If you’ve been online at all today, you’re probably wondering what all the hubbub is about peanut butter pie. The reason is unfortunate and heartbreaking, but it’s also one of the greatest demonstrations of love and support I’ve ever seen online.
Last Sunday, fellow food blogger Jennifer Perillo lost her husband, Mikey, suddenly and unexpectedly. He was young, as are his lovely wife and two kids. I’ve never met any of them. Before Sunday, I couldn’t swear that I had ever read her blog, although we had crossed paths a few times on Twitter.
She asked that anyone wanting to “do something” do this: make a pie. A pie for Mikey, and for those we love. Mikey’s favorite, a peanut butter pie. Today, on the day of his memorial service, hundreds of pies have been made and posted. CNN, Food Network, TasteSpotting and others are featuring them.
Here’s mine.
Having now gone gluten-free, I did have to make a few adaptations to Jennifer’s recipe. The cool thing is, so did just about everyone who did the pie. Take a look around online and see.
I used Pamela’s Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Cookies, which are gluten- and dairy-free. I didn’t have quite enough to make a crust, so I added a few Mi-Del Ginger Snaps.
While I’m making the pie, my hubby Joe is sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, hogging the laptop which is displaying the recipe. I have to keep asking him to read me the next step.
I love him for the snarky way he gave me grief about needing the computer. (I knew he really didn’t care. Would he have repeatedly read the recipe for me if he minded?)
I love him for how hard he worked today, just like every day, taking care of his work and taking care of us. I love him for letting me stay home with our kids and for letting me go to culinary school. I love him for being supportive of my wanting to turn this food thing into a business, while still being home with our babies. (Well, kids. They’re almost-4 and 9.)
I love him for being different than me. I told him this yesterday. I love that he’s passionate and occasionally obsessive. We make a good mix.
I love him for the things we agree on, the things that matter. Our faith, our family, our dedication to each other. I love him for not getting too bent out of shape about the things that don’t matter. I love him for knowing the difference.
I love him for being gentle and patient with me, even when I know I don’t deserve it. And I especially love him for his amazing sense of humor, which constantly has me rolling. (Thank God I didn’t marry a boring man!)
I love him for sitting at the breakfast bar, just to be near me, while I made this pie.
After I had poured the filling, he tasted a bit that was left in the bowl.
“Mikey had good taste,” he said.
So did I.