In kindergarten, we made a class cookbook. Each of us submitted our favorite snack or dessert. Some kids chose celery wagons or garden pudding cups. I submitted the ultimate comfort food: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Simple. Reliable. Perfect. I wrote the recipe myself in crooked, confident handwriting: spread peanut butter on one slice of bread, jelly on the other, then place the two slices together. That was it. That was my whole recipe.

When I brought the cookbook home, I could hardly wait to show it off. My dad smiled, flipped right to my page, and decided to try it out. He followed my instructions to the letter. Peanut butter on one slice. Jelly on the other. Then he pressed them together, just like I said.

Peanut butter on the outside.

Jelly on the outside.

He had made a sandwich with the sticky sides facing out.

And he ate it. Just like that.

It was a mess. Jelly dripped onto the plate. Peanut butter clung to his fingers. The bread slid everywhere as he took a bite. But he just laughed. He didn’t change it. He didn’t wipe his hands or grab a napkin. He looked at me, smiled, and said, “It’s perfect.”

I think about that moment when I write my own recipes. How much the details matter. How a little clarity, maybe even a photo, can make all the difference. But also, how grace sometimes looks like peanut butter fingers and a dad who follows your directions all the way to a sticky, joyful mess.

On this Father’s Day, in honor of that first cookbook page and the dad who followed it without question, I offer my grown-up version of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The bread is richer, the flavors are deeper, and the instructions are a little more clear. But the heart of it remains the same; comfort, care, and a little bit of sticky, joyful love.

Here’s my forever favorite, now toasted, buttery, and just a little bit fancy.

Toasted Skillet PB&J

What You Will Need:

• 2 slices of brioche bread, thick and golden
• Justin’s Classic Peanut Butter (creamy, always)
• Trader Joe’s Raspberry Preserves
• Softened butter for the skillet

What You Will Need To Do:

Butter one side of each slice of brioche.

On the opposite sides, spread peanut butter on one slice and jam on the other.

Press the slices together with the buttered sides facing out.

Toast in a skillet over medium heat until bread is golden and crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. The edges should be just barely caramelized.

Let it rest for a minute so the filling settles, then slice diagonally. Always diagonally. Serve with a paper towel and a memory of someone who loved you exactly as you were, even when your recipe made a mess.

Gracefully yours,

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