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This is not going to be a typical post on My Baking Addiction. It’s more of a reminder to take a moment to hug those you love a little tighter.
Last Sunday, food writer, Jennifer Perillo lost her husband, Mikey to a sudden heart attack. Word spread of Jennie’s tremendous loss through social media. I don’t know Jennie personally, simply through our brief emails and tweets – but I sat at my desk feeling heartbroken and helpless. The food blogging community immediately virtually embraced Jennie and her daughters and wanted to step in to help in any way that we could.
On Tuesday, Jennie wrote a post entitled For Mikey, where Jennie made a simple request, “For those asking what they can do to help my healing process, make a peanut butter pie this Friday and share it with someone you love.”
A Facebook group formed and over 800 people signed on to do just that – make a pie to share with our loved ones as a tribute to Mikey.
Again, give those dear to you a little extra lovin’ today, because in Jennie’s words,
“Today is the only guarantee we can count on.”
Peanut Butter Pie
Ingredients:
For the crust
16 Oreo cookies
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the filling
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
Directions:
1. Place the Oreo cookies into the bowl of a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. In a small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and melted butter and stir.
2. Evenly divide the crumbs between your individual serving dishes and press into the bottoms of the dishes to form a crust layer.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Transfer whipped cream to a small bowl and place it into the refrigerator while you prepare the rest of the filling.
3. Place cream cheese and peanut butter the mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until smooth. Reduce speed to low and gradually add in confectioners' sugar until well combined. Add in sweetened condensed milk and vanilla and beat on medium speed until mixture is creamy and smooth. Take care to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. Stir in 1/3 of the whipped cream into the filling mixture. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the remaining whipped cream until well blended until no streaks remain.
3. Evenly pipe or spoon the filling into individual serving dishes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. If desired, garnish with whipped cream and chocolate curls.
Notes:
-If you make this into one pie, use this recipe.
-The number of pies you get from this recipe will depend on the size of your individual serving dishes.
-Peanut Butter allergy? Check out Katie's version using almond butter.
Prop Note:
The small glass bowls were purchased from Pier 1. Spoons are from Ikea.
adapted and inspired by Jennie
All images and text ©Follow Jamie on Instagram. We love to see what you're baking from MBA! Be sure to tag @jamiemba and use the hashtag #mbarecipes!
it is so amazing how a community across the globe, some know each other and some don’t, come together to enlighten others. beautiful post, beautiful pies!
Love your pie, and thanks for being a sweet part of this lovely tribute! Wanting to make this soon.
It’s amazing how the virtual community of foodies has come together to help support Jennie and her family. I have to believe she felt the outpouring of love and that it will help her along this difficult journey. Your pies are, as usual, lovely.
emotionally charged & heartfelt post.
the blogging community is such a strong, caring & wonderful group…give yourselves a huge hug…you deserve it.
peanut butter has always been our family’s center of breakfast feast. I surely will try to prepare this over the next month’s family gathering.
What a beautiful sentiment.
My girlfriend and I were recently discussing the happiness and contentment you can muster from the act of remembering someone with their favourite food. It’s seems so simple and “low-key”, but food, and tastes, are so intrinsic to someone’s character, to someone’s life, that it can bring you closer to them and their memory. The preparation of a favourite dish, however simple, is such an act of love and affection, that it brings warmth and satisfaction, rather than sadness.
Even though I don’t know Jennifer, or her husband, sharing a pie with someone you love could never be a bad thing, so i’ll be making this one ( http://abigailryanblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/cutabitch-pie.html ) and sharing it with my family.
It’s amazing how the food blogging community has all come together like this – thank you for sharing & love how you adapted this into individual pies, they’re beautiful!
Thank you for keeping this going. There’s no way she can’t feel the love. <3
Love these little pies in those adorable pies. So pretty. And the words, too. If we learn something from this week it’s to share what matters most with those that matter most. Every single day. Thanks!
Hello: What a wonderful blog. These cheesecakes look so yummy. I will be back for more ideas. Beautiful photography as well.