Peanut Butter Pie and Love

This week the blogging community was rocked to its core.

Jennifer Perrillo, who writes the blog In Jennie's Kitchen,  sent out this lone tweet.

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

I was concerned... confused... scared for her.  Friends who are close to her validated our worst fears.

Jennifers husband Mikey had died suddenly of a heart attack.

There was no warning.

There was nothing that could have been done.

He was just gone.

Then she posted this.  A touching and heart wrenching good bye, as well as a mission for us. 

For all of us.

Make a Peanut Butter Pie and share it with someone you love.

Her message was so simple, but the implications of it were far deeper.

Appreciate people here and now.

Because tomorrow they may be gone.

So, even though I have never made a decent pie in my life, I knew this was something I wanted to do.

Had to do.

I gathered my troops.

"Grab a spoon and dig in!"

Bewildered looks abound.

"Really?  Anywhere?"

"Yes, anywhere.  Any bite you want!"

They dived in an we appreciated a moment of silence as everyone chewed on the huge bite they had taken.

"Can we have another one?"

"Sure."

"And another one?"

"Yes!"

And they did.

And we laughed.

And ate.

And shared a few sweet moments of joy.  Just being a family.

I am so broken for Jennifer and her family right now.  But so thankful that she was wise enough to encourage us to reach out to those we love.

Wont you follow her lead and do something special with your loved ones?

As of now, The Food Network blog has graciously agreed to keep this list going... please stop by there to have your link added and see all the other amazing blog posts today!

The FN Dish 

To see more examples of people sharing love:

Peanut Butter Pie by Tidymom

Peanut Butter Pie Friday by Omnivore100Project

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie by CookiePie

Peanut Butter Pretzel Tart by Cake Duchess

Sharing Mikey's Peanut Butter Pie by Tastes Better With Friends

With Love and Rememberance by Vanilla Bean Baker

Peanut Butter Banana Pie Shots by Smith Bites

Peanut Butter Pie Gluten Free by gluten-free girl and the chef

Peanut Butter Milkshake by In Katrina's Kitchen

A Sandwich and Cocktail and Moment to Remember by Verses From My Kitchen

*eye break*

Love, Life, and Peanut Butter Pie by eat.drink.smile

For Mikey and Jennifer by Marche Dimanche

In Honor: Creamy Peanut Butter Pie Friday by Confessions of a Recipe Junkie

For Mikey: Jennies Creamy Peanut Butter Pie by Asian in America

Peanut Butter Pie by One Apron

Creamy Peanut Butter Pie by Chocolate & Carrots

A Peanut Butter Pie in Memory of Mikey by eatocracy

A Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey, Jennifer, and John by My Baking Heart

not nearly enough eanut butter pie by Running with Tweezers

Peanut Butter Pie Bites by Dessert For Two

*eye break*

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pie by Food Network

Creamy Dreamy Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by browniegirl

Creamy Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by 52 Sweet Treats

pie is love by userealbutter 

Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by Zoe Bakes

a pie for mikey by Healthy Green Kitchen

Baking for Others: Peanut Butter Pie by big girls small kitchen

Creamy Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by Dula Notes

Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by Expresse and Cream

My Pie for Mikey by Adryon's Kitchen

*eye break*

Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Recipe by Kitchen Parade

Mikeys Peanut Butter Pie by the meaning of pie

Like There's No Tomorrow by GF IN THE CITY

Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie by Killer Bunnies, Inc.

A Special Peanut Butter Pie by Picky Palate

Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey and Jennie by Panini Happy

Life... a Birthday and a Goodbye... by Tartelette

A Peanut Butter Pie in Memory of Mikey by Thinking Out Loud

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and a Tribute by Flavia's Flavors

A Peanut Butter Pie {for Mikey} by bell'alimento

*eye break*

Individual Peanut Butter Tarts (With Love for Jennie) by My Kitchen Addiction

Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by Teaspoon Communications

Peanut Butter Cream Pie for Mikey by Vanilla Sugar Blog

A Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by Taste and Tell

In Memory, a Peanut Butter Cream Pie by la vie en route

Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by Dough See Dough

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Pie by GlutenFreeBaking.com

Peanut Butter Pie by Just Jenn Recipes

Peanut Butter PIe for Mikey and Jennie by the little kitchen

Peanut Butter Pie in Memory of Mike Perillo by Sweetology

*eye break*

Fluff-a-Nutter Ice Box Pie by Stir and Scribble

Peanut Butter pie for Mikey by London Foodie in New York

A Pie ro Remember by The Sugar Tree

Peanut Butter Pie and the Past Few Days by Little Miss Dids

No Bake Creamy Peanut Butter Pie by browneyedbaker

Peanut Butter Pie for Jennier and Mikey by sac foodies

Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by Savour Fare

Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie by Alice Currah for PBS

Peanut Butter Tart (for Mikey) by The Baker Chick

Spread the Love by Kudos Kitchen

*eye break*

Creamy Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by Eat Drink Man Woman Dogs Cat

Peanut Butter Pie for Everyone by Trilogy Edibles

dating my husband:peanut butter pie by not without salt

 Creamy Peanut Butter Pie by Guilty Kitchen

Peanut Butter Pie for my Beloved by The Balanced Pastry Chef

Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by The Good Fun Foodie

Peace, Love, & Peanut Butter Cupcakes by Bakeaholic

Peanut Butter Pie by Created by Diane

Baking for Loved Ones:Lemon Chess Pie by in good taste

mini peanut butter pies by food + words

*eye break*

Peanut Butter, Love, & Loss...Pies for Mikey by The Tomato Tart

Agni's Flames & Creamy peanut Butter Pie by Panfusine

Oreo Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by lighter and local

A Delicious Dedication by Go Gastronomy

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by With Style & Grace

Creamy Peanut Butter Pie by Pork Cracklins

In Celebration of a Life: Peanut Butter Pie by life, in recipes

Peanut Free Peanut Butter Pie Recipe by goodlifeeats

A peanut butter pie for Mikey by five & spice

Creamy Peanut Butter Pies by poet in the pantry

*eye break*

Creamy Peanut Butter Pie by Creative Culinary

Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by five second rule

A Creamy Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey by Wenderly

Individual Peanut Butter Pies by My Baking Addiction

Peanut Butter PIe Recipe + A Heavy Heart by The Urban Baker

Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie with Biscoff Cookie Crust by Dine & Dish

Peanut Butter Pie for Mikey and Jennifer Perillo by Food For My Family

Peanut Butter Banana Cream Parfaits by Family Fresh Cooking

Comments

[TidyMom]

My heart breaks for Jennie........what a sweet wonderful post Amanda! I love seeing your family eat their pie all out of the pan...I bet that's a memory they will treasure for a long time!

[Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles]

You just honored Jennifer and her family in a huge way. Beautiful, Amanda.

[Robyn]

Think of the precious memories your children have of getting to eat that pie. Such a precious, precious way to take a few minutes to show the ones we love that we love them!

[Kathryn]

What a great post! I love when kids are given free reign to do something they usually don't get to do- it's always such a fun thing to witness. And what a graet way to let them know you love them. And wasn't the pie divine? I could have eaten the whole thing.

[Alicia]

OH my goodness...how devastating!!!

But, oh so true. Our life is like a vapor!

[Christina]

I'm praying for her family. So heartbreaking.
xoxo

[Kristin Smith]

How awful...prayers are going out to her!! Peanut butter pie is my absolute favorite...I will have to make one in honor of her!! Thanks for the reminder to keep focus on what is important.

[Kristen]

This brought tears to my eyes...
It is the simple moments like this that make me so thankful to be a mom. What a great post and a great reminder to take time out for your family, Amanda. Thank you!

[MIss]

What a wonderful way for your family to share a pie made with such love. My heart breaks for Jennie and her girls. I too made a pie for my family and am reminded to make sure they know that I love them. As always, you inspire.

[Diane {Created by Diane}]

I'm so glad you are able to enjoy the pie with your loved ones, my thoughts and prayers are with Jennie. I'm make a pie too :) it's the least I could do. I wish us all more time with our loved ones.

[Paula]

We are praying for Jennifer and her family, have been all week and will continue in the weeks and months ahead. Today we honour the memory of her Mikey and count our many blessings as we share our Peanut Butter Cream pie with our loved ones.

[Renee (kudos kitchen)]

I too wanted to reach out and honor Jennie and her beloved husband. I didn't know how. Then I read about the peanut butter pie and it became so clear. I made mine yesterday and it's chilling in the fridge. I can't wait to gather around the pie and share a special moment with the ones I love. It's a beautiful way for Jennie to honor her own love for her husband by reminding us all how very fragile life is and not to let the little moments slip by. Your post was very touching Amanda and I pray for Jennie and her family during this most difficult of times.

[Sugar Daze/Cat]

Brilliant idea to have everyone just dig in like that! I think we'll do the same. Making a pie in Mikey's memory is such a simple gesture and yet the sentiments it represents are so deep. I'm sorry it was in the face of this tragedy that we all are taking the time to reach out to the ones we love.

[Mikki]

James what a terrible thing to say!
I really love this post. Wonderful tribute.

[Mikki]

Yes but its not like he ate it every day I'm sure. Also Jennie's blog has many healthy recipes too! I just don't like the idea of her reading a comment like that somewhere that's all. His heart attack was no-ones fault.

[john]

Yes I can say your blog present reality of world. We seen mom always care of there child.
Your post a great reminder.

[bridget {bake at 350}]

Amanda....your post is beautiful and perfect. ♥

[Gianna]

That makes me so sad! I have tears in my eyes. I will be making a peanut butter pie TONIGHT! And we will be eating with Daddy around suppertime (maybe in spite of supper! maybe!)
I was going to make raspberry pie, but no longer, I am making peanut butter!
We better get to the store!

[DessertForTwo]

Awww honey, thanks so much for linking to me! It just went up, you're so quick! Glad you caught it :)

[Maria]

The pie is beautiful. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jennie and her family!

[Sue]

So touching, Amanda. I was not familiar with Jennie or her blog until now,but the video of Mikey dancing with his daughter sure touched my heart. I think I need to make a peanut butter pie today. Thanks for your message and spreading the love. <3. Your family is beautiful:)

[Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction]

Beautiful post, Amanda. I don't think you could have honored Jennie and Mikey better than to tell your family to "dig in." It just strikes me as something she would do with her sweet girls. :)

[Lucy Lean]

Thanks for sharing this - and for reminding us that every so often we should all dive in and enjoy - because we can. No peanut butter for us - we are in a hotel in Paris but I'm off on a hunt for something flavored with peanut butter here - which is incredibly difficult in France. x

[cara]

So sad for her loss and so happy that we are the community that we are! I am crying happy tears for all of mikey's pies.

[Julia Levy]

I wrote this on my forum to share with my friends.

I don’t normally hold with stuff I heard from someone who heard it from someone elsewho possible was told by someone else but today one of my normal blogs I like to dip in and out of (I am mommy) told the story of another blogger. A nice young American woman living a nice normal life – good job, lovely home, cute young kiddies and a loving husband. He died. Out of nowhere. Totally unexpected. (see http://www.injennieskitchen.com)

Jennie’s husband’s favourite pie was creamy peanut butter pie which she kept meaning to make. You know, I’ll do it tomorrow, or maybe at the weekend…

At the very end of her posting she says “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. Then hug them like there's no tomorrow because today is the only guarantee we can count on”. Key point – never put off to tomorrow what can be done today.

Today’s Friday, a good day for baking.

So now I know I need to do something and I have three constants in my life – 1) I love Jo, 2) Jo loves peanut butter, 3) I hate being fat (and the recipe is killer).

So while creamy PNB pie isn’t my thing – not enough of the right ingredients and also worried that the actual pie could damage my health (and Jo’s) in a BIG way I immediately reached for my old friend Red Velvet Chocolate Heartache and there they were chocolate peanut butter cupcakes with chocolate peanut butter frosting.

The frosting is rich and super shiny. You could say that I’ve spoiled the luscious shiny frosting by throwing roasted peanuts all over, or you could say I’ve rocked Jo’s world.

So today in honor of Jennie and Mikey, people I had never heard of until today, I’ll share PNB cakes with Jo and hug her like there’s no tomorrow…..

Wont you follow her lead and do something special with your loved ones?

[BreAna {Sugar and Spice and All Things Iced}]

Thank you for reminding everyone what is important in life. I started bawling when I saw your family all digging in with spoons...What a sweet way to make memories. I don't even know Jennie, I hadn't even heard of her blog until this morning. But I love my husband and my two little girls and I will definitely be holding them close! Thanks for sharing!!

[the urban baker]

I am going to make one today! Great post, Amanda.

[Wenderly]

So lovely Amanda. I love that you gathered your beautiful family and just let them all dig in...the simplicity of "diggin in" together, with glee & laughter is profound.

[Suzette]

So sad. Prayers with Jennifer and her family. Beautiful post as always Amanda.

[Rosanne Robertson]

I can get books printed at cost. Let me know if you want to do that book idea and I can help out. Blessings to Jennifer and her family!

[JulieD]

Let me know how I can help.

I love your post and love how you shared it with your family. I love seeing all of these links, wow!

[Marla@familyfreshcooking.com]

Amanda, your pie is such a lovely tribute. This family is in my prayers daily.

[Lora @cakeduchess]

Thank you, Amanda, for linking to my pie:) Your pie looks so good and your family is gorgeous! It's wonderful how we all are providing support to Jennie in this difficult time. xo

[Annelies]

Thanks for linking to my pie. I loved your post, photos and the round-up of other PB pie-makers.

[Brooke]

Made a pie with my daughter for our favorite guy!!! My heart is breaking for the Perillos right now and hopefully this is just a small token to show there are so many people thinking of them: http://thedeverdish.blogspot.com/2011/08/dishes-peanut-butter-pie.html

[Elizabeth of AsianinAmericamag.com]

Hi Amanda, thanks for including me on the blog mentions of those who baked a pie today. What a beautiful post you wrote. There was so much beauty that came out of this sadness, that makes it all so uplifting. How many pies were baked? How many loved ones were hugged today, even tighter than ever? How many posts were written?Best of all, how many new friends were made? I met you today.Hope to be back to visit your blog again soon.

[Katy]

A very beautiful post, and I love the way you celebrated with your family by letting them just dig in. Great memories!

[Eat.Pray.Mommy.]

What a beautiful way to enjoy a peanut butter pie! With the ones you love:) I was fortunate today to make a pie with one of the ones I love...and treasured every moment of it:) My thoughts and prayers go out to Jennie and her family. Thank you God for family and for those we love.

[Janine]

Loved the link ups you did, and a touching tribute. I first caught sight of Jennie's post on twitter, and have been overwhelmed since. It's not typical in my family to express affection and such (since we're typically asian), but I'll bake a peanut butter pie and let them know why :)

[Allison @ Decadent Philistines Save the World]

I am so touched by your words. What a wonderful way to share this pie and sentiment with your loved ones! I truly enjoyed sharing my pie as well, and I pray that the Perillos felt the love coming from all parts of the country.
http://decadentphilistines.blogspot.com/2011/08/to-husbands-with-love-pie-for-mikey.html

[Jane Luke from Jingle Pies and Starry Skies]

So many pies! Wonderful tribute to Jennifer and her family. I am so sorry for her incredible loss. The foodie community is amazing in their outpouring. I did make a pie:

http://jinglepiesandstarryskies.wordpress.com/2011/08/12/peanut-butter-pie-for-mikey/

[Georgia Pellegrini]

So happy to know you and all of the wonderful food bloggers who can come together like this and show our wonderful humanity.

[Andrea L. Arnold]

What a beautiful way to keep a memory alive! I'll bake this too!

[Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen]

Amanda this is beautiful. I love that your "let" your family dig in right from the pie plate! We are not promised tomorrow. Let's hug them tight and tell them we love them today.

[Be Arte]

Hello, My name is Belén. I´ve read what you were doing in elrincondebea.com and i´m surprised about the move you made in the blogs. I think it´s great to give support in this way, doing what we love.
Sorry about my english.
I´m praying for Jennie and her family.

Belén

[Peggy Lee]

Wonderful. This heartfelt outpouring by everyone makes me so proud to be part of the online food/baking community.

[Dea]

What a wonderful way to honor the loss of a great man. It made me tear up, I recently lost a good friend in a car accident. She was so young and no one ever seen this coming. Just like with the man that was lost her, she taught me that you need to enjoy life because its gone too soon.

[Nika]

All my love and prays for you Jennie.

[zeemaid]

I am behind in my reading so I had no idea what had happened. I'm so sorry for Jennie and her family. I love the sentiment though of sharing a pie with someone you love. I loved your photos and that you made it so much fun by letting them just dig in. If I had the pie ingredients in my house, I'd do that right now. I don't but I will aim for it this week.

[Taneesha]

In the midst of deperatly searching the net for a peanut butter tart recipe I came across this post. It made my heart ache for the thought of your dear friend who lost her husband but your post also made me smile. It made me appreciate today so much more. When my son wakes up from his nap, we will be heading into our kitchen, all the way here in Australia, and although it isn't Friday and long after your post, we will make our peanut butter tarts and enjoy them together in the sunshine.