Chocolate Peanut Butter Creme Cookies for Mikey
Last week, a fellow food blogger unexpectedly lost her husband. I didn’t even know Jennie before then, but as the news traveled, I found myself watching this video through tears.
I cried for this total stranger, living through something I could not even imagine, wishing with all my heart I could turn back time and undo this for her and her family.
I thought about Jennie throughout the week, and cried some more as I watched blogger after blogger honor Jennie’s wish of making a peanut butter pie for Mikey.
I thought about doing it myself, but as I looked at my growing to-do list I decided it just wasn’t in the cards. So, I tucked it away, planned out my upcoming week, and got to work on all of the projects I had planned. Then, without warning, my blog crashed.
Seriously, in the scheme of things, this is not a big deal. It happens. But, when it happens to you, and your only concern is your weekly schedule, it can be kind of stressful.
I bugged my web host {who in all honesty was probably ten times as stressed as I was} and I may have even pouted a little, then I got a wake up call. One of my long time internet buddies, a breast cancer survivor, informed me that she might have cancer again. I felt like an ass. I completely self-centered, immature ass.
Sorry about the word, but there’s no other way to say it. How dare I pout over a blog when there were people like Jennie and my friend were carrying burdens far greater than any I could ever imagine.
Suddenly, my week opened up. Instead of 150 things to do, I had nothing but time. And instead of looking at it as a setback, I tried to see the good.
It’s absolutely amazing how perception can change your outlook. Instead of crying over a broken blog, I was suddenly grateful for an unexpected lazy week. Free time to prepare for my little boy’s birthday this coming Friday, and a moment to BREATHE before school begins again next week.
It was then I decided that even though I was a week late, it was time for me to honor Jennie’s wish.
I’ve never had a lot of luck with pies or cakes, so of course I did it my way.
So here they are. Chocolate peanut butter creme cookies, for Mikey.
For the cookies, I used Bridget’s chocolate cut out cookies {more on that later}
and filled them with peanut butter creme.
I tinkered with Martha’s recipe a little to come up with a version I liked:
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tbs milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth.
- Place filling in a disposable pastry bag and pipe it onto cooled cookies.
See my nails, nibbled down to nubs?
It seems kinda silly now that I worried so much over something that allowed me to spend my day like this, with each one of my precious loves…
Playing in the water a few last times…
and eating popsicles and cookies that weren’t “for something”.
Aren’t they silly…
I love them more than words can express, and I am so very thankful for normal, no matter how chaotic it may be.
I’m actually thankful for a lot of things.
I am thankful that the autoimmune conditions that irritate me on a daily basis won’t kill me.
I am thankful for a husband who is willing to work his butt off, so I can stay home with our kids.
I am thankful for parents, brothers, aunts, cousins and friends who’d do anything for me.
I am thankful that our house is hard to clean because it has enough room for all of my projects.
I am thankful I am overweight because I never go to bed hungry.
I am thankful that I live in a time where the Internet allows me to make new friends, and remain close to my best friends, who live very far away.
I am thankful, and I hope you can find a reason to be thankful too.
To Jennie and your family, my heartfelt condolences. You are in my prayers.
Oh mine! those cookies looks heavenly! I have to bookmark these and make some for myself too! Love the photos of your kids..so candid! And they are so adorable! You are blessed to have such a lovely family!
Aww that’s very sweet. And makes me hungry. I have been reading these Mikey posts all over the place- it’s amazing how far the food blogging world stretches.
I found out about Mikey a little late also. I read the story on Jenny’s blog and watched the precious video. He was 35 years old, and though I don’t know these people I feel for Jenny and her daughter. When you hear something like that it puts things in perspective. I am happy you got to spend time with your kids and hope we all take something away from this. Life is precious so enjoy every moment!
Thanks for making this for Mikey. I am sure Jenny can feel all the love and prayers that are being sent her way.
I grieve with you. I have one uncle, who has denliced surgery for internal bleeding, and one first cousin left in this world. It’s shocking to realize how vulnerable we really are to death. I have no children; so it’s very strange. No one shares my memories. Having someone who shares your memories is important. So, I grieve with you on the loss of your cousin.
This is amazing ! Love the lasts shots with the kids, they look so happy ! Check out : http://nothinlasts.blogspot.com/
Well, I think I finally stopped crying enough to post this. I think you are an amazing person who truly cares for others. Thank you for the reality check on life. My life has been a struggle for as long as I can remember, raising three children alone (my choice, not fate) has made me hard and bitter. Now that I am older I have become more sensitive to others around me. My heart goes out to Jenny and to your friend with cancer. Thank you for always making everyones day a little less cloudy. Enjoy your children because they grow so fast and are on their own before you know it. Keep making cookies for us, we love you.
Thanks for reminding us to be thankful. And your children look so precious. I’m thankful for inspiring bloggers like you. 🙂
Beautiful, Callye. So sweet and so genuine.
xoxo
I just recently found out about Mikey as well. It is difficult to find the words to express condolences to Jennie, but I think you found a really great way. Thanks for the great recipe and wonderful shots of your kiddos :).
What a sweet, sweet post, Callye! ?
That ? is supposed to be a heart. I guess the little “alt 3” trick doesn’t work in the comments. 🙂
I understand how stressful it was for you to have problems with your site. It is the way that we keep in close touch with our non IRL friends and to have lost that connection makes us feel that we can’t share with them what we want to, at the time we need to.
Your sentiments are as lovely as your cookies. Your family is beautiful.
I am so grateful to have met you and to have become friends through this medium. Until we can one day perhaps do it in person…hugs and love to you.
What a GREAT post!!
You are quite possibly one of the sweetest people I have ever know. And I am thankful that you share your talent (and sweetness) with the blogging world!
PS – your cookies look delish and your kids are beautiful!
i’m so happy that i found your blog months ago. i love your posts and you inspire me to be a better baker. with each post, i learn something new. your children are beautiful! enjoy their last week of summer!!
My condolences to you Jenny may you find some comfort in all the people who care for you.
And to you my dear Callye I loved your post!! You DO have so much to be thankful for, as I look at your beautiful smiling babies “that’s it” right there!! Here is another thing to be thankful for you’ll never have to pay for professional photos again because you have gotten to be an amazing photographer! I can’t wait for next month to give you a big hug and be thankful in person that you are my friend xo
Thank you for so eloquently putting into words as to what I feel many others who did not know Jennie until this tragic event are feeling. I believe that the simple chocolate/peanut butter combination from this point forward will carry strong symbolism in many lives and that in some way it honors her family.
35 years old. I just can not fathom this.
My dad was 42 when he died….but mercifully we had 2 years notice….to plan, to play and to pray. The two years was a gift….I can not imagine coming home and your life changing from the minute you turn a door knob.
I will be making Mikey’s cookies this weekend…………..and we will eat them “just because” too!
Thanks for this post and for steering us in Jennie’s direction
What a beautiful post.
Seeing the kids having a good time with these cookies definitely confirms that they good and made with love.
What a great way to honor Mikey! I wrote about Jennifer on my blog as well, because like you even though I didn’t know Jennifer before last week, her story and the outreach of the baking community really touched my heart!! I didn’t get a chance to do the pie for mikey I was busy as well, but alot of bloggers did and I thought it was one of the most beautiful and touching things ever!!
Your kids are so adorable, they looked they were having a blast!!
you are so great! I love this post!
ok, now you just made ME cry… I had a bad week last week and was too busy being angry rather than thankful for everything else I still had. Thanks for kickin me in MY ass…lol I needed it.
ps- your kiddos are adorable and now I want to make those cookies! mmm
Thanks for all of your inspirational posts and sharing,
Norma Espinoza, Arizona
All I can say is wow! Not only are you a talented cookie artist but you are a great writer. I didn’t know of Jennie until other bloggers I follow posted her story. It made me cry & realize that no matter what is going on in my life I have much to be thankful for. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of complaining about all that is wrong & forget to see all that is right. In one instant our whole lives could be turned upside down.
Thanks for sharing this. I will definitely be making these cookies. I’m so glad to have discovered you because you are such an inspiration. Love the pics of your kids—they are beautiful!
Beautiful Callye ~
Love the perspective you just gave me…and I know far too well, the cookies “for something”!
My kids never get the pretty cookies 😉
U brought tear to my eyes
Perfect. Every bit of it.
Great post callye, we all need a reality check and what a week it’s been for it! Your cookies look amazingly delicious!!!
Beautiful Callye. Your family is absolutely adorable!
You are so very sweet. Your kids look like they are enjoying the time as well. I will try those cookies soon. My daughter made the pie last week and shared it with us. It was awesome too.
I also made my peanut butter pie a little late. I just couldn’t get it done on Friday but I did make one and share it with my family. I told them why I had made it and explained that that is why we should all be thankful for each other instead of fighting so much. My girls got very somber and walked around hugging and kissing all of us. Then they dug into the pie and each of them exclaimed that it was the best pie they had ever had! It was Pioneer Woman’s version. I didn’t care for it much but that wasn’t the point. We had time together as a family and I hope it makes a lasting impression on my girls. It is sad that it sometimes takes a huge loss for us to step back and see what is really important in this life. Thank you Mikey for bringing so many families a little closer together.
Perfect, my dear. Every word, every picture, every truth. Thanks for sharing the kick-in-the-pants.
I’m sure Jenny takes a lot of comfort in knowing how many people are taking the time to appreciate their lives all because of her post on her beloved husband. The cookies look delish!!! I always use that filling for another cookie, never chocolate. That’s a must try on my list. Thanks for taking the time with this post.
Very well said. It’s been a heckuva week here, but nothing life threatening. Nothing taking my loved ones away. And I have much to be thankful for. Even if my house isn’t my dream home, it covers our head and keeps us safe. Even if I don’t get to stay home with my kids, they love me like fire and relish the time they get next to me.
Everything is beautiful, if you look at it that way.
This is truly an awesome post. Maybe I’ll make time for a peanut butter treat this week too. Truly inspirational.
Nice Post…and they look wonderful!
Ugh tears and tears. What a beautiful post Callye. I haven’t watched the video of Mikey and have been avoiding the posts like the plague because, in all honesty, I’m just not strong enough. I know I will fall apart and have difficulty putting myself back together after hearing about this family that lost their 35-year old dad. I don’t want to fathom. I’m still a broken person from losing my dad a couple years ago and he was 69. I have prayed for the family every day and seeing your beautiful children and your beautiful post and thankfulness filled my heart and my eyes. Thank you. I Hope you know what an absolutely beautiful person you are Callye. I am so very thankful for you.
Very “thoughtful thoughts to think”, Callye….we sure can get wrapped up in our own little world, can’t we? Lovely children…..Count our blessings, eh?
Such a nice post. 🙂 The cookies look delicious and I love, love Bake@350’s chocolate cut out recipe.
What a touching post. The internet is such an amazing phenomenon! It makes the world so much more intimate and I love it for that. Your munchkins are darling and your cookies look SO good!
touching post. don’t beat yourself up, as I see it, you did not lose the forest for the trees….you took a different road to the same destination. . . and enjoyed your sweeties along the way
Wonderful post… p.s. your kiddos are adorable!
My mom once told me that your true friends will rise up when you are faced with adversity. The blog response was pretty amazing. I don’t think anyone had a dry eye watching that video. I love that you put the Sugarbelle twist on yours….
Beautiful Post! I felt the same as I read and watched Jennie’s video of Mikey. It definitely made me hug my loved ones a bit longer and harder.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful recipe in honor of Mikey. I will definitely try it soon.
Kerri
Thanks for a reminder to remember the important things 🙂
Thanks for the slap into reality, Callye. I’ve been feeling sorry for myself lately too because of my job. It made me realize I’m blessed to have it. I feel like a big ol’ heel too. Not only is this family going through the saddest time of their life, but I have many friends fighting cancer right now. I am so ashamed of myself….
Amen! Beautifully said. I’m the only one who likes Peanut Butter in my house (Crazy isn’t it??) But as I make these, I’ll think of Jenny, Mikey, all cancer survivors- seems to be rampant these days- and will thank God for all the blessings in my life. Thank you for putting things in perspective!
Thank you for making me cry and for putting my head back on straight. You are such a great person and I feel blessed to interact with you.
Thanks for an awesome post – love having you share the smiles of your children with us!! And that recipe sounds so delicious, I’ll for sure give it a try!
Callye – sorry for the repeat comments – I didn’t think they were coming through, and then all of a sudden there they all were!!!! How embarrassing, if you can delete some, please do!!! 🙂 I struggle with computers, but you can see I’m persistant!!
Thanks for an awesome post and for sharing the smiles of your children! I’ll being trying the recipe soon!
Thanks for an awesome post Callye, and for sharing the smiles of your children with us! I’ll be trying the recipe soon!!
This is my first time on your blog and really enjoyed this warm hug of a post.
There are so many things I am thankful about but forget it from time to time. Thank you for reminding me that I need to grateful about what I have and not lament about what I don’t and can’t have.
The cookies are perfection and the children are lovely.
Such a wonderful post, Callye. I am thankful that you are my friend, my fellow Texan, someone who *gets* it when I say I’d kill for a bean and cheese taco and diet dr pepper right now! My love to you, darlin’. And I’m glad the blog is working again.
What a great alternative for the pie! I also didn’t know about Jennie until I came across her blog post. I couldn’t quit crying over her post and video of Mikey dancing with his little girl. My heart goes out to their family. I think it’s just wonderful how everyone has come together to honor Mikey.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANKYOU! An awesome article, helps us to realize that we need to be thankful for all our blessings 🙂
yay! I just added your button to my blog. 🙂
What a thoughtful post, Callye..love food blogging community for the same reason! And am glad that I am in the company of such wonderful persons like you. The cookies look absolute delight.
that cookie looks perfect!
OMG- look at your gorgeous family! Love those cookies they would make me smile too. And hey, I’m thankful to call you a friend! 🙂
Mikey would’ve love these, no doubt. Thank you so much for keeping his memory alive in your kitchen. -Jennie
Jennie, I think about you often. Your strength and ability to find humor and reasons to smile through the hard times is humbling and inspiring. Thank you for reminding us to cherish what matters, and if you ever need a thing…
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When I saw this recipe and the mouth-watering picture, I just had to make them today. They are awesome!!!