Jennie, one of the food bloggers I occasionally read, lost her husband last week. He loved her peanut butter pie and it was on her list to make it for him. But life kept getting in the way, and the pie did not get made. Then he died. Jennie asked everyone to make a peanut butter pie in his memory today and to hug those you love, long and hard.
I do not know Jennie. I have heard good things about her and hers from the virtual community of bloggers and twitter. But I know about not getting the list fulfilled. We had a friend who was murdered and I had promised him a guacamole sandwich with homemade bread and homemade guacamole. It did not happen before he was murdered. That was how little time we had.
Make this pie or another pie, but do something on that list for those you love. And give them the biggest, hardest hug you can. Like eight or ten seconds long. You may think that is short but it gives you time to hold on and for them to be held.
Peanut Butter Pie
Note: adapted from Jennie's blog that I linked to above.
1 1/2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs (I make mine from scratch or you can use 8 ounces of cookies, oreo type)
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup creamy-style peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar sugar
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine melted butter and cookie crumbs in a small bowl, and stir with a fork to mix well. Press mixture into the bottom and 1-inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan or pie pan. Put in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
Pour the heavy cream into a bowl and beat until stiff peaks form. I used a whisk but if you wish to avoid the work out, use a stand mixer or a hand mixer. Store in the refrigerator until needed.
Place the cream cheese and peanut butter in a deep bowl and cream together. Cream in the powdered sugar. Add the condensed milk and vanilla. Stir in 1/3 of the whipped cream. Once the whipped cream is incorporated, fold in the rest.
Pour into the prepared pie pan. Garnish with cookie crumbs, if you have leftovers, and peanut butter balls.
I even made single serving sizes.
This was the look on my Beloved's face when he tried the first bite.
Go make something on that list for those you love. And give them a nice, long, hard hug.