This peanut butter pie is creamy, chocolatey and everything you’d expect from a peanut butter pie. Made specifically for Mikey Perillo, as requested by his wife, Jennie, it will forever serve as a reminder to hold those closest to you daily and tell them how much you love them.
I’ve been staring at the screen since Monday, unable to find the words. Writer’s block isn’t necessarily a new thing, but that’s not what I’m suffering from. Instead, there is only a heart, breaking for a friend, and the inability to properly tell you about the pain or ignore it away so that I can move on to share happier things.
Then again, this is the sort of pain that is best dealt with head on, facing and confronting it, acknowledging the sadness so as not to forget, to never forget.
Don’t forget the dancing, the kind words or the tender heart. While scents may fade, keep a tight hold on the love that was there and is there still.
On Sunday, Mikey Perillo died of a sudden heart attack, leaving behind his wife and two young daughters. Jennie’s words since then have been so perfectly poignant, resting on the hearts of those who never knew them and of those who knew them well and touching them. Changing them.
Today, the community of food writers and food bloggers and friends reached out in love to fulfill a request. A request by one of the kindest, caring, selfless people I have yet to meet. I’m honored to have shared a table with her, to have heard her speak so lovingly of her Mikey, to have seen her face light up with love as she said his name.
Jennie, please know that you are loved, and thank you for being strong enough to remind us all to cherish what we have and possess. May you never forget the one who loved you most.
8 ounces chocolate cookies
4 tablespoons butter, melted
6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped finely
1/2 cup roasted peanuts
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
In a food processor, pulse cookies until crumbled with no large chunks. Pulse in melted butter. Press the crust into the bottom and up the sides of a 9″ springform pan. Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Spread 2/3 of the chocolate on the bottom of the cookie crust using a pastry brush. Sprinkle the peanuts over the melted chocolate. Keep the other in the double boiler over the hot water to remain melted.
Beat cream until stiff and fluffy. Set aside. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream the cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in the peanut butter, and then slowly add in powdered sugar until incorporated. Mix in sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and lemon juice. Fold in 1/3 of the whipped cream and then mix in the remaining. Pour the peanut butter filling into the prepared crust. Drizzle the remaining melted chocolate onto the top of the peanut butter filling. Swirl with a knife
Refrigerate the pie for at least 3 hours. Serve with extra whipped cream and roasted peanuts, if desired.
Makes 10-12 servings.
Read Jennie’s post for her Mikey and follow along on Twitter using #apieforMikey today and on Facebook.
What a beautiful pie…and even more beautiful words.
your pie looks great. Love the way you’ve decorated it. Beautiful photos
A lovely pie for an even more lovely person. Continually sending love and hugs to Jennie and her girls.
With each Pie for Mikey post I read my heart hurts and swells a little more. Your pie is spectacular! A wonderful tribute to love and loss…and hugging your loved ones repeatedly each day.
The pie is really beautiful. Seriously incredible. And your words are moving and convey everything we’re all thinking. Thank you!
Beautiful post and pie Shaina…..this has been overwhelming, I can only imagine what Jennifer is feeling.
So beautiful Shaina… you have a way with words and with baking!
It looks so beautiful! And super yummy!
Beautiful words. Beautiful pie.
What a nicely decorated PB pie for such a thoughtful tribute. We’re so sad for both daughters left behind…
I really love peanut butter; it can be used in so many ways! Thanks for? your lovely recipe!!
gorgeous, gorgeous pie Shaina and a beautifully written post . . . xo
What a beautifully written piece. Thank you for writing and reminding us the importance of telling people we love them and appreciating our time with those who mean the most.
SO beautiful. in more ways than one.
Gorgeous pie and heart for a friend. 🙂
WOW I have no idea how anyone could make a pie that. Your friend is really lucky.
Absolutely lovely and heartfelt. xoxo
Beautiful pie… and, an even more beautiful post. Thanks for sharing, Shaina!
Such a wonderful post, Shaina. If there is any silver lining in this tragic event, it’s the way the food community has come out in such a show of strength and support and love for Jennie. We take care of our own. We really do.
Shaina, you have outdone yourself with this pie for Mikey. Stunning. Your tribute is thoughtful and full of love 🙂
heartbreaking. i just made my first home made peanut butter pie for Mikey….a man I never knew but, a heartbreak I feel/felt like it’s my own. Thanks for sharing your pie. I just posted mine….while not as stunning, still fraught with meaning and love.
Your version of the pie is so beautiful and I’m sure so appreciated.
It looks so yummy! i love chocolate flavored food.. I’m so exciting to try your recipes..
gorgeous!! can’t wait to make this one!! [although the design won’t be a pretty as yours!]
This is so beautiful! I was a little late in hearing about all of what happened, but it’s so amazing to see so many people rally around Jennie’s family after such a tragedy.
This sounds incredible, and I love the marbling on top, it makes for such a pretty pie!
Ohh looking so delicious.. what a design you made for this recipe. I going to make it this recipe for my upcoming birthday.
THAT looks A-MAZ-ING! (The fact I’m a self proclaimed peanut butter-aholic wouldn’t have ANYTHING to do with it, either 😉
The look reminds me of Tiger butter — a more of a candy treat my mom used to make, though this is definitely not that. Going to have to give this one a try (even if it means busting my diet to do so)!