The food blogging community is huge; thousands upon thousands of bloggers and in the years I’ve been involved I’ve built relationships with people in my own town, in cities all over our nation and in countries where I never expected to know anyone personally.
This week I was reminded of how connected we really are, just how small we can feel and how much we are impacted by each others lives.
One of our own, Jennifer Perillo, lost her husband Mikey on Sunday. A young, healthy man who died suddenly from a massive heart attack, quickly and with such suddenness there were no goodbyes, no last ‘I love you’ said between the spouses of many years who still loved each other so evidently. I saw Jennifer’s first tweet that evening and was concerned; only saying that ‘he was gone and her heart was broken into a million pieces.’ I knew she had a fractured relationship with her father and I struggled with trying to remember if he were still alive, assuming it must have been him. I never once considered it was Mikey. So the shock of the news the next morning hit hard. Many of us in this community have felt a sense of immense grief and overwhelming sadness just thinking about Jennie and her young daughters. I searched Jennifer’s site for others stories about Mikey and found one about him and his mother; discovering that he was an only child. My grief is compounded thinking about his mom losing her son, a good son.
This news has been hard not only out of love and concern for Jennifer and her two young daughters who now need to forge a different life, one without their loving husband and father, but as a reminder of the clear and present reality that tomorrow is not a given. I’m certain there have been more hugs and words of love between friends and families this week. I’m also certain they’ve been said with extra meaning; more awareness. In this saddest of all circumstances, I can only hope that Jennifer will feel the love that is being sent to her and shared because of her.
In a blog post that must have been the hardest of her young life, Jennifer answered the question we were all asking ourselves. How could we help? She shared that Mikey loved Peanut Butter pie and asked that we bake a pie for Mikey and so that’s what I, and so many others are doing. This is my pie for Mikey; a pie I’ve never made before but did at her request. The most difficult pie I’ve ever made; salted I fear with tears that were not a part of the recipe. I’ve asked my daughters to come share it with me today. They are the loves of my life and though we struggle at times for reasons that are beyond comprehension the fact is…I need them close. I need to see them and tell them how much I love them. For I have been profoundly reminded that tomorrow is not a given; we might not have more than today.
This piece? It’s for you Mikey.
- 8 ounces graham crackers
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 4 ounces finely chopped chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup creamy-style peanut butter
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 1 – 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk (see below for how I made my own)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Add the graham crackers to the bowl of a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs.
- Pour melted butter into processor and pulse until thoroughly combined
- Press mixture into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
- Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave.
- Pour chocolate over bottom of cookie crust and spread to the edges using an off-set spatula (my offset spatula was too long; I ended up using a spoon).
- Place pan in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
- Pour the heavy cream into a bowl and beat using a stand mixer or hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Transfer to a small bowl and store in refrigerator until ready to use.
- Place the cream cheese and peanut butter in a deep bowl. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and gradually beat in the confectioner’s sugar.
- Add the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract and lemon juice. Increase speed to medium and beat until all the ingredients are combined and filling is smooth.
- Stir in ⅓ of the whipped cream into the filling mixture (helps lighten the batter, making it easier to fold in the remaining whipped cream).
- Fold in the remaining whipped cream. Pour the filling into the prepared springform pan.
- Grate chocolate over the top or melt 1 oz chocolate with 1 Tbsp butter and drizzle over the top.
- Refrigerate for three hours or overnight before serving.
More friends, more pies…amazed at the love today:
- Running with Tweezers
- My Kitchen Addiction
- Sweet Tartlette
- Big Girls Small Kitchen
- Healthy Green Kitchen
- Gluten Free Girl and the Chef
- My Guilty Kitchen
- London Foodie in NY
- Tastes Better With Friends
- Eatocracy
- Food + Words
- Savour Fair
- Chocolate & Carrots
- My Baking Heart
- The Meaning of PIe
- Dula Notes
- Espresso and Cream
- Healthy Delicious
- Little Miss Dids
- Triology Edibles
- The Balanced Pastry Chef
- Sodium GIrl
- Weekly Greens
- Concrete Magnolia
- Panfusine
- Black Girl Chef’s Whites
- Sweetology
- Gluten Free Doctor
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
This was a great post! Very beautifully written. The food blogging community on a whole should be proud of this whole coming together.
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes) Most Recent Post: Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
Thank you Avanika; it was heartfelt certainly and while difficult to write something that made each of us feel a part of Jennifer’s supporting community.
Of all the pie recipes I’ve seen over the past few days, yours is one I think I may have to try. We have a few peanut butter lovers in the family so this should go over well.
I appreciate your tribute. The focus, of course, must be on Jennifer and her daughters. However, as one who lost a brother in the same kind of circumstance, it is nice to have someone recognize that there are others suffering as well. I can’t imagine the pain his mother feels. Thank you for mentioning her.
It was good…I was lucky to have so many to share it with; it was too rich for me to manage more than one slice.
And thanks Robin…as a mom that just broke my heart thinking of his mom and her only child. She has to be equally bereft.
Touching and evocative Barbara … life is so cruel at times. This is an outstanding food community!
Beautiful post! I don’t know Jennifer, but sending good thoughts and prayers to her and her family.
Thank you; so many kind people doing that same thing; it has to lift her up…the kindness that’s been shown.
Such sad news, I didnt know. Thanks for letting us know and for such a great reminder that tomorrow is a gift, not a given.
And that is the whole message I know Jennifer wanted everyone to take from this tragedy Megan…so hoping it’s something people remember beyond these few days.
Love this post Barbara, just beautiful :)
Thank you Mairi, thanks for stopping by to visit too.
Wonderful post, Barbara. You said it beautifully. Thanks for this…
Thank you Chris; glad to have you come visit…loved your pie too.
Sweet and salty blended together, a true tribute to a man lost all too young. And a beautiful way to share and remember.
What a lovely tribute to your friend and her husband. I know I am always at a loss as to what to do when someone I care about is dealing with loss. Getting into the kitchen and creating something to nourish the body often lands up nourishing the soul as well. Your pie looks delicious.
Isn’t that the truth…I always think of feeding someone in times of distress and joy; it’s good for me and hopefully good for them too.
Crying again. For a girl I don’t even know, wishing someway somehow that it didn’t have to be this way for her. Nothing could ever take away the hurt that I know is with her right now but it has yo man the world that the has friends anytime day or night to reach out to when things get tough. I wwas thinking today how lucky we are to live in a time that friends are only a click away. I wish I’d known in time to make a peanutbutter pie the only way I know how, cookie style. :-(
I think we all feel that same way and that anyone of us can reach out if we have a need. There have been enough pies for us to share them in spirit with everyone!
What a beautiful post. I know I felt the need to connect better with my family today. So saddened by this loss, even though I do not know Jennifer. I think of her and her girls often, though. Tomorrow is, indeed, not a given.
Thanks Carrie; I think we all were affected in that way. Thinking of Jennifer and our own families too.
Beautiful, Barb. Family is so important so it’s such an amazing day when we can share a pie or special something with our loved ones. I hope we all realize to do this more often. Loved your words and pie!
Thank you Mike and I agree. We should do one in tribute of something joyous next!
What a beautifully written post. I am on holiday & only able to twitter occasionally. I was so shocked & so sad to read about Jennie’s loss. I’ve not slept properly since for thinking of her. The twitter community is a great thing, I hope you
And your daughters enjoyed Mikeys pie.
Beautiful post, Barb. And I hope this pie helps you and your daughters feel a little closer somehow. ((hugs!))
My hopes too. That’s all I can say.
Beautifully written, Barb. I’m so proud of the way this community has rallied in Mikey’s honor.
Beautiful post, Barb. I remember reading that post about Mikey and his Mom and crying when I read it and it’s making me cry even more. I’m not surprised at how many people Mikey’s death is affecting and I’m so inspired by how people have simply made a peanut butter pie for Mikey. Hugs to you, your daughters and your pups.
I am so happy you will be sharing with your daughters today. What a wonderful post. Sending you huge hugs.
Beautifully written post, Barb. It is so amazing to see everyone coming together to support Jennie and celebrate Mikey. Each time I read a peanut butter pie post, more tears well up in my eyes… But, I am also happy knowing that Jennie has such a loving community supporting her!
The profound effects of Mikey’s death and Jennie’s brave request are far reaching. I too made this pie last night and shared it with my loved ones here in Cape Town, South Africa,today. I blogged about it earlier today. Hugs to you Barb xx
Colleen Most Recent Post: Creamy Dreamy Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey
I’m amazed and inspire by how this community has gathered around the virtual dining table in solidarity for the Perillos’ grief. Well-said Barb, and lovely pie! I made a pie too using Jennie’s recipe: http://www.beyondtheplate.net/life/life-death/
Barb, what a beautiful and hearthfelt post. I hope that you get to enjoy this gorgeous pie with your daughters and celebrate life!
I can’t express how much I love reading all of these post. We all put how this affected us in such different terms but the sentiment is the same, it’s all about love.
Exactly Kimmy. And I’m hoping that others, not just Jennie, who are suffering with their own loss can feel that. This is bigger than one person and more than one person needs to know their are not alone. Heck, we all do!
This could not have been said more eloquently, Barb. What a lovely post.
Thank you Gwen; I don’t doubt that my husband announcing and then leaving our family oh so many years ago has had this touch my heart in a big way. Their leaving was different, the picking up the pieces not as much. My heart is filled with empathy for Jennie.
Beautiful.
Jenni Most Recent Post: Peanut Butter Pie for My Beloved, for Mikey and for Linda (but she can only look at it)
Thank you Jenni…and thanks for stopping by.
What a sad and touching post. I don’t know many food bloggers well since I have not been in the blogging community very long but there is this sense of community and family that food brings us all together. Thanks for sharing my heart goes out to Jennifer.
Thank you for stopping by Suzanne and welcome to this big, crazy community that is so obviously full of heart.
Nice tribute and the pie looks amazing as in a true cream pie. RTd too Barbie. (Barbie was payback heehee, love ya!)
I do let you get away with that Barbie business don’t I? My grandmother called me Barbie, my dad called me Beeb (probably cause my intials growing up were BB) and one of my best friends calls me Babs. Appreciate that you get to without me strangling you…those instances are far and wide!
Beautiful words and a beautiful post on honor of Mikey.
Thank you Kate and thanks for stopping by. Now I get to hear about the risotto, right?
May you daughter’s understand the love that went into making this pie, not only for Jennifer and her family in honor of her beloved Mikey, but the love that you hold so dearly for your own girls. Beautiful pie, wonderfully written post Barb.
Thank you Paula…your sweet words are always so welcome my dear friend. I think the most appreciative of this pie and my offer of friendship was the young boy who showed up with the kid from down the street to cut my grass. I offered them a piece of pie and heard his story. Heartwrenching. His mom died 6 months after he was born. His father abandoned him and he was adopted by his uncle who drinks too much. They never have a family dinner so sitting with a piece of pie and a person who would listen to him was so obviously meaningful it touched my heart. It was a most meaningful pie.
Beautifully written Barb… my pie is in the refrigerator and I will be sharing it with my husband, boys and their friends with immense gratitude in my heart for having them all in my life.
Tomorrow is indeed not a given and that is why we need to make each day count…
Thank you Nancy and thanks for sharing your plans with me. My pie was shared with family, neighbors and a stranger. Such a clear example of how food really does bring us all together.
Raising my fork with you, sweet friend. Big hugs across the country!
And hugs back to you too sweetie.
A wonderful tribute and luscious pie!
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you for visiting Rosa; the same to you.
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