving was stronger than my willpower and the jar (sent over by a public relations representative) had been tempting me for days. Armed with only a spoon, I gave in. Immediately upon tearing back the paper-and-plastic seal I was hit by the sweet, nutty aroma, and before I knew it I was licking the spread off the paper.

It is simply out-of-this-world delicious.

The first day I let myself have one small spoonful of the silky, sweet and subtly salty, flavorful spread.

The next day I smeared a slice of whole-wheat toast with the spread and added sliced banana and called it breakfast.

The following day I made waffles and dabbed the spread into the nooks and crannies.

And the day after that I drizzled the spread over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

But that first taste right off the paper seal was by far the best.

Maybe you've seen the television commercials for it starring Kelly Ripa eating it straight off the spoon.

Yes, it's that good.

Fortunately, a little of the spread goes a long way and I've been satisfied eating just a teaspoon or two rather than a whole serving.

The spread is available in limited release now, but should hit store shelves nationwide in October.

Food on 09/10/2014

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