Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 25

Currently Crushing On.

Hey hey weekend!

First up, I started a new substack called curated cravings! It’s a little bit more personal than here, so subscribe if you’d like! Nothing is changing here, it’s just extra content that is new and exciting. Plus some sneak peeks from the book! HUGE news! I released the bonus cookbook if you preorder a copy of Easy Everyday. If you’re local to Pittsburgh, you can also RSVP to the book launch night!

This week on the blog, I shared these chipotle cheddar cauliflower enchiladas. I also shared these crispy potato egg souffle bites, some of my favorite drinks for spring and this banana cake with chocolate peanut butter frosting.

I shared my amazon spring favorites and I also shared my March favorites!

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

I also shared my easter faves, kids’ easter basket items and spring favorites too!

And I shared a bunch of my favorite home items since moving last year!

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

You can finally order a copy of my next book, Easy Everyday. I would be so thrilled if you ordered today! And be sure to join the Facebook group for the super fun community!

xo

WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK

This is the perfect iced matcha latte.

Furikake chex mix!! Oh my yum.

I need this steak taco salad.

Texas toast egg in a hole! Perfection.

Love this mexican vegetable soup.

Dubai chocolate cookies. OMG!

These guinness brookies are so creative.

Tequila sunrise popsicles. Yes please.

This bourbon chicken looks incredible.

Shredded beef enchiladas. Yessss.

Gorgeous lemon blueberry cake.

Lemon bundt cake too!

Love an oatmeal breakfast cookie.

Soft boiled egg salad is amazing.

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Banana Cake with Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting.

This is my favorite banana cake with chocolate peanut butter frosting! It’s just like banana bread in cake form, feeds a crowd and is blanketed with an incredible cream cheese frosting. Perfect snack cake!

I’ve got your weekend treat!

This banana cake is topped with chocolate peanut butter frosting and it is divine! The loveliest snack, a great after-school snack or even a fantastic weekend dessert.

We love it! 

The cake is made with plain greek yogurt and it’s incredibly fluffy for a banana dessert. It’s light and airy but so reminiscent of banana bread – it’s like instant nostalgia in cake form. 

If you’ve made my banana cake with coffee frosting before, then you know alllll about this incredible recipe.

The cake is the perfect mix between banana bread and sheet cake. My kids go crazy for it. I love it because it makes a big 9×13 inch cake, and these days one loaf of banana bread is gone in a day around here. 

However… this lasts a little longer.

And the frosting! Chocolate peanut butter lovers unite! 

Oh but wait – it’s not just chocolate peanut butter. It’s chocolate peanut butter cream cheese frosting!!!

Cue all the exclamation points. 

I am such a cream cheese frosting freak. I don’t even LIKE frosting in general. But cream cheese frosting? I love.

The tangy creaminess… oh it’s just perfect. 

And there is something about it when it’s mixed with peanut butter! Like peanut butter cheesecake. Major favorite forever.  (more…)

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March Favorites.

A peek at everything I loved in March 2025!

FOOD

Sour cherry preserves. I’m on a real english muffin, almond butter, cherry jam kick. It’s so good.

Bees Knees salted honey. This… is amazing. I thought I loved hot honey? New obsession unlocked.

Blueberry yogurt pretzels. I first had blueberry pretzels 12 years ago and I constantly think about them. They are so good. Like deliciously artificially good. Such a fun snack! My kids are loving them too.

Starbucks Iced Cherry Chai. I can’t get enough of this. It is so super delicious! The cherry cold foam… oh my gosh.

HOME

Breville air fryer pro. I’ve had this for years but am instantly reminded how wonderful it is. It’s super easy and such a great air fryer!

Easy plant. I’ve wanted to get house plants since we moved in. We have TONS of natural light and I knew I needed to find the right plants but I also wanted good, high quality ones. We just don’t have many places around here that fit the bill. In my search I discovered easy plant and I bit the bullet a few weeks ago. I got a trio and two stands and I LOVE them!! The pot makes the watering process so easy and there is no guessing game. I don’t have a green thumb so this is key. I am so happy with them!

Fresh Wave odor absorbing gel. I use this in my car under the front seats. If you have kids and they are in activities and you basically live in the car every evening… um you get it. This is great! No scent – it doesn’t make the car smell fragrant – but it does absorb odors. I change it out every two to three months or so.

Artificial tulips. These fake flowers are the most realistic ones I’ve ever seen. They are so good and I’ve used them for years. Make it instantly feel like spring!

BEAUTY

RMS magic luminizer. If you’ve followed along, then you know I’ve loved this for years. This provides the most natural glow that is so so pretty. I use it on my cheekbones, bridge of my nose, cupids bow, brow bone, etc. It’s so natural and you only need the tiniest amount. I love it.

Kitsch XL thermal rollers. I’ve been using these to add body to the top of my hair and am so happy with them!

Crown Affair hair towel. I’ve now used this for over a year (or more) and I have two that I can switch between. They just released it in black and if you have dark hair that is dyed, it’s such a game changer. I use this daily and can’t live without it. The strap and the back makes it SO worth it.

FASHION

Varley Zip Through Knit. Particularly in the azure blue! I got one of these a few years ago and LOVE it for spring and summer. Their new blue shade is absolutely stunning and I’m so glad I grabbed it. It’s much brighter than their usual neutrals.

Joy lab high rise skort. I LOVE THIS. It is so comfortable, so cute and such great quality. And the leopard print is so good (so are the solids) – you know how leopard can be iffy? This one is super cute!

MZ Wallace Denim small sutton. Maybe it’s because I love the 90s at heart but a denim bag is my favorite. I have multiple MZ Wallace bags that I’ve used for well over 10 years (my first diaper bag with Max!) and the quality is incredible. They are just so easy to use and fit so much.

MEDIA

Substack! In case you missed it I launched a substack this month to celebrate one month out from Easy Everyday and I love it. It feels like old school blogging – more personal – and it’s such an incredible community. You can subscribe here!

Care and Feeding. Definitely my fave this month – a hard read but so good.

Paradise. What an incredible thrilling show! The cast is awesome.

KIDS

Scented water wow books. My kids loved water wow books when they were younger. I grabbed the scented ones for something fun for Jordan to do at his siblings’ sports and activities. He (and Emilia!) both love them and it keeps them entertained for quite a while.

Gemstone name necklace. These are sooo cute – I’ve got them for my nieces and Emilia and just bought another for a birthday. The downside is that they take forever to arrive but they are adorable and great quality!

Daise foaming body wash. Both Max and Emilia LOVE these. All of the scents are so good! I mentioned this sundae one last month, but this is a fraction of the price!

[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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18 of My Favorite Drinks For Spring.

My favorite spring cocktails and mocktails are filled with aperol spritzes, kombucha smashes, grapefruit margaritas and more. Perfect way to wind down just as the weather gets warm and springy.

It’s officially spring!

I mean, spring is definitely in the air over here.

We get one small tastes of it and I am here for all the warm weather beverages.

There is just nothing like when the weather first warms up and drags you out of the winter gloom. Since things are ever-so-slighty looking up, there is a great reason to enjoy a cocktail (or mocktail) on the patio in the lovely spring weather. The days are longer, spring is so close we can taste it and it’s the perfect reason to make a fun drink. I’m very partial to a spritz these days or even a smash with some fresh fruit. Something very light and refreshing and simple.

There are a few of my favorite mocktails sprinkled in here, along with some of the best spring cocktails I’ve made over the years. They are so delish! Which one is calling your name?

18 Spring Cocktails and Mocktails

(more…)

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Crispy Potato Egg Souffle Bites.

These egg and potato souffle bites are one of my favorite things to make for easy breakfasts and snacks. Crispy potatoes, melty gruyere cheese, fluffy, tender egg muffins – they are so satisfying and delicious!

Breakfast is on the menu today!

These souffle egg bites are so delicious, easy to prepare for breakfasts ahead of time and even something that you can make for dinner with bacon and sourdough toast.

Sounds amazing if you ask me! 

I’m almost always craving breakfast. It’s the OG comfort food. 

And because there are just SO many variations that you can make with eggs, you know they are always a winner. 

I have a similar recipe for these in my next cookbook, Easy Everyday! They are something I make constantly and we LOVE them. 

They are better than traditional egg muffin bites because you whip the egg whites first. It gives them a lighter, fluffier texture. They are so satisfying to make and to eat! 

I store them in the fridge and either eat them cold or warm them up for a few seconds in the microwave.

And the best part: there are so many variations! You can add just about any fillings that you love. (more…)

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Amazon Spring Sale Favorites.

It’s amazon spring sale time!

You guys loved when I shared this during prime day, so I wanted to share again. You can find all my picks for the sale here (everything is something we have or I bought during this sale!) and see a few up above. But I wanted to mention my top 10 (well, 12, because I can’t help myself) – the things that I think are stand outs and what I use daily or weekly!

Amazon spring sale favorites + the best of the best.

Here are my top 12 spring sale picks!

Hulken bag! This might be the first time it’s on amazon! I use this more than ANY bag. It’s incredible for using for trips, groceries, school stuff, work. etc. I can’t live without them.

Zero gravity chairs. I bought these last summer and we LOVE them. They are incredibly comfortable, super light and easy to move around and we all love them. 63K reviews don’t lie.

Tineco vacuum map. How can I profess my love for this? Sometimes I use this EVERY SINGLE DAY – every day of the week! It is the best. It cleans my floors like nothing else.

Oura ring. I am IN LOVE with my oura ring. The data it provides for sleep, stress, recovery, etc is incredible. Yes it tracks activity/steps and all that, but it’s all the other data that blows my mind. I wish I would have got it sooner!

Cosmetics bag. My favorite makeup bag! I’m on my second one and just love these. They open so nicely.

Weighted vest. I only have a 12lb weighted vest but I love it. I actually like wearing it around my kitchen more than just walking with it!

Dyson car vacuum. Hello, my entire life revolves around vacuums now. This is 40? I bought this yesterday during the sale!! Very pumped.

Air doctor air purifier. I’ve had these in our home since we moved in! I knew it would help in a new build especially when there was still work being done in our basement. I am so happy with these!

Lens wipes. I have a box of these at all times and I keep the packets EVERYWHERE!! Not only do I use these constantly for my own glasses and sunglasses, but even my kids use them for their sunglasses. They are excellent.

Rotary grater. Anything that requires a lot of cheese? This is what you need to use. Or even for taco night. It is fabulous.

Briotech spray. Look up the uses for hypochlorous acid spray and your mind will be blown. I am never without this now.

Bioderma shower oil. So guess what I use this for? To remove sunscreen on myself and the kids! The fact that it has a pump is gam changing. And I use that super thick white sunscreen all over them – oil cleansers are the only thing that removes it. I love this one, it lathers up, removes everything and then I go in with regular soap!

What are your top picks?! I’ve love to hear below!

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Tuesday Things.

1. Tomorrow night (3/26) I’ll be live on instagram and facebook talking all about Easy Everyday! You can get a special signed copy of the book too!

2. This is my dream: pistachio ricotta cake.

3. In what I can only describe as my worst nightmare, I think we have a mouse (mice?!) in our walls. Oh my gosh. I mean, I’m convinced it’s a tiger, but you know.

4. the amazon spring sale is today! Here are all my favorites.

5. Tell me your favorite luggage brand/pieces!

6. 20 quotes to change the way you look at stuff/clutter.

7. Just your reminder that easter peanut butter m&ms reign supreme.

8. TV things!! Oh my gosh – Paradise! Why have I not watched this until now?! I was in the vortex all weekend and it is incredible. I adore the whole cast. SO GOOD. Hate how the season ended. Eeeep.

9. I really want to try the crispy spaghetti that’s everywhere.

10. We’re got another easy everyday sneak peek recipe up! THREE WEEKS!!

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Chipotle Cheddar Cauliflower Enchiladas.

These cauliflower enchiladas are so satisfying and delicious! Chipotle roasted cauliflower is mixed with sharp cheddar for a melty filling and stuffed in a flour tortilla. Baked with sauce until warm and cheese, these are divine!

I made you dinner!

These chipotle cheddar cauliflower enchiladas are a delicious weeknight favorite. They are so filling and perfect for taco night! 

And here’s a secret: the excitement is alllll in the toppings. 

Lots of toppings for everyone! 

It’s been far too long since I shared an enchilada recipe! If you’ve been around here forever, you might know that enchiladas were one of the first (if not, theeee first) dishes that I ever made for Eddie. They became a favorite for both of us and to this day, are still a major go-to for us.

I’m always looking for new ways to spice things up and add uniqueness to the dish. And while I’ve made many variations, I’ve never made a cauliflower enchilada before. It sounded delish!

One of the most made recipes from the side are these cauliflower and black bean sheet pan fajitas. They are extremely hearty and filling and ridiculously flavorful too. So I knew the combo would work in enchiladas! 

They are slightly high maintenance because this recipe does require roasting the cauliflower first. That ensures that the veggies get tender enough to wrap in the filling. It makes the dish so much better! 

I roast the cauliflower first with chipotle chili powder and lots of smoky seasoning. 

While the cauliflower roasts, I make the enchilada sauce. This is what MAKES the recipe. It’s so simple and delicious! For years I used canned enchilada sauce, then once I started making the homemade stuff, it changed everything.

This makes the enchiladas taste like the best enchiladas you’ve ever had! 

I make a classic cheese enchilada and they are incredible. So I took that recipe and added the roasted chipotle cauliflower to the filling. Oh my gosh – these are fab! 

Baked and topped with extra cheese, then blanketed in allll the toppings… we all get super excited to see this on the dinner table.

Our favorite toppings are:

Shredded lettuce

Chopped tomatoes

Pickled onions

Sliced scallions

Cotija cheese

Fresh cilantro 

And even avocado!

Just depends on what you have in the fridge. The toppings can make it so much more enjoyable and even more filling.  (more…)

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A Week In The Life, Vol 12.

Another week down!

We had a fun little spring week!

Living in her rollerblades.

It’s been so so pretty out!

Tennis started back up!

She loves it.

School drop offs.

He is so silly.

Hockeys over but still going to play!

And basketball for this silly one.

Morning giggles.

I made rice krispie treats!

Celebrated our baby BFF birthday!

Yessss please.

Cutest little friends!

Painted.

And more paint.

Then snuggled up to me for a nap. Yes I still keep washing/putting on our winter sheets. They are so comfortable!

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What To Eat This Week: 3/23/25.

First week of spring meals!

What’s on your menu this week?!

What To Eat This Week

Warm spring quinoa salad bowls

Crispy potato tacos bowls

Sheet pan smoked sausage tortellini

Weeknight spinach baked gnocchi

Crispy fish sandwiches with chopped slaw

BBQ chicken with citrus slaw

Chickpea pasta salad

Baked apple cinnamon oatmeal

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