My dad, Mike Perillo and peanut butter pie.

Where do I start? Well a few weeks ago I was going through foodgawker because I like to torture myself with good looking food. As I was "gawking" I noticed A LOT of recipes for peanut butter pie. I thought it was one of the challenges that random websites had. All I saw in common was #apieformikey posted in each headline. When I searched that hash tag and read Jennifer Perillo's story, a very familiar pain went through my heart.





Jennifer Perillo is a very big food blogger. I had never heard of her till this ordeal, but her story made it to CNN and food network. Jennifer's husband Mikey had suddenly passed away from a heart attack. A very healthy and young man suddenly lost without warning. Jennifer posted on her blog about the shock that came to her and her two daughters. She asked her readers to make a peanut butter pie and share it with someone you love. Why peanut butter pie you ask? It was his favorite dessert and she never got to make for him one last time. I know how Jennifer feels.

A few months before my father passed away he came home with a boxed dessert called sahlab. It was something he had eaten as a child in Iran. He asked me to make it when I got the chance. I never made the time and it pains me till this day. I see the box at the grocery store or at home and all I think of is my father. Had I taken one hour of my time to make the dessert I wouldn't feel this guilt. I know people greive over not saying good bye or I love you one last time. But my dad knew I loved him and I will never say good bye because he's always here. Its the small things that I wanted to DO not SAY to him that I never got the chance to. So I made #apieformikey. And you know what it helped me with my pain. To know I wasn't the only one and that I was part of something so big felt good. Every time I had a bite of that pie I thought of my dad and happy memories. I hope Jennifer pulls through this with her daughters. I know first hand the hardship ahead. So I pass on Jennifer's request to you. Make a pie and share it with the ones you love. For Mikey, for Robert, for the ones gone too soon and the ones that grace your life everyday.

I used a recipe I found on foodgawker by Tina.

Peanut Butter Cream Pie

Ingredients:
(Crust)
- 1-1/4 chocolate cookie crumbs (I used crushed Oreos)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup butter, melted

(Filling)

- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp butter, softened

- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract

- Melted chocolate and butterscotch ganache for garnish 

Steps:
(1) Preheat oven to 375.
(2) Combine cookie crumbs, sugar, and butter until the mixture has the texture of crumbly, wet sand. Press into the bottom of a pie plate.
** I opted out of the pie dish and divided my mixture between 2 mini spring-form pans.
(3) Bake crusts for 6-8 minutes. Set aside to cool.

(4) In a mixing bowl, cream together peanut butter, cream cheese, sugar, butter, and vanilla until smooth.
(5) Whip cream in a separate bowl, then fold into the peanut butter mixture.
(6) Spoon filling on top of your crust.
(7) Drizzle with melted chocolate and butterscotch ganache.
(8) Refrigerate until you're ready to serve -- the longer it spends in the fridge, the firmer the filling.
(9) Serve immediately, plain or with ice cream.