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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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August 17, 2011

A Big Welcome to Val So Cal!

Hey there, this is Val from ValSoCal, a Southern California food/life blog. I’m thrilled to be guest posting today At The Picket Fence. I adore both Vanessa and Heather.  Summer is here and I love to entertain and whip up easy and delicious recipes. Hop on over to my blog and lets have some yummy fun! Here are a couple easy recipes! Enjoy.

                  
   This sweet dip is the epitome of what Summer is all about!!  Refreshing and oh so good! Do you have a Summer get together that you are going to? Are you about to have a party at your own house? I beg you, Like, pleading with you to make this. Turn on some Jimmy Buffet or maybe Bob Marley and have a little fun.

Pina Colada Dip

1 package ( 8 ounce ) cream cheese, softened
1 jar ( 7 ounce ) marshmallow crème
1 can ( 8 ounce ) crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1 pound cake or angel food cake, cubed
strawberries
fresh pineapple, cubed

Directions:          

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and marshmallow creme until fluffy. Fold in pineapple and coconut. Cover and chill until serving. Serve.

    
      There are very few things in life that I love more than butter….It just make me happy. I love full fat with salt butter. I could slather it on everything. I wish I could indulge more often but my thighs would not like me. Everything in moderation, right? You need to make this…like today!!



Blueberry Butter

1 pint blueberries
1 stick salted butter
4 to 5 tablespoons of powdered sugar
lemon zest ( optional )

Directions:

In a small bowl mash blueberries and set aside. In a another bowl mix butter and sugar until well combined. Mix the blueberries and butter together and place in a canning jar or bowl. Refrigerate or sever room temp and thoroughly enjoy!

blueberry butter

I came up with recipe because I needed to use up the berries I had!  This is perfect for a hostess gift. I like to smear some on croissants any carb will do. The possibilities are endless. Enjoy!
Thank you so much Val for guest posting at the picket fence today! We encourage you to run… er um well…actually… type your way over as quickly as you can to Val’s fabulous, gorgeous blog and browse through all of her other amazing recipes! You will drool on your keyboard. we swear it!
Thanks for meeting us and Val from Val So Cal...at the picket fence!
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17 Comments Filed Under: Appetizer, Guest Posts, Recipes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Inspire Me Heather says

    August 17, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    Looks so yummy – thanks!

    Reply
  2. Honey at 2805 says

    August 17, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    So nice to meet Val! The blueberry butter sounds so yummy!

    Reply
  3. Tammy says

    August 17, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Yum! My stomach is growling 🙂

    Reply
  4. Debbie says

    August 17, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    I absolutely MUST try the pina colada dip!

    Reply
  5. Val says

    August 17, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    Aww, I’m smiling big! Thank you ladies. You made my day!

    Reply
  6. Marina @ Yummy Mummy says

    August 17, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    Yay! Love seeing Val being featured around the blogosphere! She’s the best! xoxo

    Reply
  7. CraveCute says

    August 17, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    These both look and sound delicious!

    Reply
  8. Ginger Zuck says

    August 17, 2011 at 4:09 PM

    Yum, looks pretty too.

    Reply
  9. michelle says

    August 17, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    Love Val, she is so sweet and all her recipes are YUMMY!!!!
    xo

    Reply
  10. A Cozy Cottage in the City says

    August 17, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    Great to meet Val!!! I too am from southern Cal!!! 😉 I will have to go and check out her blog now!!! I do love me some “food posts!” 😉

    XOXO’s,
    Jessie

    Reply
  11. Liz says

    August 17, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    I love Val, too! She is so talented and in so many ways, not only with her great inspiring recipes, but she is a fabulous decorator and photographer. Thanks for sharing! XO ~Liz

    Reply
  12. Coley says

    August 17, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    seriously, you need to stop! My tummy is hungry after seeing those photos and I just ate lunch!

    Reply
  13. Elizabeth says

    August 18, 2011 at 12:43 AM

    I love flavored butter! We frequent a tapas restaurant that serves flavored. Utter and hot crush bread. Delicious! I must try this blueberry butter.

    Reply
  14. Leslie says

    August 18, 2011 at 1:05 AM

    I love Val’s blog, and I’m so glad you featured her! These recipes look D’lish!!! I’ve got to try them before the summer is up. 🙂

    Reply
  15. Light and Voices says

    August 18, 2011 at 2:10 AM

    So do you dip the cake into the dip?
    Joyce

    Reply
  16. Not Your Ordinary Agent says

    August 19, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    these are perfect for summertime! i cannot wait to try the blueberry butter! will you link it to foodie friday? https://notyourordinaryrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/08/foodie-friday-2.html
    can’t wait to check out your blog!
    https://www.homesandbabies.com
    https://notyourordinaryrecipes.blogspot.com Oh and congrats for being featured here… what an honor!

    Reply
  17. Tanya Anurag says

    August 19, 2011 at 4:31 PM

    Cake… creme… pineapple… aahh so yummy!!

    Reply

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Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super simple centerpiece that you can make in five minutes (or less) with just a few pumpkins and extra faux greenery. Let’s spend less time decorating and more time enjoying this season. It’s my favorite!! 🧡

#fallcenterpiece #falldecor #centerpiece #fiveminutedecorating
"Define your day", she told me as I held my newbor "Define your day", she told me as I held my newborn son. My mom and I were talking about how blurred my days and nights had become and how easy it would be to just stay in my pajamas 24/7. She encouraged me to make an attempt to put on 'real' clothes in the morning even if they were just nice sweatpants (bonus if they were clean!) and to throw a little bit of makeup on. That simple advice helped chart a course for my years of motherhood that continues today. And recently I began thinking about how critical it is that we not only seek wisdom from those ahead of us in our stage of life but that we are willing to apply it as well.

So, I asked this question on my personal Facebook page; "What is something you feel you've done well to create a peaceful/meaningful home for yourself and your family?" The catch was that the question was geared towards women in the 40+ age range. The responses came flooding in and were so wonderful and insightful. So, I'm going to be starting a new series where I share this wisdom with you and will include the first name of the woman who offered it. 

Today we start with Alison who said "I learned to set my alarm early to get up and moving before my kids woke up. I showered, got dressed and did my devotions while the house was quiet. It set my heart and perspective for each day.”

Is this something you do in your life too? What wisdom would you offer to a mom of young children?

I truly think our culture would greatly benefit from more women in different seasons of life being willing to invest in each other. 🍂

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #motherhood #parentingwisdom
If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a resta If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a restaurant I’m definitely ordering it! It’s one of my all time favorite treats. So I decided to try my hand at making some here at home with a little fall twist and it was SO delicious!! 🍎

Ingredients:

6 slices of day old bread (french, sourdough or even brioche works great)
2 cups of heavy cream
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
For the apples:
3 peeled and chopped apples of a tart variety
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour (or corn starch)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350
Cut bread into cubes and place in a greased 8 1/2 x 11 baking dish
Whisk together in a bowl the eggs, cream, vanilla, rum, cinnamon and nutmeg and then pour it over the bread cubes. In a separate bowl, mix together the apples, brown sugar and flour/corn starch. Pour the apple mixture on top of the bread mixture making sure to spread the apples evenly across every part of the bread mixture.
Bake for 45 minutes. 
Enjoy!

#falldesserts #breadpudding #fallrecipes #desserts
When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after onl When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after only a week of school, you take the opportunity to make Saturday a truly restful day. Pancakes on the griddle, puttering around the yard admiring the way the limelights have begun their autumn journey from white to green to pink. Sprinkling touches of fall around the house a little bit at a time. Savoring the slowness of it all and taking care of my people in this place that provides us all with a respite from the world even if just for a day.

Hope you’re weekend is off to a great start and that you make it a priority to slow down for a bit and soak up the beauty around you. 🍂

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #falldecorating
As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but thin As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but think about how grateful I am for the reminders all around me of God’s Sovereignty over everything including the seasons. It can be challenging in our world today to trust that there isn’t a single thing happening that surprises Him.

In a way, decorating my home to reflect the changing season serves as a tangible reminder of this trust. Even something as simple as seeing a pumpkin on my mantel or a basket of mums on the coffee table fill me with peace because they represent the things that remain constant and true.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #club31women
I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
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