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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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March 5, 2013

Before and After Easter Treats!

 

Before and After Easter Treats from atthepicketfence.com

We are so thrilled to be joining our wonderful and lovely friends Debbie from Oh So Shabby Debbie and Karianne of Thistlewood Farms in a sort of virtual potluck today. And, let us tell you that this is definitely our kind of potluck!

Forget the jello mold with mini-marshmallows on top and “mystery” casserole. We’re sharing some of our favorite Spring recipes and we don’t know about you but any potluck that consists of cocktails and desserts is right up our ally!

Just as the turkey is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving, ham seems to be the centerpiece of Easter or other Spring celebrations. But, we all know the truth, don’t we? That those are just the gateway to all of the wonderful side dishes, beverages and desserts.

So, we thought it would be fun to do a “Before and After” project of a different sort today and share some of our favorite new recipes which we believe would be wonderful accompaniments to ham, turkey, pork or anything really!

First, Vanessa is going to share with you a lovely Spring Brunch Cocktail which is the perfect way to start off any gathering this season.

Spring Brunch Cocktail on silver tray from www.atthepicketfence.com

When it comes to brunch, Mimosas seem to have cornered the cocktail market. But, I thought it would be fun to try out a new recipe which also brings a fresh pop of color to my Spring celebration. 

Adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe, this Spring Cocktail shouldn’t be reserved only for Brunch. We even made some to go with our Mexican take-out the other night! Shhhh…don’t tell Martha! 

Lillet brunch cocktail At the Picket Fence

 Garnished with a violet blossom (yes, they are edible!) this cocktail looks like Spring personified!

cocktail with violet garnish At the Picket Fence

And when served in vintage goblets which were collected for me and my sister by our grandmother, the cocktail almost seems to sparkle!

vintage cocktail glasses At the Picket Fence

All that’s left is to enjoy them with family and friends! 

Spring Brunch Cocktail on silver tray At the Picket Fence

Print
Lillet Spring Brunch Cocktail

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 6

Lillet Spring Brunch Cocktail

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. Lillet aperitif wine
  • 12 oz. Ruby Red grapefruit juice
  • 6 oz. gin
  • edible flowers as garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Combine 6 oz. Lillet, 6 oz. grapefruit juice and 3 oz. gin and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake until well chilled. Strain and divide among cocktail glasses. Repeat.
  • Garnish with flowers if desired and serve immediately.
3.1
https://www.atthepicketfence.com/easter-cocktails-and-desserts-2/
This recipe is copyrighted by At The Picket Fence

After stuffing yourself on ham and potato salad, sometimes dessert can seem like an afterthought!  We often want just a “little bite” of something sweet without adding anymore calories to an already laden meal.  Well now you can have your “cake and eat it too”…literally!

Carrot Cake Dessert Shots from www.atthepicketfence.com

These Carrot Cake Dessert Shots, filled with moist carrot cake,  cream cheese frosting and pecans, are topped with a special sweet treat…candied carrots!

Carrot Cake Dessert Shots from www.atthepicketfence.com

Super easy to make and so pretty to serve, these shots of dessert are a perfect after dinner treat! Here’s the recipe!

Print
Carrot Cake Dessert Shots with Candied Carrots

Carrot Cake Dessert Shots with Candied Carrots

Ingredients

  • 1 Box of Betty Crocker carrot cake mix or carrot cake recipe of choice
  • 1 can cream cheese frosting or cream cheese frosting of choice
  • 2 cups pecans, finely chopped
  • 1 frosting bag and frosting tip of choice
  • Dessert shot glasses or small dessert bowls
  • Candied Carrots!
  • 1 large carrot
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions

    Cake and Frosting Layers!
  • Bake cake according to directions in a 9 X 13 pan. Allow to cool completely
  • Finely chop pecans
  • Place frosting in piping bag with piping bag of choice
  • Cut several 1 inch cubes of cake
  • Layer desserts with pecans, cake, frosting and repeat ending with frosting. Top frosting with chopped pecans and coarsely chopped candied carrots
  • Candied Carrots!
  • Shred carrot using peeler
  • Bring sugar and water to a boil. Add carrots and reduce to a simmer
  • Simmer carrots for 15 minutes. Strain out carrots and place on wax paper until hardened. Coarsely chop and sprinkle on top of dessert shots
3.1
https://www.atthepicketfence.com/easter-cocktails-and-desserts-2/
This recipe is copyrighted by At The Picket Fence

Carrot Cake Dessert Shots from www.atthepicketfence.com

So, are you ready for two more fabulous Easter Treats!

Our dear friend Debbie, from Oh So Shabby by Debbie is sharing her fabulous Easter Bark she makes every year for her grandchildren. Be sure to visit her to get the recipe!

Oh So Shabby by Debbie Easter Bark

Our BBFF (Blogging Best Friend Forever) KariAnne of Thistlewood Farm, has created these darling Speckled Egg No Bake Oreo Cake Pops in edible nests! Wouldn’t these be fabulous at the place of each Easter dinner guest?! Be sure to stop by her blog to see a step by step tutorial!

No Bake Oreo Cake Pops from Thistlewood Farm

Do you have a favorite Easter Treat? Share it with us in the comments!
We’ll see you back here soon…at the picket fence!

dual signature

21 Comments Filed Under: Beverages, Celebrations, Desserts, Easter, Holidays, Recipes Tagged With: cocktails, desserts, Easter, Easter recipes, spring, spring recipes

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Comments

  1. Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating says

    March 5, 2013 at 6:25 AM

    Carrot cake is my absolute favorite dessert, and those are so pretty! Mmmm…now I want carrot cake for breakfast. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Thistle says

    March 5, 2013 at 6:44 AM

    You go girls! It looks like perfection from start to finish! Love the edible flowers and the tiny crystalized carrots! So happy to be having a little spring fun with you both and Debbie!

    Have a great day rock stars!
    karianne

    Reply
  3. christine aldinger says

    March 5, 2013 at 7:28 AM

    i want to rush right out and get what i need for those c-cake shots……but 1 question….where in the world did you find the the glassware??

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 5, 2013 at 10:27 AM

      Hi Christine, I purchased these glasses at HomeGoods. It was a set of 8 with the small spoons. I am sure places like Target, etc carry something similar as well. 🙂

      Heather

      Reply
  4. Anita says

    March 5, 2013 at 7:53 AM

    Oh how fun! Vanessa, I have those same “Boopie” glasses too from my mom:-)

    Reply
    • Gina says

      March 5, 2013 at 11:20 AM

      I have “boopie” glasses too that were my mother-in-laws and then I found six more at an estate sale. Now I am always on the hunt for them. 🙂 I use mine as dessert glasses too!! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Janel from NellieBellie says

    March 5, 2013 at 8:19 AM

    These look amazing!!! Yum!

    Reply
  6. Jill Flory says

    March 5, 2013 at 8:20 AM

    I’m thinking some cake pops in fun Easter colors would be the best. I had some cake pops a friend made months ago – she used a yellow cake mix and added a can of cream-of-coconut to it and then dipped the balls in white chocolate. it was a pass-the-plate-and-back-off kind of moment!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 5, 2013 at 10:26 AM

      Love cake pops! Be sure to check out Kari’s cute cake pops Jill! They are Speckled Eggs. 😉 ~Heather

      Reply
  7. Angelina says

    March 5, 2013 at 9:16 AM

    LOVE carrot cake!! This all looks so yummy and pretty!!
    xo
    Angelina

    Reply
  8. Sherry says

    March 5, 2013 at 9:21 AM

    What a great selection of recipes to try out for Easter. I love the idea of dessert shots. That is about all you need any way. Great post.
    Sherry

    Reply
  9. Cynthia says

    March 5, 2013 at 9:53 AM

    Both of these look delightful. Thanks for sharing.

    Cynthia

    Reply
  10. Judy says

    March 5, 2013 at 10:11 AM

    Those both look so good. I especially want to try the carrot cake one.

    Reply
  11. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    March 5, 2013 at 12:36 PM

    Love carrot cake…and what a great way to serve “just a few bites”…just enough!!….the drink looks wonderful too…love those glasses from your grandmother!

    Reply
  12. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    March 6, 2013 at 3:29 AM

    Ooo, lots of yumminess, girls! THink I’ll be trying out that cocktail!
    xo Heidi

    Reply
  13. Shannon @Fox Hollow Cottage says

    March 6, 2013 at 2:56 PM

    I’m eating soup for dinner… and now wishing I could have a few shots after 😉

    Reply
  14. John says

    March 21, 2013 at 1:43 PM

    The carrot cake shooters looks amazing! Definitely would love to try it.

    Reply
  15. arcondicionadoautomotivo says

    January 29, 2014 at 2:56 AM

    I feel this is among the list of a great deal of considerable information to me. And i’m delighted learning your own document. Yet would you like to remark in couple of ordinary items, The web site flavour can be great, your content articles is very great : Chemical. Beneficial endeavor, many thanks

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Easter Egg Cake Pops says:
    March 5, 2013 at 6:36 AM

    […] teaming up today with my friends Heather and Vanessa from At the Picket Fence and Debbie from Oh So Shabby Debbie to bring you some tasty spring […]

    Reply
  2. 25 Carrot Creations says:
    March 21, 2013 at 1:58 PM

    […] Carrot Cake Dessert Shots from At the Picket Fence […]

    Reply
  3. 25 Awesomely Easy Cake Mix Recipes - Yellow Bliss Road says:
    October 3, 2013 at 10:07 AM

    […] Cookies from Simply Kierste 17 18 Best Chocolate Cake from Kevin and Amanda 19 Carrot Cake Dessert Shots from At the Picket Fence 20  Cool Whip Cake Mix Cookies from 24 Cottonwood Lane […]

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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?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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