Food Bloggers Rally Around an Online Friend

By Joanne Camas, Epicurious.com

Blogging is an odd mixture of distant and personal: You don't actually meet people, yet you can make some very good friends online. When Jennifer Perillo of In Jennie's Kitchen lost her young husband suddenly a few weeks ago, the online food blogging community rushed to offer their support.

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In a very emotional, touching post, Jennie talked about Mikey and his favorite peanut butter pie. She'd been meaning to make it for him again, but something always got in the way. "I kept telling myself I would make it for him tomorrow," she wrote.

"Time has suddenly stood still, though, and I'm waiting to wake up and learn to live a new kind of normal.
"For those asking what they can do to help my healing process, make a peanut butter pie this Friday and share it with someone you love. Then hug them like there's no tomorrow, because today is the only guarantee we can count on."

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Well, bloggers all over the country made pies for loved ones in an outpouring of solidarity, support, and appreciation of those they love. Ethan of Tastes Better with Friends said, "I gave Mikey's Pie to a women's shelter. I've often thought about donating the food I make for my posts to charity, but I haven't yet, until now. I'm searching really hard for a silver lining, and honestly, for Jennie and her family, there isn't one. But I know now that when I have a Tupperware of 36 cookies or a pot full of meatballs, I'll think about making someone else's day a little better, if only for a bite."

Now there's also a support fund for Jennie and her daughters, and Bloggers Without Borders has a list of auctions to benefit the fund. Who says the Internet is anonymous and lacks soul?

Want to make a peanut butter pie for someone you love? We've some delicious recipes righthere.