Kinda like witch came first the chicken or the egg…
Jelly/Jams as we all know has been around for quite a long time, peanut butter on the other hand it kinda new. The Aztec people made something like peanut butter, did they make jelly? Peanut butter was not patented till 1884 and one has to ask:
Did you make peanut butter to make a peanut butter sandwich or were you sick of jelly sandwiches and decide to add a little something. What were the other combos before you hit on peanut butter?
Or did you have a friend over one day who grabbed some bread & peanut butter and on a whim put some jelly on it.
We were a large family that had to economize. One time, I was visiting a cousin and my aunt asked us what we wanted on our sandwiches. My cousin asked for PB and jelly! I was terrified, expecting him to get yelled out. But she just made it for him.
I was amazed. We didn’t dare ask for two things on a sandwich. There were people who could have more than one spread. Wow.
I generally think most jellies make the sandwich too sweet. So while I started out with PB&J, I went back to just PB. I just get a slightly sweet peanut butter.
The exception are these new reduced sugar jellies that my mom gets. When I’m eating with her, I get the jelly.