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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 8, 2015

Birds Nest Mason Jar Cupcakes

Spring in a Mason Jar1

There’s nothing more scary for a car owner. You’re traveling down the road and you hear an ambiguous noise. You know the one.

The noise that happens intermittently as your driving blissfully along, the one that strikes fear in your heart and then you don’t hear it for days.  And just as your lulled into a sense of complacency, it happens again.

You start to think you are hearing things.  You ask your daughter, “Did you hear that weird “pinking” noise?!”

She did, so you know you’re not losing your mind.  At least in this case.

Bird's Nest Cupcakes in Mason Jars from At The Picket Fence

 

You ask her to climb around in the back of the car in the parking lot, just to make sure there isn’t some strange animal in the car…you do live in the country after all.  Nothing.

Days later you hop in your freezing cold car and while warming up and sitting at the light, there it is again!

You turn off your heat, you turn off the car stereo and strain to catch it…knowing you are going to have to drop the car off to your mechanic with a vague, “It’s making a strange “ping” noise but only once and awhile and very randomly. good luck!”

After a week of “pinging” and “pinking” you drive cautiously waiting for your axle to fall off or a stray squirrel to make it’s way out from under the back seat.

 Bird's Nest Cupcakes in Mason Jars from At The Picket Fence

Then a snowstorm comes and you decide, on this snowy day, it’s a good time to make those Bird’s Nest Cupcakes in Mason Jars you’ve been envisioning. So you ask your daughter to grab that flat of mason jars you’ve had in the back of the car for a week.

She treks out through the mounds of cold snow and plops the flat of jars down on the warm kitchen counter….and as you turn to put the cupcakes in the oven…

…you hear it.

Bird's Nest Cupcakes in a Mason Jar from At The Picket Fence

The distinctive “ping. pink. ping” of a dozen mason jars lids sealing….the sound of you saving $1,000 in car repairs and a whole lot of embarrassment.

Here’s how to make your own Bird’s Nest Cupcakes in Mason Jars layered with white cake, lemon curd, apricot-pineapple preserves and cream cheese frosting. Topped with toasted coconut…it’s a true spring treat!

Print
Birds Nest Mason Jar Cupcakes

Birds Nest Mason Jar Cupcakes

Ingredients

  • (18.25-ounce) package white cake mix
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 1 (16-ounce) jar apricot-pineapple preserves
  • 1/2 cup lemon curd (2.12)*
  • 1 (16-ounce) container cream cheese frosting
  • 1 (6-ounce) package flaked coconut, toasted
  • Hershey candy coated eggs, blue
  • 1/2 pint mason jars

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
  • Beat first 5 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer 30 seconds or just until moistened; beat at medium speed 2 minutes. Pour batter into cupcake liners in muffin pans. Will make approximately 24 cupcakes
  • Bake for 16-18 minutes. Cupcakes are done when center springs back. Do not overbak
  • Allow to cool on wire rack
  • While cupcakes are cooling, spread coconut in even layer on cookie sheet or baking pan and toast for about 10 minutes until light brown. Stir occasionally while toasting. Cool
  • Layering Instructions!
  • Place one cupcake upside down in each mason jar. Top with a Tablespoon of lemon curd and spread to cover cupcake. Pipe frosting to cover lemon curd. Top with Tablespoon of toasted coconut
  • Add another cupcake right side up. Top with Tablespoon of preserves and spread to cover. Pipe frosting on top to cover completely and form a slight mound. Press in toasted coconut to make "nest" using thumb to gently press in indentation. Place three candy eggs in middle
  • Repeat for each jar. Will make approximately 8 servings.
3.1
https://www.atthepicketfence.com/mason-jar-birds-nest-cupcakes/
This recipe is copyrighted by At The Picket Fence

 We’re so thrilled to be joining these ladies today for this Spring in a Mason Jar blog hop and we hope you will pay them a visit to see all of their incredible ideas and inspiration!

Spring in a Mason Jar Collage

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Clean and Scentsible

At the Picket Fence

Domestically Speaking

Yesterday on Tuesday

Setting for Four

Debbie Doo’s

Lolly Jane

Cupcakes and Crinoline

The Country Chic Cottage

Orphans with Makeup

Petticoat Junktion

Lovely Etc.

Happy Sunday to you!

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12 Comments Filed Under: Desserts, Easter, Recipes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mary @ Orphans With Makeup says

    March 8, 2015 at 5:56 AM

    Mmmm, that looks just so delicious and what a pretty display.
    Mary @ Orphans With Makeup

    Reply
  2. Heather says

    March 8, 2015 at 9:53 AM

    These look so yummy and what a fun way to serve them! The perfect treat for Spring brunch! So fun to be partying with you today Heather!

    Reply
  3. Mary Beth|Cupcakes and Crinoline says

    March 8, 2015 at 10:18 AM

    LOL Oh my goodness how you made me laugh. At first I was like, “oh….she needs prayers for that car” then I realized you had what I refer to as an MB moment….I have those all the time!!!! A few months ago I was super afraid to drive my truck (I mean to the point of really being in prayer about my fears). Every time I drove it I smelled something so instead of facing the problem I would borrow my oldest son’s tiny Toyota and make everyone squeeze in (including my 6 foot 5 husband) just to avoid driving my truck. I finally took it to the mechanic after I had to get the battery replaced and he told me the exhaust pipe was cracked and I needed to drive with the windows down until I got it fixed (it was -10 at the time soooooo….I got it fixed and thankfully everything was less than $300) ~ whew! Okay…so nos back to your cupcakes….these are amaze balls! LOVE THEM.

    Reply
  4. Kathy @petticoatjunktion says

    March 8, 2015 at 10:46 AM

    Oh wow Heather. These look yummy. I”m coming to your house!

    Reply
  5. debbiedoos says

    March 8, 2015 at 12:16 PM

    These are simply delightful!

    Reply
  6. Malia says

    March 8, 2015 at 3:59 PM

    How sweet and fun! Love how they turned out! xoxo Pinned

    Reply
  7. martina says

    March 8, 2015 at 5:40 PM

    OMG they look so good!! What a great dessert for Easter.

    Reply
  8. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    March 8, 2015 at 5:54 PM

    Love, love this idea!….Super cute and great for parties!!!…

    Reply
  9. Lolly Jane says

    March 8, 2015 at 6:15 PM

    These look SO yummy! My kids will have a blast making them!

    Reply
  10. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says

    March 8, 2015 at 7:46 PM

    Those are so stinkin’ cute!

    Reply
  11. kristin says

    March 9, 2015 at 2:54 PM

    I want one! They look so yummy! Glad you didn’t have any engine problems, here we get rats, yuck, and they cause all sorts of problems 🙁
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  12. Christine says

    March 11, 2015 at 9:01 AM

    Oh, that made me laugh! And it reminded me of the time that my husband was driving down the road, and a few miles from our house, he started hearing a lot of noise coming from the car. It was so bad that he pulled over to check it out, only to find that there was a line of empty soda cans tied to the bottom of the car. He couldn’t figure out what took him so long to be able to hear it… until he discovered that it was one of the youth group boys who had done it to him, and this very smart boy had tied the cans up using a rubber band so that once the car was hot, it melted through the rubber band and released the cans. It was a truly great prank 🙂

    Reply

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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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