I'm sorry you had a terrible experience with what's effectively American junk food. That, however, my dear friend, is not peanut butter. It's peanut flavored shortening. The peanut butter you're also likely familiar with is dense, opaque and thick. That is also not peanut butter. Real peanut butter is simply peanuts, maybe with a dash of salt if you wish to bring out the flavors. It's runny when it's mixed up and warm. If not, it's slightly thicker and bears little resemblance to most peanut butter.
A lot of people whom I've come across in my travels who were exposed to the American spread and revolted by, took a kinder approach to the real stuff and enjoyed it. One, because it's more aesthetically pleasing; two, it's got a much more nutty and floral aroma; three, it tastes good and isn't bad for you like the other stuff.
In case you want to try the real stuff, buy a pound of Spanish or similar peanuts, de-skin most of them, roast them in your oven for a bit. While they're hot, process them in your blender or food processor short bursts until they resemble flour. Then keep going at it until you see them beginning to clump up. After a few more minutes, you should see the oil of the peanuts coming out and blending with the powder. It will soon turn to real peanut butter. Dump it into a clean container and store it. If the oil separates, simply use a fork to whip it back into the peanut butter.
You can try flavor variations like we do. I enjoy smoked paprika, cayenne and black pepper in mind. It's a bit of a kick in the morning. Smoked salt complements those flavors too.
