Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 21

Crispy Baked Cheeseburger Quesadillas.

These crispy baked cheeseburger quesadillas are a huge favorite in our house. Crispy flour tortillas filled with cheddar cheeseburger beef, topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles onions and the best burger sauce ever.

Here’s an embarrassingly easy meal for you today! 

These baked cheeseburger quesadillas are so highly requested in our house. The cripiest tortillas, cheeseburger filling with sharp cheddar, topped with refreshing romaine, juicy tomatoes and the tangiest pickled onions. All finished with a drizzle of house sauce!

This is such an easy weeknight meal, a great happy hour snack, a fun late night treat or even something you can share for an easy lunch!

This is a cheater sort of recipe. I’ve already shared with you how I make crispy baked cheeseburger tacos and cheeseburger tostadas. The combo is just so good!

It’s something I make often for the kids. Eddie also loves the cheeseburger flavor. And it feels a little lighter than eating an actual cheeseburger. 

I like to use ground turkey or beef, sharp cheddar, lots of lettuce, tomatoes, pickled onions and of course – how sweet eats house sauce. 

The house sauce is my everything. I make this almost once a week. It’s like my version of chick fil-a sauce and it’s delicious. Super creamy, a little tangy. You can dip basically anything in it. Or drizzle it on anything from burgers to bowls to potatoes to pizza and more.

It’s super versatile and makes the meal feel ever more special! 

The baked quesadilla is my go-to today, and here’s why: it is SO easy to feed a crowd. You can make multiple large quesadillas at once, as opposed to making just one at a time in a skillet.

There is no sketchy flipping – the fillings will not fall out when you gently flip. (more…)

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Tuesday Things.

1. This lime chiffon pie is blowing my mind.

2. I came across some of the tiktok food trends and I am floored. Why are people eating cornstarch? Icing straight from the can until it’s gone? I feel so old.

3. I think I need museum gel to organize my utensil drawers.

4. Speaking of, I need some sort of kitchen charging station too. Help!

5. Oh also: I think a kitchen junk drawer is a must in every house.

6. I am intrigued by the coconut water americano.

7. TV things!! Still loving friends and neighbors, also started the new season of You and it’s just… meh.

8. What to do when your cup is empty.

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April Favorites.

A peek at everything I loved in April 2025!

FOOD

Caprese cottage cheese toast in Easy Everyday. I could truly eat this… everyday! Can’t get enough.

Gomacro bars. My favorite find of the month!

Chobani birthday cake creamer. I don’t go crazy over flavored creamers like I did in my 20s,  but this one is SO good. It truly tastes like birthday cake. Best iced latter ever.

Dill pickle pistachio snack packs. Was very excited to find these since the salt and vinegar ones are a snack staple.

HOME

Waterproof outdoor rug. I have one of these on our deck and it’s the best.

White serving trays. ‘Tis the season for outdoor entertaining! I got these to carry food out for our dinners on the deck and I love ’em!

Stone car coasters. I probably mentioned these way back in the day, but they are something I can’t live without in my car. They instantly absorb any liquid and they are great if you like to get iced coffee.

Gel car air freshener. Speaking of car things, I stick one of these under my seat and love it. It doesn’t have a strong fragrance but it does absorb odors. Perfect for the sports/kid mobile.

BEAUTY

Georgio Armani liquid blush. The cool pink and coral pinch have been in my rotation constantly. Sometimes I use both and mix them!

Laneige Glaze Craze lip balm in strawberry sprinkles. Adore how foolproof and cool toned this is. I want one in every bag.

Ouai St Bart’s leave in conditioner. Emilia and I both have been using this. It smells so wonderful – such a good summer scent.

Dry Bar big hair besties. My current favorite velcro rollers. They give so much volume up top!

FASHION

Oura ring. This is a repeat fave but I LOVE my ring. It’s ugly and I hate how it looks, but it tells me so much useful info. I adore it.

Frame slim palazzo jeans. I hate that I’m listing another expensive item here but let me tell you… best jeans I’ve tried in YEARS. I probably haven’t bought a pair I loved in 10 years. This is it!!! They are so stretchy and soft.

Straw sweatband visor. Funny I’m listing this in “fashion” too… but these are my favorite visors since they have removable sweatbands. They are awesome!

MEDIA

Ransom Canyon. I’m such a sucker for soapy dramas like this. It’s like Yellowstone + Virgin River. I loved it!

Great Big Beautiful Life. No surprise here… Emily Henry’s new book was definitely my favorite of the month! It’s so good.

KIDS

Kids slip on sneakers. Jordan LOVES these because he can so easily slip them on himself. They are his play shoes for outside and definitely his favorites.

Giant Connect 4. The kids got this for Easter to have out by the pool. It’s one of their favorite games so we are super pumped!

Polarized sunglasses. Max and Emilia don’t really go outside without sunglasses. I always get each a pair + one extra so we always have them on hand! Their eyes are sensitive and they love these ones.

[none of this is sponsored, i just love to tell you what i love every month! there are a few general affiliate links above! xo]

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Broccoli Cheddar Frittata Souffle.

This broccoli cheddar frittata souffle is so easy and delicious, making it the perfect breakfast for dinner meal! It comes together quickly and the whole broccoli cheddar combo is always a hit!

This is how I like to do breakfast for dinner.

This broccoli cheddar frittata souffle is so perfect when you want a cheesy egg bake for breakfast, lunch or dinner. You can make it ahead of time, enjoy it warm or cold and it tastes absolutely amazing.

I know that I just told you last week how I find different ways to make broccoli for my family. We all love it and it’s easily our number one vegetable. So here’s another! 

Melty cheese, baked eggs and chopped broccoli with all the flavor in the world. It’s such a huge hit over here.

I really wanted to get this to you in time for Easter but with the release of Easy Everyday, I got behind! Before I knew it, the holiday had passed and I didn’t get to share this recipe that we adore.

But!

The good news is that I don’t even make this for holidays! I truly make it for dinner. Or the occasional brunch.

See, this is by far my favorite way to make a frittata. And it’s pretty much the only way I make them now! There is also a new one in Easy Everyday, just FYI. 

The souffle element is so easy and doesn’t take much time at all. You seperate the eggs, whip the whites and then fold the whites into the egg filling.

It’s simpler and once you’ve done it once, it’s ridiculously easy. 

So easy, in fact, that unless I’m incredibly pressed for time, it’s the only way I make a frittata. 

It adds so much – the texture is cloudlike. It’s soft and perfectly chewy. The frittata rises higher and doesn’t fall too much, which is excellent for feeding hungry kids. It reminds me more of a quiche even though it doesn’t have a crust.

This is how it comes together:

I start the broccoli in the skillet so it can soften a little bit. Just a bit! 

Then, I separate the eggs. The yolks go into one large bowl and I add the cheese and herbs.

In a smaller bowl, I whip the whites with a hand mixer until peaks form.

Then, I fold the whites into the yolk mixture gently but thoroughly. Make sure you’re only folding and it’s all incorporated! 

Next, I pour it in the buttery pan with the broccoli. Cook it for a few minutes. Top with more cheese. Then transfer it to the oven where it rises like magic!

Finally, when it comes out of the oven I throw on some arugula or microgreens. Deeeeelish.  (more…)

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A Week In The Life, Vol 17.

Another spring week!

To me this just looks like… allergies! Ha.

Springtime scoot.

And playground picnic.

My tennis girly, always happy.

She loves the mermaid waves in her hair.

Cutest boy!

He had a little easter party at school.

Max was in our school’s play! They did Aladdin!

Jordan was super pumped.

Most excited about the umbrella.

This was so cute!

He had it all weekend.

So cute and fun!

And now there are only like 20 days of school left.

Sunday pita. I love this life!

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What To Eat This Week: 4/27/25.

Here’s a fun menu for your week!

What’s on your menu this week?

What To Eat This Week

Hot ginger salmon salad

Crispy cheesy chicken tacos

Crispy rice broccoli salad

Smoked sausage sheet pan tortellini

Grilled chicken avocado orzo

Crispy potato and gruyere pizza.

Greek orzo salad in a jar

S’mores overnight oats

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Currently Crushing On.

Happy weekend!

Thank you for continuing to make the launch Easy Everyday absolutely amazing . If you haven’t got your book yet, you can order here! There is a big giveaway happening on instagram and another happening in our facebook cookbook club!

This week on the blog, I shared a few of recipes to make with your leftover hardboiled eggs. I also shared this crispy rice salad with broccoli, recipes for kentucky derby weekend and crispy cheesy chicken tacos!

There’s a new menu for the week and a new peek inside our everyday life.

You can find all my favorites in my amazon store front and LTK shop!

xo

WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK

Lemon poppy seed cake looks amazing.

And strawberry crunch cake too!

Migas are one of my faves.

Craving these sesame ginger pork bowls.

White chocolate macadamia cookies. Fave!

This lemon pistachio cake is perfect.

Lime curd cookies. Wow!

This buttermilk marinated chicken sounds fantastic.

Lemon ricotta pancakes are a dream.

Want to try this hearts of palm salad.

Hissy fit dip. Going to make this!

The ultimate shrimp salad.

Cherry moscow mule mocktails!

Definitely trying brazilian cheese bread.

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Crispy Cheesy Chicken Tacos.

These crispy cheesy chicken tacos are dreamy! Made with seasoned chicken thighs, the tortillas are coated in melty, crispy cheese and topped with a quick pico de gallo. Easy, delicious an such a great weeknight meal.

I’m unlocking the secret to one of our favorite meals. 

These chicken tacos are going to become a staple in your menu! They have so much texture, flavor and they are reqeusted over and over again in our house. Simple, crispy, satisfying and customizable.

The perfect recipe!

I’ve shared a recipe before that uses this same cheesy tortilla method: my crispy cheesy breakfast tacos. And they are INCREDIBLE. As in, just writing this out means that I need to make them tomorrow or I won’t be able to stop thinking about them. 

I even like them for dinner, but we love breakfast for dinner. It’s a go-to. 

Here’s the thing though. I make these crazy chicken tacos… my weeknight chicken tacos… and I have for YEARS. It’s an embarrassingly easy recipe, where you make chicken thighs and then shred them in your stand mixer with a ton of seasonings. And then, boom. Chicken tacos. 

It’s an odd way to make the taco filling but it works. It works so well that you’re usually shocked and surprised at how good they are.

So months ago I started thinking… what if I combined them? What if I made the chicken taco filling but used the method for the cheese crispy taco shells?

Um, I must have had a moment of brilliance!

Because these are incredible. 

They are simple. Chicken, some taco seasonings, a quick pico. 

All stuffed in a tortilla that is fried in a skillet with melted cheese. It wears a crispy cheese jacket, if you will. 

When I tell you that the whole family is obsessed with this for dinner, I mean it. These tacos are such a crowd pleaser.

Now they are a little high maintenance, because each tortilla has to be crisped up with some melty cheese. But!

I have a way around that. If you have an electric griddle or a large griddle pan, this is the key. That is what I use to make pancakes, so it’s in rotation often. If you use one of these, you can make four tortillas at a time for the tacos. Which makes it so much easier to serve when everyone is around the table. 

The best part is that you can truly stuff anything in these cheesy flour shells. They are super versatile, so delicious and very easy to make. Warm and cozy and cheese too!  (more…)

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30 Recipes For Kentucky Derby Weekend!

We love watching the kentucky derby every May! Sharing tons of my favorite recipes for kentucky derby weekend below, so break out the hats and pimento cheese and have a little get together!

I’m so excited to share a bunch of my favorite Kentucky Derby recipes in anticipation of the race next weekend!

We love watching The Kentucky Derby and if you’ve been reading forever, then you know Eddie is a huge fan. It might just be his favorite day of the entire year.

I love that we can make a few fun snacks at home and enjoy them for the entire minute or so when the race happens. Ha! No, but really, it’s a fun little micro-holiday (as I like to call them) that we get weirdly excited for and enjoy.

And! If you have a copy of The Pretty Dish, then you know that I have a full derby day menu in there! Super fun with lots of snacks. I have lots of recipes here on the blog too, so I wanted to share in case you’re partaking in the celebration next Saturday, May 3.

30 Recipes for Kentucky Derby Weekend!

(more…)

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Crispy Rice Salad with Broccoli.

Crispy rice is about to be your new BFF! This crispy rice broccoli salad is a dream. Oven toasted until golden and fragrant, tossed with broccoli florets, toasted sesame and lots of lime – this packs a punch and it’s a flavor and texture lovers dream!

New favorite salad alert! 

I mean, I think we can call this a salad. Crunchy, crispy jasmine rice, roasted broccoli tossed right on the same pan, a delish drizzle of golden toasty sesame oil and a few toppings that take it over the top. 

Plus, some lime spritzes. 

Make this and everyone will be thrilled! 

This is not the first crispy rice salad I’ve made! I’ve been making another one regularly for almost 10 years, and I love using kale in said salad. That one has chopped peanuts and a slightly similar flavor profile, and it definitely inspired this salad!

What inspired it most though? My kids’ love of broccoli.

Yes. I can’t even believe I’m typing that out. Broccoli scared me as a child so this is HUGE. 

My kids absolutely adore broccoli and I have my parmesan roasted broccoli to thank. We all love it in this house which means I make broccoli many nights to accompany dinner. I’m always looking for ways to enhance it or change it up a bit, so here we are.

This cute little crispy rice salad with roasted broccoli, sesame, green onions and lime. 

Deeeeelicious. 

I am such a texture freak, so the crispy rice is mind blowingly delicious for me. Easily one of my favorite things to make. It adds SO much to any dish, whether it’s a salad or a grain bowl or a main dish. 

And it’s embarrassingly easy. I simply toss jasmine rice in some olive oil with salt and pepper and roast on a sheet pan. I use my oven, because if I have one more appliance out on my kitchen counter, I’m going to go batty. 

Two important things!

First, use leftover rice. You want it to be a bit dried out because then it will get extra crispy. 

And second, crisp it before the broccoli. 

Yes, here’s the key: crisp up the rice first. When it has about 15 or 20 minutes left (depending on just HOW roasty you like that broccoli), throw the broccoli florets on the pan too.  (more…)

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