Think of all the Worries People seem to find... (Peanut Butter Crumb Pie)

Like many people across the blogosphere, a Friday or so ago I came across a very deep and quite sentimental post. A pie for Mikey, is a virtual "pie party" to celebrate the life of Jennifer Perillo's late husband. Like many people who have participated I've never met her, or her husband for that matter. However, as I've noticed most people that participated did not know them either. A large group of bloggers united  to participate, support and celebrate with Jennifer the life of someone dear to her. A celebration of life and love, shared across the globe with peanut butter pie in mind. (since it was Mikey's favorite) Everyone has lost someone at some point in their lives. Her post really caused me to think about many things. This post really was quite special, its a very personal subject that she chose to share with the world. It caused numerous people to really, truly stop and reflect. How often do blog posts really do that? I've lost quite lot of people in my life and in spite of the negativity it's afforded me the opportunity to continue to move on.  As some of you know I was not always the domestic goddess I am today. Once upon a time I was a troubled person on a one way road to nowhere (fast). I've escaped a lot of negativity. The people around me from "friends" to family, were often toxic.  Through it all I was able to mature, move on and escape. Ultimately, I was lucky. I found one person who doesn't think I'm too horrible right?

That person of course is my husband, and what would I do without him? I can't imagine. Day to day its hard to remember that tomorrow may never come, because so far it always has. I get wrapped up in the chaos, housework, and homeschooling. I hate to say I love you, and I have an awful tendency to complain about just about everything. Often, I really do feel like my life is just a party of one and there's no one here to help me. To me the little things, are always big things, and they shouldn't be. Although we are not that picture perfect couple who exudes happiness and perfection, he was the first person in my life that really made me feel like I wasn't completely broken. He was the person who was by my side, who gave me the family I cherish so much today. Once upon a time it was just him and me against the world and there was a great comfort in that. We're not that couple that's all smoochies and sunshine, we're not the richest (or poorest)...We're probably those people that make outsiders wonder how we haven't killed one another just yet. It may not sound positive to many, but to me it is. It's a Romeo & Juliet kind of thing, we're beautifully tragic, and at the end of the day we're absolutely real. As man meat likes to quote "the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long." I suppose I'm ok with being dull? We're abnormally chubby, perfectly pessimistic and moderately rude, but at the end of the day when the rain falls, he's my umbrella and I'm his. He makes me laugh, he makes me cry, he makes me mad... and I can't imagine it any other way.

So I figured man meat likes pie, I hate making pie. Within Jennifer's post she stated that "Mikey loved peanut butter cream pie. I haven't made it in a while, and I've had it on my to-do list for a while now. I kept telling myself I would make it for him tomorrow." Stephen's favorite pie is a pie that annoys me, but he loves it. I always mean to make it, but I don't. One day I could wake up and he won't be here. Then what? A: I won't have to make that damn pie, B: I'll actually be alone, like really alone not just "feeling alone"... Ack! Sometimes I don't see past whats on my to do list, and often I forget to make time for what my boys want to eat. So I dropped what I was doing and I made this pie. For Mikey, for Man Meat. For everyone to share! 

Peanut Butter Crumb Pie, (With custard filling)

This is a pie made with a graham crust, lately I've actually been a sell-out and used bought cookie crusts. It works out to be cheaper to do it that way and during the summer I'm extra lazy. If you cant bring yourself to sell out like I did, by all means feel free love your family and friends a little bit more and make your own crust, graham or regular pastry will work. This pie is truly unique, and I don't mean unique like the trippy Aunt you avoid at the family Christmas party. Unique as in special and one of a kind. It has a custard filling and a peanut butter crumb. To make it a little extra special I melted chocolate and swirled it around the crust, this made it somewhat hard and difficult to cut. Next time I will probably just use less chocolate. You can leave it out entirely but having the chocolate does add a pleasant layer of flavor. It's s'mores-y and ice cream coney? Chocolate in my peanut butter? Oh yeah! 

Crust-
1 graham crust, or chocolate cookie crust -or-
baked homemade pastry crust

1/3 cup chocolate chips, I used 60 % (optional)

Vanilla Custard Filling-
classic old school vanilla pudding, that you ACTUALLY want to eat

2 cans evaporated milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup corn starch
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Peanut Butter Crumbs- 
1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/2 - 2/3 cup powdered sugar

Prepare your crust-
If you are using a cookie crust and want the chocolate filling simply melt your chocolate chips over a double boiler or in the microwave. Pour chocolate into crust and spread around gently and evenly. You can move the tin in a circular motion and roll the chocolate around or you can use a spatula. Place in the fridge for the chocolate to harden.

Make the Crumbs-
I made a GINORMOUS batch of crumbs. This recipe was purely experimental and I ended up with about a pound of peanut butter crumbs. You want to start with the crunchy peanut butter and add powdered sugar a little as you go until you have a streusel consistency. If you are using homemade or natural peanut butter you may need a little more powdered sugar.

Custard Filling-
In a double boiler, medium sauce pan or even in a microwave safe bowl combine all of the filling ingredients except for the vanilla. Slowly bring to a boil over medium, or medium low heat whisking continuously until thickened about 5 minutes on the stove top. (If you use a double boiler you will have less chance of lumps, if you use the microwave you will want to stop and whisk every thirty seconds or so.) Once the mixture begins to thicken you will want to remove it from the heat and add the vanilla. Place through a sieve/strainer to remove any lumps. Place in the fridge covered in plastic wrap until its cooled.

To Assemble-
Place 1/3 cup of peanut butter crumbs in the bottom of the pie crust. Spread custard on top. Sprinkle remaining peanut butter crumbs on top. (you may have some left that just won't fit ...in this case find some ice cream and you'll be set!)

Help Jenny, Donate to help support her and her family during this hard time.

“As you can imagine, Jennie is overwhelmed not only by her grief, and the sudden responsibility of raising two children by herself, but she is also struggling with this financially. " 
Bloggers without borders has set up A fund for Jennie. They created a donation account in support of Jenny and her daughters. Help out any way you can, spread the word and eat some pie!