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Thanks to Walgreens for sponsoring my writing. Help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote.

 
My tactics for getting my family to be healthier probably wouldn’t be approved by child protective services.

(It’s a good thing I’m the child and they’re the parents otherwise…we’d have some problems.)

Usually they involve me stampeding into the kitchen when I return home for a visit, throwing out everything that contains high fructose corn syrup (i.e. everything), screeching about type II diabetes for an hour, and then force-feeding vegetables and whole grains down everyone’s throat.  Sometimes, I even refuse to set foot in the car and insist that we all walk to the grocery store to buy ingredients for dinner.

Good times.

And no, I have no idea why they keep inviting me back either.

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Fall and winter are fast approaching, with their tendencies to force us all to spiral into hibernation mode, and so it’s especially important to incorporate healthy habits now, while the weather is still inviting and the produce is still ripe for the picking, in the hopes that they’ll carry over into the less conducive seasons that are to come.

If you’re not as into the yelling/screaming/boot-camp/tough love/brute force method of kicking your family’s healthy habits into gear as I am, then here are some health and wellness tips that are a bit less abrasive but equally (if not more) effective!

Meatless Mondays or, if you live in my apartment – meatless every day!  Before I decided to become a vegetarian, I’m pretty sure my parents had never had a meatless meal in their lives.  I’m also pretty sure that, even though I have gone without eating meat for about seven months, they are still completely confused as to what I eat on a daily basis.  Going meatless even just one day a week (or whenever your daughter happens to visit you) will help you expand your culinary horizons and incorporate more vegetables into your diet, especially in the middle of winter when heavy stews and baked cheesy creamy dishes are the norm.  Some of the perks of eating more veggies are that you’ll be less likely to get sick (I get sick maybe once a year) and you’ll have more energy.

Move more, sit less.  While I recognize that most people are not psychotic individuals who have actually learned to love running outside in really cold weather, there are certainly still ways to get your heart rate up and your sweat glands working even in the dead of winter.  Little things like taking the stairs, walking to the store instead of driving, doing squats while you blow dry your hair, finding an exercise video that you like, and shoveling snow really do make a difference!

Eat home-cooked meals.  Together.  A home-cooked meal is ALWAYS healthier than take-out or something you can heat up in a microwave.  Even if it’s mac and cheese.  And especially if you sit down together and eat it as a family.  My family always ate dinner together when I was growing up and even if it wasn’t always the healthiest fare, there’s something about the act of sitting and talking about your day that is just so good for you.

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Which brings me to why I’m talking about wellness and shoving a peanut butter pie in your face (arguably not the healthiest thing in the world).

I always bring dessert when I go home to visit my parents.

We sit.  We eat (usually something super veggie-full that everyone complains about but devours nonetheless).  We talk.  We catch up.  We fight.  We laugh.  We try not to throw things at each other.

And then we eat pie.

Because in the end, true wellness is all about balance.  And balance definitely includes pie.

My friend Megan posted about this pie today and she actually got pics of it’s insides, so definitely go and check out her post! And wish her a happy birthday when you do!

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Peanut Butter Honeycomb Pie
Makes 1 9-inch pie, adapted from Bon Appetit August 2011

Ingredients

  • 9 graham crackers, coarsely crushed
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg
  • 6 tbsp butter, melted
  • 8 large egg yolks
  • 12 tbsp sugar, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups almond milk (or whole milk)
  • 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste or 1 vanilla bean
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 oz bittersweet chocoalte (I used 70% Callebaut)
  • 2 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • Honeycomb (recipe below)

Instructions

  1. For the crust, preheat the oven to 325.  Finely grind graham crackers, brown sugar, salt and nutmeg in a food processor.  Transfer crumb mixture to a medium bowl.  Add melted butter and stir to blend.  use bottom and sides of a measuring cup to pack crumbs onto bottom and up sides of 9″ glass or metal pie pan (or if your mother is holding your pie pan hostage…you can totally use a cake pan).  Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.  Let cool.
  2. For the filling, mix yolks and 6 tbsp sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.  Beat at high speed until ribbons form, stopping once to scrape down sides of bowl, about 2 minutes.
  3. Combine milk and remaining 6 tbsp sugar in a large saucepan.  Scrape in vanilla bean paste or seeds from vanilla bean and add.  Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.  With mixer running, gradually add hot milk mixture to yolk mixture.  Scrape mixture back into pan.  Clean bowl.  Whisking constantly, bring to a boil over medium heat.  Remove pan from heat.  Whisk vigorously for 1 minute.  Return custard to mixing bowl.  Beat on high speed until cool, about 4 minutes.  Mix in softened butter one tbsp at a time.  Add peanut butter, powdered sugar, and salt.  Beat to blend.  Scrape filling into cooled crust and smooth the top.  Chill until set, 2-3 hours.
  4. Stir chocolate and butter in a medium bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth.  Drizzle some of the chocolate glaze over the peanut butter filling, making a circle in the middle of the pie and leaving a 1-2 inch plain border.  Pile pieces of honeycomb on top.  Drizzle remaining chocolate glaze over.

Honeycomb
Serves 8, adapted from Bon Appetit August 2011

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 tbsp corn syrup
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp baking soda, sifted

Instructions

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.  Combine sugar, corn syrup, honey, and 1/4 cup water in a heavy deep saucepan.  Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves.  Increase heat to high.  Bring to a boil.  Cook without stirring, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush, until sugar turns pale amber.  Working quickly, add baking soda (mixture will foam up dramatically).  Whisk quickly just to combine.  Immediately pour candy over prepared sheet (do not spread out).  Let stand undisturbed until cool, about 20 minutes.  Hit candy in several places with the handle of a knife to crack it.

I am submitting this to Bake with Bizzy!

Don’t forget to help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. #WalgreensGives #spon

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You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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103 Responses to Peanut Butter Honeycomb Pie

  1. Sanjeeta kk says:

    Woooo…I want that Pie with the cute pan, Joaane 🙂 Those honey combs look with the chocolaty drizzle..nom..nom..
    Off to Walgreens Fb page.

  2. Allison says:

    Geez louise why do you do this to me?? Juuust kidding, this looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing the recipe as well as the healthy tips. I’m determined not to go into hibernation mode this fall/winter. My strategey will be everything in moderation, including this pie!!

  3. OohLookBel says:

    Squeal!!! That squiggly chocolate is mesmerising, as is the honeycomb and peanut butter. Yes, pie balances everything out.

  4. Elizabeth says:

    I just saw this at some restaurant in NY! But now I can’t remember where… So many of my favorite things, graham cracker, pb mousse. Heavenly.

  5. This looks absolutely amazing!!!!!!! Wow. Desserts (in moderation) are very important for a healthy diet, for sure!

  6. Lora says:

    You need to start capturing your home visit on video. I smell a reality show in the making. Gorgeous Pie. Love the honeycomb. We seriously have to meet up one of these days.

  7. OMG, I have been wanting to try this pie since I saw it in the magazine but never got a chance. Thanks for the delicious reminder!

    Such great healthy living tips- especially the one about balance (ie including dessert) 🙂

  8. Megan says:

    This pie is amazing! I am actually posting it tomorrow. Of course, your pictures are 10x more gorgeous than mine. You make it look incredible! (I am still gnawing on leftover honeycomb.)

  9. Danielle says:

    Chocolate, PB and Honey -my favorite dessert combo!! Thanks for commenting on my bucket list post. I made macaroons but it was preblogging so I have no proof:) Guess I need to try it again.

  10. Louanne says:

    I wanted to make this, too. Yours looks amazing, and I’m in love with the pan.

  11. Balance definitely includes pie! You make the best desserts – I never would’ve thought of combining peanut butter and honeycomb but now that I think about it, they must be perfect together!

  12. Candace says:

    What a wonderful post, Joanne. I have simply got to find some balance in my life. I’ve completely lost it somewhere. This pie looks amazing and would be the perfect dessert to share with my “peanut butter-a-holic” mom when she visits me at the end of the month. One thing that I enjoy about my family is that when we do get together, we have wonderful dinners full of food, fun and fellowship. There is nothing better! Have a beautiful Wednesday and thanks for sharing your recipes!

  13. brandi says:

    that honeycomb is so awesome!

  14. Amy says:

    I’m the designated dessert bringer to family gatherings also. And I am totally okay with that. “Balance definitely includes pie.” AMEN.

  15. Kim says:

    I simply have to have this pie. Oh my gosh does it look insane. Love the idea of adding honeycomb to the top for crunch. Wow!!

  16. sally says:

    Yum! I was also eyeing this recipe in Bon Appetit. I might devour it all in one sitting though and that wouldn’t be very balanced.

  17. brocstar says:

    I reserve my peanut butter pie for pms days, usually… but damn, that looks great!
    My family is the same way about food. My dad had bladder CA and for a year or so after that, they ate really healthy and bought from a local co-op. However, they’re pretty much back to eating a lot of crap… even though its obviously affecting them! (My mom was 350+, lost weight to 180, and is now back to 250+)

  18. Great post! Love the pie (I was checking out the recipe too), love the pan.

  19. Deborah says:

    I do have to say, you make going vegetarian very appealing. Some of the best meat-free dishes on here! ANd this pie? Simply amazing!

  20. That Girl says:

    Honey comb is grossly underused

  21. 1) Yum.
    2) Am I going crazy? Since when are you a vegetarian?
    3) What on earth is that awesome pie pan?!

  22. LOL, love your visits home, I think they invite you back definitely because of the pie! My BIL brought wheat grass and carrots, we’d rather have had pie.

  23. I had been thinking of making something along these lines recently, combining peanut butter and honey comb! You read my mind:) When did you decide to become a vegetarian? You posted salmon and maybe chicken dishes recently if I recall correctly

  24. Shannon says:

    so… does your corn syrup have hfcs? mine did, although it could’ve been in my pantry for close to 5 years. got tossed in the move! ANYWays… this pie caught my eye too, and i’m so glad you made it 🙂 Did you save me a slice???

  25. Patsyk says:

    I think that if you brought desserts like this with you, that would totally overshadow the meatless meal (which, I have no doubt is always scrumptious!). Good for you, for demanding that they eat healthy, at least when you are there!

  26. Entertaining as always Joanne. I have a freind that goes gaga over peanut buttter pie…you know a friend…me

  27. Amazing tips Joanne! I try to eat meat only at weekends, so I cook vegetarians meals for myself every day of the week. It’s really amazing!

    ?
    Camila Faria

  28. You need to start capturing your home visit on video. I smell a reality show in the making. Gorgeous Pie. Love the honeycomb. We seriously have to meet up one of these days.

    Dream look

  29. I just launched myself into the computer screen, landed in your kitchen and gobbled down half of that deliciousness. whew! Sorry for the crumbs.

  30. I love your family stories and descriptions of meals with them. How the heck did you turn out to different (in terms of food and culinary-ness)?? I think that deserves a post of its own.

  31. . . . and by ‘to different’ I actually meant to type ‘so different.’ Over and out.

  32. This looks so great, Joanne! What an awesome pie pan too.

  33. damn that looks good!
    I havent had peanut butter in MONTHS! thats way too long!

  34. peanut butter pie? Wow, that looks pretty good. I have been drastically cutting back on the carbs and eating more eggs and meat of late (reading Good Calories Bad Calories). I’m finding that I don’t get hungry as frequently AND…my craving for carbs is almost gone. I mean, I’ve had dark chocolate in my house for a month, gone unopened. Until I have PMS. So, no pie for me.

  35. WOW! It’s like a giant peanut butter cup I can wear as a face mask. You know me so you know this is coming out of my oven soon. THANKS!

    Gary

  36. Love your pie pan 🙂 I am high on calorie cut these days and trying to stay away from sugar but this pie just made me weak again..love the choco drizzle on top…gosh..wish I cud have a slice!

  37. Foodycat says:

    Holy cow. When I saw this post I was quite shocked, I was expecting it to contain koolwhip and corn syrup and god knows what un-Joanne-esque ingredients. And instead there is this decadent but nutritious pie! Amazing!

  38. girlichef says:

    That is probably the single most beautiful pie I have ever seen in my life. And I’ve seen my fair share of pies. Okay…that just sounded wrong. But really…AWESOME!

  39. Katelyn says:

    Ha! That is pretty close to my family dynamic. I think the only time the kitchen gets used for something other than coffee is when I’m there. I agree that balance is key. I often eat lighter vegetarian meals and then splurge on something like a brownie.

    The positive environmental impact of eating vegetarian even one day a week is huge too, often more of an impact than eating local or organic. For anyone that’s interested, the Environmental Working Group has some good tips for picking healthier meat and reducing your meat’s environmental impact.

    The pie looks amazing and will be my splurge in the near future!

  40. This pie is to die for! It must taste soooooo good. *drool*

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  41. Alisa says:

    Oh you evil woman, this looks amazing!!

  42. Karly says:

    You are speaking my language right here.

  43. polwig says:

    Your photos look amazing, the pie does too also. I love it how you are taking initiative to teach your parents about healthy food.

  44. Geni says:

    Your pie looks super artsy like a Pollok painting…very cool. Love the honey comb addition. It takes it to a whole other very gourmet level.

  45. Great advice, Joanne. My family ate dinner together every night and I really think it helped me connect with them and develop good eating habits. I think my mom needed more of your philosphy about pie, though. It was far too infrequent at our house.

  46. Laura Jeanne says:

    You just said a word I haven’t heard in years…. Honeycomb! wow! This looks incredible and so rich and delicious. Must try this soon.
    Laura @ A Healthy Jalapeño

  47. I was so excited when I saw this post, Joanne!!! I’ve been craving this pie since I saw it in Bon Appetit!
    You did an absolute fabulous job! And those honeycomb pieces look sooo good! :))

    xoxo,
    Tammy

  48. Pam says:

    Speechless…and drooling.

  49. Gloria says:

    OMG Joanne these pictures look amazing! and sounds delicious, nice post! gloria

  50. woman! why is there no slice of the pie photo? i need to see the inside 😉
    LOL.
    Any left?

  51. Ugh you had me at Peanut Butter. I knwo what you mean about the family meals. All through primary school we use to eat on the couch then one day we started eating at the table and it stuck. I do that now with Stud and its def better. You can actually talk and you feel more like a family. Although I may or may not bite off the arm of my relatives if they tried to take this pie away from me 😉

  52. Wow, your pie looks amazing! Love the photos.

  53. tigerfish says:

    Peanut butter, chocolate drizzle and honeycomb is in perfect balance too, in a pie! 😛

    I cannot become a vegetarian completely unless the other half at home turns one. But I try to keep to 70% vegetarian diet wherever possible, then the rest 30% to seafood (and meat). As long as he does not complain, I am good.

  54. Emily says:

    I loved this post! And I love that you’re a vegetarian.

    This pie looks delicious! It looks so cool… I’ve never seen a pie with this texture before.

  55. Swathi says:

    This Pie looks delicious, love the nutty pea nut butter in there.

  56. Julie says:

    Georgeously amazing! I pinned it, but I’d rather eat it 🙂

  57. This pie looks absolutely delicious!!!!
    I cannot live without desserts…
    Your pie pan is also very cool

  58. Never ceasing to amaze me you have posted one of the most delectable sounding pies I have ever heard of, and let me tell you I have seen a lot of pies in my day! Your family sounds A LOT like mine 🙂

  59. Veronica says:

    You would have a field day in my parents’ kitchen! I love that you are involved and haven’t gone into apathy as I have..yet. LOL! Great tips, girl, and the pie looks wonderful–I love that you include treats like these and that you aren’t always one one end of the scale but like to balance it once in a while with treats. 🙂

  60. T says:

    is it possible to use less egg yolks?

  61. I’ll run as long as you want to eat this pie!

  62. Lea Ann says:

    I’m not a dessert or “sweets” person, but the photos of this pie are amazing Joanne.

  63. Von says:

    I’ve always eaten home cooked meals with my family together- it’s so strange when my friends tell me of how they all eat separately :S
    This pie looks amazingly good! I LOVE honeycomb, but the combination of honeycomb and peanut butter in a pie sounds so so so good!!

  64. I had this pie c/o Megan at Delicious Dishings and she mentioned you made it as well. So glad to know about this blog! gorgeous pics, I’ll be back!

  65. teresa says:

    i love this, i’m all about balance, especially when it includes an incredible pie like that! if you get a sec, you should look up a clip on youtube called Move More, Eat Less. it’s funny, but sums it up perfectly!

  66. alana says:

    ah i love pollock-esque food design! this looks divine.

  67. daphne says:

    This is soo good that I dont think I need dinner if I have this right now! You are doing so well in food design too. 😉

  68. Tasha says:

    Oh goodness, I don’t know if I could handle having such a yummy peanut butter dessert in my home. We too are all about eating meatless (99% of the time), keeping active and so important- home cooked family dinners at the dining room table!

  69. omg..this could be the sexiest peanut butter pie I have ever seen!

  70. Rachel says:

    Ah yes, a well-balanced diet should always include pie.
    I was going out to dinner with my aunt and uncle last night and my aunt specifically nixed the idea of vegetarian food. Why? We ended up at an Indian restaurant with options for everyone. Still, I didn’t realize she had a vendetta against the veggie diet.

  71. I’m dying at how amazing that looks – I can’t wait to try it out! I’ve been craving peanut butter like crazy lately, and for the sake of giving my body what it clearly needs (!) I think I’ll have to make this!

  72. The pics of the pie are gorgeous! Yummy!

  73. Taryn says:

    This is so beautiful – it looks just like it did in the magazine. I’m always nervous to make candy like honeycomb, but this looks so good I may have to try!

  74. I’m so glad I’m settled for a while so I can read your posts again. I miss my daily dose of Joanne when I’m gone. 🙂 You never fail to make me smile and be so happy to be alive. xo

  75. Beth says:

    I’ve been eyeing this pie ever since I saw it in Bon Appetit. Someday it will be mine.

  76. Wow! This is a fabulous pie! Love everything about it.

  77. Claudia says:

    Oh boy, now you’ve gone and done it. And after that healthy food rap too. Still, balance is important. Great photos, your pie top looks like a Jackson Pollock painting.

  78. I love this post and can just see you sitting around with the family having really wonderful and memorable times!

  79. Nicole, RD says:

    Hey Foodbuzz roomie! I saw this in Bon Appetit and it caught my eye then…but your photos make this prettttty much a must. I’m having friends come in this weekend – think I’ll be making this for them 🙂

  80. Julie says:

    i saw this via facebook and i KNEW it would be genius. like geeeeeeeeeeenius. haha they invite you back because you make green food look like edible gold. and i’m SURE it tastes just or even better then it looks.

  81. Mary says:

    What a great post, Joanne. The pie is wonderful and it looks gorgeous. I also appreciated your suggestions. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary

  82. Carolyn Jung says:

    Now, THAT is a pie! I’ve always wanted to try making honeycomb after watching Nigella do it on TV ages ago. I can’t believe how easy it seems. Gotta give it a whirl.

  83. kankana says:

    The pie is sooo gorgeous and love the way you decorated it to photograph!

  84. Dana says:

    I was just eying this pie in the magazine – swoon! Gorgeous job on it. I am super healthy as are both my kids. Elementary school, preschool and still they bring home 1-2 colds a year. I think they got my (very robust) constitution but I also think they, like me, are super healthy because of diet. The only person who gets sick regularly in our house is Randy and he is the only meat eater. And he gets Man Colds.

  85. Fantastic clicks as always and simply irresistible!

  86. Great-looking pie, totally pro!

  87. Nutmeg Nanny says:

    I still can’t believe you don’t eat meat…I couldn’t do it. I honestly think my body would shut down w/out meat. Although…it might be kinnda fun to test out…(If my body shuts down am I permitted to ask you for medical advice? 🙂

  88. Kerstin says:

    So pretty, wish I had a big piece right now 🙂

  89. That is one decadent and gorgeous pie! The honeycomb topping must be fantastic!

  90. Johanna GGG says:

    wow that looks so good that I just need some vegetables to get over the decadence! I didn’t know that you could get corn syrup that is not high fructose! I assume that the one you used in the honeycomb is different to the one you forbid your parents using! Anyway I would just love a slice but I think a whole pie would be dangerous unless I was entertaining!

  91. Reeni says:

    This looks phenomenal! As if the pie weren’t enough you had to go and cover it with honeycomb! Divine.

  92. Chris says:

    I normally don’t care for sweets but peanut butter has a special allure for me and this pie sounds perfect to me! Congrats on the Walgreens sponsorship.

  93. Kelly says:

    Ok, THAT is just crazy… I can’t go near deliciousness of this nature – would not be able to stop!! Gorgeous Joanne.

  94. Cara says:

    Love how this looked in BA and love it on your blog too! yum!

  95. That is one stunning pie. I would do extra squats for a bite. 😉

  96. Elizabeth says:

    Wow, that looks delicious.

  97. grace says:

    delicious! although i’ve never made honeycomb, the nerd in me is fascinated by how it’s created and the science behind it. nice pie, joanne!

  98. mmm… good for you for trying to keep your peeps healthy. it’s tough. especially when you bring up the word “meatless” people freak out!

  99. Haha oh I wish my family members were more like you with the insistence and bootcamp yelling for healthy eating! 🙂 This pie looks truly glorious.

  100. Free Coupon says:

    I just cant stop the temptation to eat it !!

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