A Peanut Butter Pie For Mikey

 

No-Bake Deep Dish Creamy Peanut Butter Pie with a Peanut Butter Cookie Crust and a Layer of Melted Chocolate

The Friday before last, I signed into Twitter after not having been on for a few days. I kept seeing the hashtag #apieformikey throughout my Twitter stream.  At first I thought it might be for a sick child, so naturally, I clicked on it.  I still couldn’t figure out what it was about until I clicked on some of the tweets with @JenniferPerillo in them.  Then I saw it; a tweet that simply said…

He’s gone. And my heart is shattered in a million pieces.

No-Bake Deep Dish Creamy Peanut Butter Pie with a Peanut Butter Cookie Crust and a Layer of Melted Chocolate

It was then I knew. I went to her site, In Jennie’s Kitchen, and saw a post with a video, entitled ‘One Last Dance’.  I watched it, and it hit hard, bringing me to tears.  I don’t know Jennifer, but I suddenly wanted to hug her, comfort her in some way.  Jennifer lost her husband, Sunday, August 7th, 2011, to a sudden, massive heart attack while he was with one of their two daughters, who was riding her bike.

No-Bake Deep Dish Creamy Peanut Butter Pie with a Peanut Butter Cookie Crust and a Layer of Melted Chocolate

The next post, simply titled, ‘For Mikey’, asked everyone to make his favorite peanut butter pie on Friday, August 12th, and share it with ones we love, as this would help in her healing.  She gave when she lost, and that’s incredible. Unfortunately, I saw this on the 12th, so when hundreds of food bloggers were putting up their pie posts, all coming together (such an amazing and beautiful thing to see) to honor Mikey’s memory and comfort Jennifer and their two little girls, I hadn’t a clue.  My hands were tied for the weekend.  There would be no pie until Monday.

No-Bake Deep Dish Creamy Peanut Butter Pie with a Peanut Butter Cookie Crust and a Layer of Melted Chocolate

I made it Monday, shared it with loved ones, and it was gone a few hours later.  I hadn’t taken a photo, so I made another one and took photos, but suddenly, I didn’t know what to write. I sat staring at the empty post window; type, backspace, type again, backspace.  This went on for two days.  What could I say about such a heartbreaking tragedy that didn’t sound cliche or hadn’t been already said over and over?

No-Bake Deep Dish Creamy Peanut Butter Pie with a Peanut Butter Cookie Crust and a Layer of Melted Chocolate

Then I realized I really didn’t need to say anything.  This pie, to be shared with loved ones, is all she wanted.  Thank you, Jennifer, for giving us all such a wonderful pie recipe, thinking of others at a time when your world fell apart.  I will make this pie forever because it’s the best peanut butter pie I’ve ever had. God Bless you and your little girls.

UPDATE:  A fund has been set up to help Jennie and her two little girls, financially.  You can donate at either Gluten Free Girl or Bloggers without Borders.  Any little bit will help, so much!!  Spread the word via Twitter by using the hashtag, #afundforJennie.

Deep Dish Peanut Butter Pie

No Bake Deep Dish Peanut Butter Pie
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Yield: 10 to 12 servings
 
Chill Time: 3 hours to overnight
Recipe from Jennifer Perillo, with a few small revisions
ingredients:
  • 8 ounces chocolate cookies (I used peanut butter cookies)
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 4 ounces finely chopped chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate plus 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon corn syrup)
  • ¼ cup chopped peanuts (I used salted peanuts)
  • 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
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Thick Milk Chocolate Ganache Drizzle
  • 4 oz good quality milk chocolate, chopped
  • ⅓ cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
directions:
  1. Add the cookies to the bowl of a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Drizzle melted butter through feed tube until moist and you can press clumps together easily. Press mixture into the bottom and about 1-inch up the sides of an 8-inch springform pan.
  2. Melt the chocolate, butter and corn syrup in a double boiler or in the microwave. Pour over bottom of cookie crust and spread to the edges using an off-set spatula. Sprinkle chopped salted peanuts over the melted chocolate. Place pan in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
  3. 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 uniform and filling is smooth.
  4. 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. Drizzle the melted chocolate on top, if using, and refrigerate for three hours or overnight before serving.
  5. To serve, I topped the pie with 1½ cups of heavy cream whipped with about ¼ cup confectioner's sugar, then drizzled on the thick milk chocolate ganache, homemade caramel, and chopped, salted peanuts. I also froze it for about a half hour prior to taking photos and serving, which is why it looks so smooth. Best NOT frozen - amazingly creamy.
Make the Thick Milk Chocolate Ganache Drizzle
  1. Heat cream until boiling. Pour over chopped chocolate and let sit for one minute then stir until fully melted, shiny and uniform.
  2. Stir in corn syrup and pour into a squeeze bottle or just drizzle over pie with a spoon. Pass around remaining ganache for extra drizzles on slices of pie.
notes:
Make this delightful a peanut butter crunch pie with crumbled peanut butter cookies on top!

No-Bake Deep Dish Creamy Peanut Butter Pie with a Peanut Butter Cookie Crust and a Layer of Melted Chocolate

Pay it forward; make this pie for someone you love and hug them as tight as you can. Tell them how much they mean to you. You never know what can happen in an instant; every day can be a last.

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47 Responses to A Peanut Butter Pie For Mikey

  1. This is a lovely post and a heartwarming tribute. Great job on the pie!

  2. What a beautiful tribute and fabulous pie! Amazing, as always.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  3. You said it perfectly. You pie for Mikey looks perfect too. God bless Jennifer and her family.

  4. Simone says:

    What a terrible terrible tragedy indeed. I did not see this on the twitter sphere but I’d been away for a couple of days but it’s indeed a great tribute! Lovely pie!

  5. Lisa~~ says:

    A beautiful tribute and a beautiful pie.

    Lisa~~
    Cook Lisa Cook

  6. Quay Po says:

    You pie is lovely and what is more lovely is it is filled with love and compassion. Your kindness shines through it.

  7. 5 Star Foodie says:

    A wonderful tribute and the pie looks just gorgeous!

  8. Suzanne says:

    Lisa, this is lovely looking and such a way to pay tribute. I too saw the same thing on twitter on Friday the day people were posting and I felt so sad for her and her family. How tragic it was, my heart fell when I read that same tweet he’s gone and my heart is shattered into a million pieces. I can’t imagine how terrible that would be.
    You are sweet for putting this pie up here and it does look amazing like I want to dive right in. xoxox Suz

  9. Megan says:

    Every time I read one of these posts, I am brought to tears. I don’t know Jennifer either, but I am struck by what an amazing community food bloggers make up.

    The pie looks incredible.

  10. Liz says:

    So wonderful that you made this beautiful pie not just once, but twice. As others have said, it reflects your kind heart and compassion.

  11. So luscious and elegantly prepared. I love the look of it

  12. Katrina says:

    Sheesh, your pb pie looks divine. Best one I’ve seen.

  13. Ben says:

    It looks so delicious! And it’s great how food bloggers come together when a member of the community is having a difficult time.

  14. Dan says:

    Your willingness to help your fellow food blogger shows how sweet a person you are- just llke the pie. I know you are always thinking of others first and your kind heart is always your main motivation for what you do. The pie looks great but your deeds are far greater.

  15. Juliana says:

    Lisa, so nice of you making this pie, not once but twice…very touching and very sweet of you.
    Hope you have a wonderful week ahead 🙂

  16. Evelyne says:

    A wonderful tribute indeed, Mickey would scarf down this pie in no time.

  17. This pie is beautiful! Absolutely gorgeous tribute to a beautiful life lived and one that was taken too soon.

  18. Crumbs of Love says:

    Delicious looking pie. I read that post too and was quite moved as well. A lovely tribute. Best, sandie

  19. Sue says:

    I saw the video too~so touching. Your pie is another sweet tribute, Lisa, and another great reminder to love while we can~here and now. <3

  20. This is such a sweet gesture. Like you said, for a woman who has lost the love of her life, she was still able to give to others, that’s definitely something admirable. I don’t know Jenn nor have read her blog, but I feel happy of the supportive nature bloggers possess and moved because life is precious and it can be easily claimed in an instant.

  21. FOODESSA says:

    It’s a post like yours Lisa that makes me want to continue journalling about not only food but the connections and symbolism that comes with it.

    Your ‘better late than never’ symbolic dessert delight has been bookmarked along with a few phrases you so eloquently wrote. When I finally do make your scrumptious pie…I’ll be reminded of such a warm tribute as well as be reminded of how precious every little moment in time is truly.

    Glad to be back for my visits.

    Ciao for now and flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

  22. with every pb pie post, i am reminded to love the ppl near to me. this is beautiful. i love the thick slice of pie with the choco ganache drizzle.

  23. Nancy says:

    Lovely pie and tribute, I can see why this was Mikey’s favorite pie. Will make one for my family tomorrow night, and donate to help.

  24. that is such a lovely looking pie for such a good cause:)

  25. This story makes me cry still… I like you saw it late but this pie is so gorgeous and I don’t think it matters at all how late it was! This is gorgeous and looks amazing! My heart goes out to Jennifer!

  26. Wende says:

    Thanks for sharing such a touching story. My heart goes out to Jennifer and her children.

    I shared your version of the pie on my Must Try Tuesday blog post yesterday.

    http://therickettchronicles.blogspot.com/2011/08/must-try-tuesday-august-23-2011.html

    Thanks for sharing!

    Wende

  27. Such a heartbreaking event and such a lovely tribute from so many bloggers. Your peanut butter pie looks amazing. I’m sure it was loved by everyone who tasted it!

  28. Carole says:

    Gorgeous peanut butter pie! I love how the whipped cream is just as tall as the peanut butter, and the whipped cream, chocolate and caramel on top is the perfect finishing touch!

  29. A beautiful pie for such an occasion. My heart goes out to her :`(

    Lisa, I am determined to do this month’s Daring Bakers because you are the host. But I am afraid I will be a bit late. I hope you don’t mind! 😉

  30. Chris says:

    A Very lovely and delicious looking pie. Life is far too short, I like how simple amd eloquently you spoke of it this woman’s tragedy.

  31. Aparna E. says:

    You need to stop making delicious-looking treats, Lisa. ….Kidding. Don’t ever stop! This looks and sounds SO good!! Peanut butter and chocolate is such a romantically delicious union 🙂

  32. Dinavia says:

    This pie looks heavenly, a fitting tribute to Mikey. So sad 🙁

  33. Touching tribute and lovely pb pie . . .

  34. Claire says:

    This looks really good! I cannot imagine what that family is going through…neat to see so many people honor him with something he enjoyed.

    Hope you like the raspberry cookies!

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  36. Jamie says:

    You are right in that sometimes gestures speak so much loud and more eloquently than any word can. Beautiful post and beautiful pie. xoxo

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  38. Amy says:

    Not understanding why there is a layer of the whipped topping on top of the PB mixture yet the instructions say nothing about topping it with the whipped topping.

    • Lisa says:

      Hi, Amy. that was my own personal touch which wasn’t in the recipe we all posted together, but I will add it ASAP 🙂

      • maria says:

        Can the whipped topping me added in advance? Or just before serving? Can it be stored with the whipped topping on?

      • Lisa says:

        Hi, marie. Yes, the pie can be stored with the whipped topping on. Just make sure it’s covered well so no air is able to get in, or else it will get hard and crusty and pick up smells in your fridge. I usually tent the foil over the pie, then crimp the foil around the rim of the pan, tightly. However, I mostly add the whipped cream right before serving time, which is my recommendation. 🙂

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  44. Jerry says:

    WOW, this peanut butter pie was explosively amazing! Thank you!

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