Tribute Video for Jennifer Perillo: Mikey’s Peanut Butter Pie
If you haven’t already heard the news, then hopefully this video will share it all. On Monday, our dear friend Jennifer Perillo’s husband died of a sudden heart attack. Jennie is a special force in the food community and is loved by many.
We had a gathering in our garden with friends Brooke, Jen, Gaby, Penny and Rene when we heard of the news. It was a shock to us all and were left speechless for a long moment of silence. Fortunately we were together to comfort one another in the pain.
Jennie asked that in honor of those we love, to make a Creamy Peanut Butter Pie and share it. This pie was also a favorite of her husband, Mikey. You can read it on her blog.
In full force, with fierce love and commitment, the online food community banded together as one family to celebrate Mikey and everyone dear to us. Under the twitter hashtag #APieforMikey , a beautiful explosion of peanut butter pies came pouring out of all our hearts to be shared with our loved ones.
We were devastated at the news of Mikey’s passing. To heal and share in our grief with Jennifer’s family and the whole online food blogging community, we made a pie in honor of Mikey.
To also celebrate our friend Jennifer, her strength, courage and love, we’re giving her a gift in the best way that we know how: by video.
Thank you to all of you, the food community and those who poured in to share your thoughts to share on this video. It was impossible to add all the thoughts that came pouring in, but know that we appreciate all of you who sent them in.
We asked close friends of Jennie to contribute thoughts and we also searched the hashtag #APieForMikey and found some wonderful sentiments to Jennifer. Those were added to the video. Special thank you to Kim Severson for sending us this amazing image for inspiration in the video.
Jennie, this is for you, our friend and sister, from all of us in the food community. You are loved. Deeply.
And most importantly, this pie and everything it symbolizes is for Mikey.
holding you all close,
diane and todd
I am just reading about all these wonderful tributes and I am sitting here with tears in my eyes because of so much love and creativity!
🙂
This is beautiful. It’s stuff like this that makes all the difference. I watched it last night and just had to watch it again today. Thanks for sharing (and very nice pie).
So touching and beautiful. Tears in my eyes…
Btw, love, love, love your space. 🙂
I just read about Jennie for the first time today. What a beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing this.
Diane and Todd,
I know this is a late response but I am moved to tears. Thank you for this and all you do.
Jeanne
Beautiful tribute. I feel tearful.
so beautiful
Such a stunning and beautiful tribute. My family went through something very similar when I was a child, and it’s truly the moments like this, small but tender, that will help permeate your support for days, weeks, and years to come. Love like this will help Jennie begin to put one foot in front of the other and get to the next day. She’s blessed to have you, and the rest of the blogging community, as such great friends.
Never seen anything as beautiful and touching.
Left me speechless. Almost speechless.
A truly lovely tribute.
That was beautiful and incredibly touching, its an honor to be part of such an amazing family, community.
Diane/Todd,
This tribute video is subtle, elegant and touches the heart in the most important of places.
The world is better with you in it…
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
Beautiful!
Great video… Perfect tribute!
What a beautiful video… my thoughts and prayers to Jennie and her family.
That was so beautiful and touching. My heart goes out to Jennie and her family.
What a beautiful video, post and pie. As I was watching it in a cafe far far away the same song simultaneously started playing on the radio, trying not to break into tears in front of the other patrons. My heart and thoughts go out to Jennie and her family.
why yes, 200 comments 🙂 and for a good reason. I am sure you being totally envied and appreciated for this gorgeous film. Everything is right about it 🙂 My heart sinks for Jennifer and I cant possibly imagine how she is feeling. I don’t know if I would ever recover from loosing a loved one. That being said this film is extremely touching, well done! Just another kuddo to add to the pile <3
Thank you for sharing this video. It was beautiful. It made me cry again, but it was absolutely beautiful.
So beautiful. So touching. I’m so in awe at the love and the tenderness and support shared. Took my breath away. My daughter and I just sat here watching as I held her tightly. She asked, ‘When we get the ingredients we can make that?’ and I said Yes. I haven’t made my #pieforMikey yet but I plan to this weekend. I made peanut butter cookies this week, as a start. {Hugs}
This is so beautiful, it almost made me cry
This video was so beautiful and heartwarming. Thank you for sharing.
What a sweet and beautiful video for Jennifer. I loved the song the words the words others posted. New to the food blogging world this makes me proud to be a part of it. Food is healing on so many levels, people who love food, love to share it, love to help others heal, to make others happy, to share a little bit of the happiness we all feel inside by something so universal as food. Hats off to you both for your talents and sharing them with others especially Jennifer at such a difficult time.
Im actually speechless, this was just so beautiful.
That was an amazing tribute and it reminds me that there are truly wonderful people in the world today. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful!
I have to admit, I was not familiar with Jennie’s blog until I started seeing all of these ‘Pie’s for Mikey’ popping up on my feed burner. Your video was truly touching and brought a tear to my eye, the love and support this online community has shown for this woman and her family is truly touching. Thank you for showing me the true human spirit, even if it’s in virtual form.
This is such a lovely video for Jennie.
So beautiful!!
Great tribute for Mickey and awesome gift for Jennie. A touching video that continues to touch others. thanks for sharing this wonderful video.
Your love, care and compassion for Jennie and her girls shines through the video. Thanks for sharing this beautiful tribute for Mikey with us.
Beautiful video. Beautiful music.
Beautiful friendship and sentiment.
Thank you so much for sharing that.
So simple, heartfelt and beautiful.
A touching tribute. Thank you for sharing that inspiration.
This is lovely. Very inspiring. I am new to the food community but can feel the love and support from all who have been touched by this family. This video just spreads the light farther. .
Namaste
Blessings,
Chandi Holliman
I am speechless and tearful. This is such a beautiful tribute to Mikey, Jennifer and their girls.
Beautiful, deeply touching and amazing to behold the love I see in this video.
This is amazingly beautiful and touching. Jennie is so lucky to have friends like you in her life. Just as we are all lucky to have been touched by her.
simply beautiful. what an amazing tribute. I wasn’t able to participate in the peanut butter pie for mikey due to travel, etc, but I think it is an absolutely beautiful thing to see the food blogging community come together like that. What a source of inspiration.
Thank you for helping us all make sense of this tragedy and for illuminating the moment that is the one we have now.
I loved this tribute to Jennifer and Mikey – and all of those who have loved. Beautiful.
What a beautiful and moving video, thanks for sharing it with us.
Very sad but very touching. My best regards to Jennifer as well as the family and friends of she and Mikey.
Your video is a stunningly beautiful tribute. So simple, so heartfelt. I wish Jennie peace, grace and love.
Just saw this now, it was in my Inbox of Blogs I subscribe to. I can’t tell you how much I cried. For Jennifer, whom I met once at the EWR11 in DC, but who was such a warm, caring soul….for Mikey, their girls, and all the love from the food world that just gushed forth…unconditionally, with no hesitation. Thanks for creating this lovely video. Sending virtual HUGS to you all !
There are truly no words to describe how moving and inspirational this video is. Thank you so much for all you do (all ways + always).
WOW! This video is an amazing tribute. I’m speechless in the beauty of it all. I have no doubt that Jennie and her family will treasure it always. I also hopped on over to Jennie’s site and was so touched by her story. It brought tears to my eyes. I was in awe of her strength. May we ALL never take life and our loved ones for granted.
Just beautiful, such a reminder to live for today. I feel blessed to be a speck in the food blogging community, the compassion and support is overwhelming to see.
so so precious-thanks for the video
This is so incredibly beautiful and moving. The song, the words chosen from others, the act in motion … thank you so much for sharing it with the rest of us.
This is just so beautiful, all of it. Jennie has touched all of us in very special ways and it’s awe-inspiring how the food community came together for our friend. Thank you for sharing this amazing tribute.
Trying to think of another word than “beautiful” to describe all of this and there is no other that fits so perfectly than “beautiful.” It’s beautiful.
Beautiful video! You two have a gift of visual expression.
What an incredibly beautiful tribute!
As everyone else has said, this video is absolutely stunning, beautiful and moving.
But you know what made it the most special to me? The fact that it shows you going through the exact same steps, making the exact same pie, that I did that day. Something about that gave me an incredible sense of community and warmth. As bloggers, we have such a powerful medium, not just to help nourish others through food, but through respect, love and support.
Thank you.
Just lovely … all these days later and I’m still teary.
Such a beautifully put together tribute for such a special couple. The food community of bloggers never ceases to amaze!
Wow, What an amazing tribute you just did. It made me cry. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful heartfelt momement with us. My thoughts and prayers are with Jennifer and her family.
Stunning, and what a beautiful tribute! This food community is truly amazing so are you both.
The two of you amaze me – I am sitting here with tears pouring down my face and reflecting on this incident, which has shaken me to the core… Thank you for sharing such a wonderful tribute. xoxo Michelle
the utmost tribute: simplicity, kind words, daily life, appreciation, memories, and lots of heartfelt love
That was a trully moving tribute. It brought a tear to my eye.
This was simply beautiful.
A reminder that lovin’ another is a thing to be always heartfully blessed by.
What a gorgeous video. thank you for making it so. I have never eaten a PB pie. but any time I taste PB I will get a surge of love.
What a thoughtful and moving video that engulfs the love and compassion the blogging community is capable of pouring out when someone suffers a loss as Jennie Perillo and her girls did.
Thank you both of you for being you – wonderful xxx
So powerful…and I am speechless.
This video was such an incredibly beautiful tribute. With tears streaming down my face I squeezed someone I love very tightly. Thank you for sending love in such a deeply moving and aesthetic way.
Love, love, love. I’m out of town and wasn’t able to cook a pie on Friday, but was touched watching the hashtag and all the love filling the Twitterverse. Love that you have made a permanent record of some of that love.
What a beautiful and thoughtful tribute. I’m not the least bit surprised.
thank you thank you thank you for making this video. I was so touched my it, and that there are people like you out there…such good friends.
What a lovely memento for Jenny and her family…and all of our community.
Did I miss the recipe for the pie? Now I’m craving it and want to make it. 🙁
beautiful
Beautifully done……Thank you for creating and sharing this.
I’m not a food blogger, but I’m a culinary arts student and a foodie, so I’ve grown very close to many in the food blogger community. I made #APieForMikey for the wonderful man in my life… but its beauty could never compare to the beautiful tribute that the two of you have lovingly created for Jennie.
I sobbed like a baby as I watched… knowing that my dear, sweet momma will likely be heading up to feast with Mikey… and my daddy… sometime within the next couple of months.
She no longer knows me or recognizes me…. but I know now that I simply must see her… before it’s too late <3
So tasteful on so many levels. Thank you.
So sorry to hear of Jennie’s loss. This was a beautiful and thoughtful way to pay tribute.
I’m not a food blogger, nor did I know Jennifer or Mikey before he passed. I do, however, know this online community of women and men who pull together in times of tragedy and how supportive we all are to one another.
Your video is inspiring, and I hope it helps Jennifer and her family in whatever way she needs.
Thank you.
Absolutely beautiful work…you’re amazing.
Gorgeous and perfect. I cried for them when I heard the news, when I watched the video of him dancing with his daughter, and now again. What a wonderful gift you’ve given them.
Such a beautiful tribute.
Beautiful.
Oh Jennifer- I just cried my eyes out. What a beautiful gift.
I am amazed by that wonderful video. I get emails and RSS feeds from a lot of you since cooking is my passion. I am amazed at your compassion and love for each other. I hope that Jennie draws strength from all of you. Such a loss she and the girls have suffered. The video of Mikey dancing with his daughter is another touching tribute.
thank you for this beautiful film.
As a newbie to the food community I am awed and inspired but the overwhelming support and love here. I, like a A LOT of others made a peanut butter pie and shared it with my family on Friday. This video is a story, not just about the making of a pie but about how we are all tied together by our compassion, empathy and humanity. xoxo
I stopped shooting video as a career/hobby 3 years ago but I haven’t wanted to sell my XL2. But why not, it never gets used. Since starting a food blog, I’ve thought about delving into video again, since a video camera I have and a DSLR I have not. If I could create work like this, there would be no question. I would shoot video over and over and forget the still. This video was beautiful.
I’ve been heartsick all weekend, hugging my children closer than ever and grateful to have my husband here with me. Praying for Jennie and her family every time I think of them. This is a beautiful video, thank you for doing it. I am honored to be a part of the food-blogging community.
Simply beautiful.
This video is amazing. I don’t even know Jennifer & Mikey and it brought tears to my eyes.
I’m sitting here bawling my face off at your beautiful video. What an amazing community. I am in awe of all of the people who participated.
Warmly,
Noel
I am from Buenos Aires, I am a frequent visitor of Cannelle and Vainille blog and also La Tartine Gourmande, and in ocassions, I visit as much links as I can. I found yesterday a comment about the Peanut Pie in Aran´s blog and then I read the post and I linked to Jeannie´s and knew the history. Later yesterday I got so shocked of seing all this movement and links and posts and pies, and now this video, that the only thing I am thinking of is that the world has so much beauty than each of us believe and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to think on this and start living my life with a bigger amount of hope than I am used to live.
Thank to all of you for improving my life!
Kisses and hughes from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Kindly,
Cris
This is so beautifully shot and such an incredible act of love and community. A tear jerker, and at the same time it gives us hope that in these hard times there’s so much love around us. I don’t know Jennifer, but now I feel like I do and my heart breaks. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful video.
I been reading all over the internet about Jennifer heart wrenching story… and I have been able to keep my composure up until now.. your video is beautiful, such a tribute to her and her girls, that like everyone said has been engulfed in the virtual arms (and hearts) of this amazing blogging community, which I have never been more proud to be a part of.
i, like nearly every other blogger in the universe, have cried buckets and buckets of tears this week . . . and cried more tears when we watched the video together. but the tears when watching the video weren’t necessarily because of the beautiful tribute – there were those tears too – but what really takes my breath away, what really shakes me to the core whenever i come to this spiritual place you call a blog, is just that . . . a spiritual place for me . . . a restorative place . . . a place of challenge . . . a place of stretching who i am personally/spiritually . . . but the downright wailing and weeping is because in this piece, as well as your other work, i see your souls . . . deep into your souls – the parts others keep hidden . . . and i know who you two really, really are . . . that is a gift . . . that is rare . . . that is respected and appreciated . . . that is why the two of you are so loved . . . because you let us in. i don’t know if we’ll ever reach a place in our professional careers of creating the kind of work you do, but we continue to work towards that goal . . . thank you for the video . . . thank you for lighting the path and leading the way . . . much love, d
What an incredibly beautiful, moving tribute to a wonderful family. I hate that we’re all having to band together over something like this, but BOY am I glad we all have each other. Lots of love to Jennie and the girls.
Thank you for such a beautiful tribute to Mikey. I love being a part of our glorious, generous, caring and delicious food blogging community.
I started crying with the first notes. This is one of the most touching and beautiful videos and tributes I’ve ever seen. Jen, I do not know you but I am profoundly sorry for your loss and though I missed this delicious day, I will now be making a peanut butter pie this week in your husband’s honor.
Belonging to this community is the best thing that happened to me. When you need support there is always something that will be there for me no matter what. You are true friends of Jennifer and that video is so powerful. Sending my condolences to Jennifer and her girls.
eloquent & extraordinary way to honor your friend & pay tribute to her husband, mikey.
jennifer is blessed with such an incredible “force” as the food blogging community… my heartfelt condolences to jennifer & her girls.
What a beautiful tribute. I am new to these websites, but so wanted to be at home to make a peanut butter pie. I was not, but am moved by the responses I have seen. What a wonderful community.
This is utterly brilliant. The kindness and generosity of this community is staggering. Thank you for this beautiful video.
I am so glad we are a part of such amazing community. Thanks for this heartfelt tribute. Loads of hugs to Jennie and the kids. RIP Mikey.
Such a heartfelt and emotional tribute. Thank you for so eloquently sharing what so many of us feel for Jennie and Mikey.
Awesome tribute!
Beautiful, heartwarming, touching, and more. Thank you so much for sharing.
Beautiful tribute. Beautiful.
Your love comes through loud and clear in this piece—loved watching your tribute.
I didn’t know Jennifer or Mike but this was a very beautiful tribute. I love to see how everyone came together over this. I too am glad to be part of the huge foodie family.
Even though I didn’t know Mikey or Jennie, my heart goes out to her and her family. This is an amazing and touching video…a moving tribute! I will keep them in my prayers, and will bake this beautiful Peanut butter pie for Mikey!!! God bless you, Jennie!!
Many wonderful comments here that I echo.
Truly LOVE extended to all. You are all Love. ♥
What a moving tribute, literally and figuratively. Everyone can feel the love. Everyone.
What an absolutely beautiful tribute….may this help bring some peace to Jennie, her girls & all of those who loved Mike!
Incredibly beautiful. What a tribute to Jennifer and her family. You two are amazing and I want to have you in my life.
Deeply moving…and a powerful tribute…I’m speechless.
Lori said it all.
Just yes.
Absolutely amazing. I share the sentiments of the other 104 people before me that this video is truly a testament to how much you two love what you do and the community that you are a part of.
I didn’t know this family. This page was shared by a friend, and it was so overwhelmingly beautiful and emotional. There are no words of comfort when you lose a loved one, especially a spouse, but I hope this out poring of love from friends and strangers alike will help lift you up and light your way in the dark
That was so awesome – I loved it. What a beautiful tribute.
Am not a food blogger but I can feel the love that you all share with each other when I read your blogs and tweets.
I’m speechless…..
This may be the most beautiful tribute two food photographers could make. Beautiful. Bittersweet. Honest. True. Thank you for showing us so much beauty and hope in this video.
I’m so proud and touched to be part of this beautiful and caring community.
Can’t you just feel Mikey smiling? Simply beautiful.
God bless you for doing this beautiful gift. God bless Jennie and her family.
Incredibly beautiful and touching…you two are so amazing. My thoughts and condolences go out to Jennifer and her family.
I am so fortunate to be a witness to this emotional outpouring of love and support to this grieving mother and wife. Your video is so heartfelt, innocent, and generous.
Amazing post – beautiful video – thanks so much for posting.. xoxo from Trinidad
My heart is broken for Jennifer. But she is blessed by this loving community and dear friends to surround her. Todd and Diane, you are such special people.
Adding to the throngs of thank you’s for posting this video- it is so touching to see the food community come together during a trying time like this. I don’t know Jennifer and actually had not really seen her blog until now, but my heart goes out to her. Beautiful tribute, Todd & Diane.
Thank you for this beautiful work of art.
lovely-what a gift you’ve given
Amazing. Pure and simple.
Thank you for capturing the true essence of what the last week has shown about the food blogging community. It’s not about the food. It’s not about the blogs. It’s about the people and the connections.
Thank you for creating this lasting gift for Jennie and her girls.
Thank you for sharing your passions for food, love, light, and community with us time and again.
What a beautiful, touching tribute and gift for Jennie and her family at a time like this.
I posted a peanut butter tribute on my blog earlier today. It’s amazing how many people and this blogging community is rallying together to help support Jennie during this time.
My deepest sympathies are with her and her family.
I am one of Jennifer’s non-foodie blog friends. Your video left me speechless and teary-eyed in the best possible way. Thank you.
Gorgeous and heartbreaking.
Beautiful, poignant, touching,..what are the right words for such a lovely gift?
I see so many comments from bloggers I follow and others I know, it’s really amazing to see how connected this community is. That’s what we really are, a community and like a community we support, love, cherish and care about each other.
This will be a gift and forever reminder for Jennie and her girls of the field of flowers that was there to buffer their fall. And when they find their breath and strength to stand, these flowers will be here to lift them up into the sun once again.
In tears. Thank you for the beautiful video and reminder. Xoxoxo. Love deeply every chance you get…everytime you get the chance.
Soooooo beautiful and touching
It is through tragedy that we find the purest of love. I hold Jennie and her girls in my heart.
What a beautiful and heartwarming gift you’ve made for Jennie, for all of us. Love you two.
Simple. Beautiful. Profound. Well done.
Simply…Amazing…
Stunning. Moving. Eloquent. Perfect.
Thank you for sharing in video form, such a gorgeous snippet of the love, the heart and the caring of this most wonderful blogging community.
“tears”… really!
It’s a beautiful gift to Jennifer and her family. And it’s incredible all the support of her friends and people online. My heart goes out to Jen and her family.
Thank you guys for sharing this beautiful video. I am almost crying once again and I really didn’t know them in person.
Tears are rolling down my cheeks as I watch the video, knowing how much it hurts to lose a husband, but also how beautiful this tribute is to Mike, Jen and her family. exquisitely done with love.
I didn’t know Jennie and Mikey. I learned about Jennie’s loss through Facebook. This video was an amazing and beautiful tribute to this couple…it was very stirring and brought tears to my eyes. I lost my husband a few months before I started my food blog, and I’ve met some incredible friends. The food blog community is like no other I’ve seen. I wish Jennie good years ahead and peace.
You guys captured the spirit of this gesture so well. I found myself thinking about the family and wishing them well when making this pie too, even though I hardly know them. So happy to be a part of a community like this, to see people rallying around a cause, for someone they may or may not know.
This is lovely.
Beautiful and touching video
What a beautiful and touching tribute to Mikey, as well as a reminder to all of us to hold our dear ones close. Your talent, creativity and generosity of spirit is an inspiration to all of us.
You did the most beautiful tribute to your friend….I am so impressed with the outpouring of love from the food blogging community…I have read you , followed you, strived to be like you (no luck ), felt at times close to you, found myself caring about you…… became overtaken with grief for Jennie and her little daughters…watched “One Last Dance” and sobbed…made a peanut butter pie and shared it with someone I love.. thought about the people in my life and how perhaps I don’t tell them enough how much they mean to me..I send love, comfort and solidarity to Jennie…….
With tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, I thank you for sharing this video.
Beautiful art. Beautiful message. Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely beautiful, and a gift of love Jennie will have forever.
It is so incredibly wonderful that so many bloggers have come together to show their support and love for this family. It is an honor to be a part of it.
This is really perfect, thank you for making such a lovely, touching tribute.
This is SUCH a wonderful tribute. May Mikey rest in peace.
What a simply beautiful tribute. I am in awe at how much beauty and humanity rises up in a time of such tragedy. I will keep Mikey, Jen and their family in my prayers. God Bless you all in this wonderful food blog community and especially to those that made this very touching and lovely video. ~ Ramona
Awesome job guys, #apieformikey is amazing to me!
i’m speechless. there are no words, except that this is truly magical + beautiful. well done.
Incredibly beautiful. The video. Your pie. But even more all the food blogging community, family here, together, to spread the love in form of peanut butter and chocolate.
Sitting here watching with my husband and 2 kids. We are all bawling. This is extraordinary…simply extraordinary. Thank you.
Beyond the utterly gorgeous video, the love that pours from it overwhelms me. Like Aimée of Simple Bites, I am “fiercely proud of my food blogging community today.”
This is beautiful beyond words. Thank you!
This is indeed a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to Mikey. Jennifer is blessed to have you both as her friends.Thank you.
Incredibly beautiful. Thank you.
This is an absolutely stunning tribute. So beautiful and brought my chills + tears.
What a moving and beautiful tribute! Thank you!
Thank you so much for putting this together. I know these thoughts mean the world to Jennie, and your love and friendship is so obvious and raw. I’m so grateful to be a part of this community and to have the chance to contribute in some small way. All my love to Jennie and those lovely girls.
I found this passed on from another blogger. I shared peanut butter recipes and their story yesterday and now on my fan page and personal pages, I have passed on this incredible tribute to Mikey and Jenn. Thank you for making me proud to be a part of this community.
This video was so beautiful, had tears shimmering in my eyes, and also felt so thoughtful at the same time. I think this was great to capture the spirit of Jennie’s loss, but also to help her and others appreciate life. You couldn’t have done it better, hugs to you both and keeping Jennifer and her family in my prayers.
That is simply beautiful. I’m speechless and so grateful to belong such a wonderful community that rallies around each other. What a beautiful reminder to do today what shouldn’t wait until tomorrow since it’s never guaranteed. xo
This is a video Jennifer and her girls will be able to look back and look at the love they and many others had for Mikey. Truly made with love.
Thank you from Ukraine. I don’t know you or Jennie.. I didn’t know Mikey, but I know what is loss, tears and love. I read your blog to catch some photography tips. But you give more then recipes, tips etc. You give your hearts and simple human values for beautiful life. Thank you. My heart with Jennie and you.
Touching, thank you for sharing. Remember to hug those you love today and every day.
Oh gosh. Beautiful video. My heart is full. Bless you. May God be with Jenny and her girls.
A beautiful tribute! I listened as I watched my husband sleeping near by me in his chair. He had a stroke almost 13 years ago, which left him paralized and with brain damage. Either situation is not a good one! Blessings to Jennifer and her girls. With time, you’ll get through this! Francine
as always, this is poignant, beautiful, and heart felt. in the face of sadness, bewilderment, and great sorrow, you somehow found a way to creatively express the pain into comfort. you two are a gift – a creative gift to be reckoned with. thank you!
Absolutely beautiful video. Brought tears to my eyes. Through loss, there’s also light and love. I’m amazed with everyone’s love and this food blogger community is powerful.
That is one of the most beautiful, touching videos I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing that. xoxo
Just lovely. In every sense of the word.
I’m speechless. I made and ate my PB pie for Mikey (and Jennie) yesterday. Did much of it alone, but feel so full of love and company anyway, because of the generosity and incredibly empathy that the food blogging community brings to this tragic time. I’m so proud to take part, in any small way. Your video is absolutely amazing. Thank you for this huge gift.
I don’t know which is more beautiful. Your talent or your hearts. Thank you for pouring them both into this video.
This is a beautiful tribute~my heart goes out to Jennie and her girls and all who knew and loved Mikey. I will be making something with nutless butter this weekend, maybe not pie, but something yummy in honor of Mikey, and will serve it with love…
Simply amazing. Beautiful. Powerful. Perfectly done. I was truly moved and inspired. Thank you.
Thank you, thank you for putting together such a moving visual representation of emotion. Simply beautiful!
I am wiping my tears right now. This was such a beautiful tribute to Jennifer and Mikey. Thank you so much for putting it together.
Todd & Diane, this video was moving, heartfelt and absolutely beautiful. It captured exactly what the entire food community was doing and feeling yesterday and this whole week. Thank you for sharing!
P.S. You did find the perfect song!
What a great video on dismaying our foodblog community ! Thankful to be apart of this awesome loving group. Praying with all of you!
Beautiful.
Blown away buy the beauty, compassion and love.
Absolutely beautiful. *tears*
Beautiful!!
what a beautiful video – tears falling down right now
I don’t know the family and only heard about Jennie as I follow a few food bloggers – but the outpouring of love and support through the #apieformikey was hard to miss on twitter and facebook yesterday.
a true reminder to go hug your loved ones and make every minute count
beautiful
Your beautiful video made my cry.
This is a very personal and real issue for me. But for the inexplicable mercy we were shown, I might have been a widow myself today. Not quite 3 months ago, my 56 year year old husband had a heart attack.
It happened completely out of the blue, with no warning sign whatsoever. He felt a little tired, and went outside into the surprisingly chilly (for May in Nashville) 53º air to chop some wood to get his blood flowing. This turned out to have been almost a famous last thought for him, since his blood actually WASN’T flowing through his Left Anterior Descending Artery, the big one on the front of his heart, the one they call the widow maker. Two blockages in that artery: it was 95 and 99% blocked.
Thank God he came back inside and told me that he took two swings of the axe and broke out into a sweat on that chilly day. Had some chest pressure. Felt a little dizzy. Thank God I called the ambulance. Thank God he had open heart bypass surgery and got that blood vessel rerouted into his left mammary artery.
He wasn’t overweight. He had no high blood pressure. His cholesterol was totally normal. But he did have a family history of heart disease.
Husbands are a valuable commodity, and worth taking care of. (So are people of any gender, for that matter.) MAKE them (or YOURSELF) go to the doc and get a stress test, so they don’t end up giving themselves their own stress test out by the wood pile.
Heart disease can be completely asymptomatic until it kills you.
We’ve had 3 months of bypass surgery recovery and cardio rehab. He’s changed his diet, and I’ve changed my cooking somewhat, although we have always avoided all processed foods and eaten a healthy diet.
Peanut butter pie won’t be on our menu today, for very good reasons, but it won’t be because our HEARTS don’t go out to Jennie in the loss of her Mikey. They do, with deep empathy. We’re just trying to keep the hearts we have a little healthier.
Susan,
thank you for sharing this, your amazing story. Everyone reading it here is a better, more inspired person from your experience. xoxo
…and I am crying once again. This video is so moving. The food community is so moving. What special friends you are to do this for Jennie. Thank you for sharing.
Absolutely beautiful. God Bless Jennie and her girls. What a beautiful tribute.
This is an absolutely beautiful tribute. Thank you for honoring Jennie, Mike, and her family this way. I love this community. The light and love and generosity of strangers reminds me of all that is good in the world. Thank you. Thank you.
What an amazing video and tribute. Thank you for sharing this.
Absolutely beautiful. Tears, all over again. Wow.
Its wonderful. Amazing. Seriously beautiful.
Absolutely amazing, beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing.
What a gorgeous tribute n awesome display of our foodblog community . Thankful to be a part of Such support. This should always be what our world is about. Praying with all of you to surround & family with huge hands to comfort & hug, which only God can do for us. ASAP=Always Sending A Prayer !
Absolutely outstanding – you two not only have incredible talent but absolutely huge hearts as well. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us~
xx
I am sorry for your loss but what a great tribute to your dear friend Mikey.
It is amazing how food can bring us together in remembrances of a loved one. I too loss a dear friend at the age of 47 from a sudden heart attack, three months ago. His favorite cake is German Chocolate, which I would bring ever year when we met for lunch, our tradition for six years but no more. I shall always remember him through this cake.
I am new to your blog, thank you for sharing the Peanut Butter Pie, I shall try it and remember Mikey.
Wow, I am in awe. Your video captured it all. I am speechless. My heart is full and forever grateful for the food blogging community. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with Jennie and her girls. Thank you once again for sharing your talents. What a special tribute to Mikey.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I don’t know when I last watched something so beautiful. As sad as it is, you’ve given Jennie a tremendous gift here. I love YOU guys fiercely.
Stunning and moving.
Absolutely, incredibly, touching. Such a lovely tribute and memorium. Sharing your gifts and talents with Jennifer are the most important support you could lend. The music in this piece is utterly perfect.
What a beautiful tribute. My heart goes out to Jen and the family.. and you wonderful friends at this sad time.
Oh wow, you guys completely captured the hearts of each and every one of us aching for Jenny. Thank you for sharing what’s so difficult to put into words. I love you both so dearly.
Spectacular, thank you for this. The love I’ve watched unfold this week is astounding and inspiring. This pie truly is for Mikey, Jen and the girls – but is doing us all so much good.
Beautiful. Emotional. Incredible. This is what I needed to see today to fill my heart with love and hope. Thank you! I’m sure it will do the same to Jennie as well.
Simply, heartbreakingly beautiful. Thanks for creating and sharing.
Oh my! What a tribute! I hope Mikey had a chance to get a taste before he became an Angel! Thanks for posting the video on twitter!
This is just beautiful. The lighting, the pie, the music and the heart felt tweets from the food blogging community. Feeling so grateful to be part of such an amazing group of people.
Sitting here Saturday morning, memories of the peanut butter pie I shared with my family still on my lips – and tears roll slowly down my cheeks as I watch this video. Not out of sadness, but out of awe. What a wonderful community of people. People who value all the things I have always felt most important in life – love, family, friends and food.
Oh, my! That was so beautiful and moving. I love the intimacy of the simple setting of the table. Thanks for sharing so much of yourselves with us and for sharing loving messages from around the world.
What a beautiful tribute to Mikey and to Jennie. I’m sure that she will treasure this – I know that I will.
This was amazing and truly captured the spirit of cooking for the ones you love. I’m proud of all the food bloggers that particpated in making Peanut Butter Pies for Jennie + Mikey!
Beautiful and touching at the same time
So incredibly beautiful, and I know it will be such a blessing to Jennie. Thank you for doing this. Continually sending love, hugs, and pies to Jennie and her girls.
What a beautiful tribute to Mikey and gift to Jennie. You guys are are truly the essence of what this food blogging community is all about- strength and passion and support. XO