Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 5

Cinnamon Swirl Zucchini Bread.

This cinnamon swirl zucchini bread is delicious! A perfect way to use up your garden zucchini, it’s tender and moist with the most wonderful swirl of cinnamon sugar. Easy to make too!

Snack time!

This cinnamon swirl zucchini bread is perfectly spiced, very moist and tastes amazing. It’s a wonderful little snack and gives you an excellent excuse to eat cake for breakfast. 

If you have ten million zucchini to use up, I’ve got an idea for one of them!

Or ten. You can definitely make ten loaves and give them away to friends. Fun fun. 

I’ve been making this zucchini bread for years and years but I usually top it with chocolate chips. Or swirl the chips right in the batter. I hate to say it, but it’s pretty much the only way my kids will eat the zucchini bread. Not because they don’t like it without the chips… but because they get too freaked out by the green bits of zucchini in the bread.

Which will keep them from even eating it!

Add some chocolate and problem solved. They can’t ever say no. 

But! The thing is that I love a cinnamon quick bread. I am always partial to bread or muffins that are coffee cake flavored or cinnamon swirl flavored. And I knew it wouldn’t be too difficult to make – it just takes a mini minor switch.

The recipe is straightforward and simple. All you have to do is stir together some sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle it over the batter halfway through the loaf pan. Then sprinkle it again on top. 

Also, a little pro tip. When I’m making this recipe, I don’t usually squeeze out all the liquid from the zucchini. I find that it takes away moisture – keeping some of the liquid in that zucchini makes the bread so moist and tender.  (more…)

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Tuesday Things.

1. Anytime I am shopping for clothes on the internet, I search for leopard print. Always. Mob wife era forever.

2. Oh how I am craving a cookie butter latte!

3. I’m always forever testing the perfect brookie.

4. How to get into a flow state.

5. This may be my new favorite thing: my recent buys.

6. TV things! Anyone else watching Platonic?? Still waiting each week for TSITP like my life depends on it.

7. These home libraries are absolutely dreamy.

8. The new Jonas brothers album is so good! I can’t stop listening. Am I 15?

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Creamy Feta Burgers on Pillowy Pita.

These creamy feta greek burgers are incredibly juicy and flavorful, served on homemade pita that is soft and fluffy! Topped with tzatziki, roasted red peppers and pickled onions, they taste amazing and are incredibly satisfying.

A burger-y dinner tonight is perfect for the menu! 

These greek feta burgers are juicy and flavorful, served on pillowy pita bread with all the toppings. Think of your favorite greek salad fixings and that’s what we’re adding on top. Plus a super creamy tzatziki to really give it some oomph.

Oh how I love a meal like this!

I think there is something about serving a burger on a vehicle other than a bun that makes it special. Maybe special isn’t the word – it makes it more enticing. You know? The texture is different and it essentially switches up the whole meal.

That’s what I live for and how I plan our family’s meals so we rarely get bored or find ourselves eating the same thing week after week. 

These pitas? On the menu all the time. But we find different ways to enjoy them and that makes them exciting! 

I first started making this pita a decade ago and it’s been a staple ever since. It is so easy to make, rises within an hour and the dough puffs up so nicely in a cast iron skillet. Not to mention – they taste amazing. I will find just about anything that I can to wrap in this pita.

Today, it’s a spiced greek-inspired burger topped with felt that gets melty and creamy. Some herbs and spices, a nice sear on the outside if you use the cast iron skillet and tons of flavor. Plus, everything delicious on top. 

Let’s talk about toppings! That’s what we’re all about here anyway. 

First, a little quick tzatziki. Grate your cucumber, it’s the best way. 

We also have roasted red peppers.

Some pickled onions! I used shallots. It was all I had. 

Creamy feta melted right onto the burger. 

And some crisp lettuce too. 

There is so much flavor, texture and major crunch. We go from creamy to tangy and back around – it’s delicious! And the best part is that this is completely customizable. You can add whatever toppings you love and it will taste wonderful. Hummus is great on it too! 

If I plan to make this for a meal during the week, I usually make the pita ahead of time. That way they are made and while it’s not difficult, it does take a bit of time. The secret is rolling out the pita as thin as possible and making sure the skillet is HOT.  (more…)

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A Week In The Life, Vol 36.

First week of September in the books!

We had such a good one!

So excited for school in the morning that he needs to take a picture.

Car line buddy.

Tennis started this week!

They get bubblegum after and she loves it.

Hockey officially started this week too!

Love.

Cross country runs.

He’s such a little nugget.

Ordered him a bed ages ago and it finally came without all the parts of the bed. So his mattress is on the floor for now and he is thrilled.

Made my crispy chicken buffalo wraps!

First game of the season!!

How they stay busy.

And he had his first goal of the season too! Woohoo!

Basically a golden retreiver running.

Loves it.

And today was the first cross country meet of the season!

Come prepared with all the snacks.

Did his own personal race ahead of time.

What a run!

Max working his butt off.

And then this little one coming in first place!!!! I thought she came in second, but she blew by someone right before the finish line. Unreal! We were bawling!

Such a fun way to end a week!!

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What To Eat This Week: 9/7/25.

I’ve got the most delicious meals for you this week!

What’s on your menu this week?!

What To Eat This Week

Grilled shrimp and corn orzo

Taco smashed potatoes

Pizza chicken quesadillas

Sausage burrata pasta

Crispy fish tacos with mango slaw

Melty meatball wraps

Summer tuna chop

Pumpkin zucchini muffins

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Currently Crushing On.

Hello hello!

This week on the blog, I shared my favorite game day recipes! I also shared this apple cider granola, a bunch of recipes to make if you go apple picking and our favorite creamy chilled pizza dip.

Here are my August favorites.

If you haven’t joined my substack newsletter yet, you can do so here! I also have shared all our favorite back to school items here.

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!

Thank you for continuing to make the launch Easy Everyday absolutely amazing . If you haven’t got your book yet, you can order here! xo

WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK

This sweet potato bisque looks incredible.

Pumpkin tres leches is the best.

I always want dill pickle dip

Chocolate mousse pie is stunning.

The best street corn dip!

Apple cider moscow mule. Yum.

And caramel apple floats! Omg.

Pumpkin whoopie pies are super delish.

Love these chicken fajitas.

Rigatoni with red pepper sauce looks lovely.

Making this slow cooker orange chicken!

Spinach artichoke chicken salad. Yessss.

It’s pumpkin espresso martini season.

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Chilled Pizza Dip.

This chilled pizza dip is so delicious and the perfect make-ahead game day appetizer. Crispy pepperoni, provolone and fontinella come together to give this the ultimate pizza flavor. We love it!

I’m all about the game day recipes right now!

My chilled pizza dip is super flavorful and perfect for a football weekend. It can also be made ahead of time (like the night before!) which is key when you want to take something fantastic and unfussy to a tailgate or party. 

This is one of those recipes that EVERYONE will ask for. And it takes virtually no time at all!

By now, many of you have made my chilled queso. I have a version here on a blog and a different one in Easy Everyday. It is one of my most popular summer recipes – and with good reason! 

While completely unassuming, it tastes incredible. Everywhere I take my chilled queso – everyone who eats it – absolutely flips over how delicious it is.

It doesn’t look like anything special. In fact, it almost looks a bit unappealing if I do say so myself.

When we created that recipe a few years ago, it was after my cousin Lacy had eaten it at a restaurant. Well, it just so happens that earlier this summer, she had a cold pizza dip from a local italian marketplace that inspired this exact recipe!

The version she ate was different. It was definitely cream cheese based and very pink from roasted red peppers or sun dried tomatoes. And that was our plan all along – to make it similarly. But once we started testing things in the kitchen, we determined that it HAD to be made like the chilled queso. 

The texture of the chilled queso is unmatched. It’s creamy enough to scoop up with a chip but sturdy enough to last at a party without getting gross. It’s made with real grated cheese, and when we tried to mix real grated cheese with cream cheese – it was too thick. Not scoopable, barely spreadable, and nowhere near as good as the cold queso!

So we took the cold queso recipe and turned it into a pizza version. We used the exact same method, but this time we crisped up some pepperoni in the oven. And we swapped provolone and fontinella for the cheddar and monterey jack.  (more…)

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What To Make If You Go Apple Picking This Weekend!

Here you’ll find the best apple picking recipes! ‘Tis the season for so many delicious ways to use this fruit. Savory salads, tarts, desserts, cocktails and more. You’ll find all my favorites and way to use up those gorgeous gems you picked.

I have the best of the best apple recipes for you!

Apples are one of our favorite foods in this house. I live for apple season.

In fact, I might even love apple season more than pumpkin season. I definitely love apple cider flavors more than pumpkin flavors. So I’m here with all of the best apple recipes because the minute they come into season, I’m on it.

If you haven’t been apple picking yet, ooooh now is the time! The honeycrisps are ripe and perfect and tart and ready for all the delicious recipes. We will probably go once or twice in the next few weeks. My kids eat two or three apples right in the field, they love them so much. And there is no better excitement than when we get home and have tons of apples to cook and bake!

Below you’ll find a mix of savory and sweet options – the top faves in our house. If I have to choose a favorite it may be the apple fritters… or the homemade apple cider! Which would you choose?

20 OF THE BEST APPLE PICKING RECIPES

(more…)

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Apple Cider Granola.

This apple cider granola tastes like fall in a bowl! It’s so crunchy and spiced perfectly, made with oats, apple cider, apple butter, pecans and more. We love it for snacking or breakfast!

It’s officially apple cider season!

This apple cider granola is filled with cinnamon, oats, pecans, apples and made with a delicious apple cider brown sugar mixture to bring it all together. It has crunchy clusters and tastes amazing in yogurt or eaten as cereal.

Or by the handful!

I adore apple cider so much more than other fall flavors. Sure, pumpkin and pomegranate are great, but apple cider has my heart forever. It’s such a wonderful nostalgic flavor and I don’t find it to be as polarizing as pumpkin either.

Plus, my kids love it too! 

My all-time favorite granola recipe is my salted maple granola. It’s a staple around here. So I used that recipe as a base, as well as my peach cobbler granola. I made a delicious apple cider version that none of us can stop eating. It is SO crunchy.

And I am the biggest texture freak ever!

Jordan loves granola just as much as I do, so he has been going crazy over this. I like to use chewy dried apples (not apple chips!) in the granola – these remind me of quaker instant oatmeal in the best way possible. Again, it’s a super nostalgic and familiar taste and texture. And the chewy texture really adds to the whole pan – we have lots of crunch, chew and spice! 

When serving, I like to add in some freeze dried apples. I love how they are crispy crunchy. More apple flavor? Yes please.

Now, you can buy an apple pie spice or make your own. I always have apple pie spice on hand because I love to use it in baking and even in things like oatmeal. Or this granola! But the main spices you need are cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. I also occasionally add in a tiny pinch of cardamom for even more warmth. 

Not only do I use apple cider and the apple pie spices in this granola, I also like to use apple butter! If you don’t have apple butter, an apple preserves would work too. My favorite is from american spoon! 

The apple butter gets simmered with the cider, butter and brown sugar to make theeee most absolutely decadent appley syrup that coats the ingredients before baking. 

When it comes to nuts, you can use what you love in this recipe. I like pecans for the fall-like feel, but sliced  or chopped almonds work well too. So do walnuts! 

And if you like a fancier granola, of course more add-ins are welcome. Coconut, pepitas, flax and more. Since I’m in a kid-dominating household, I try to play to their favorite flavors. Another great option is more dried fruit, like cranberries or cherries.  (more…)

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Tuesday Things.

1. First week of september calls for pumpkin baked oatmeal and I am here for it!

2. These air fryer chicken tacos look so incredible.

3. What’s your must have fashion item for fall this year?

4. My mom has a ridiculous amount of this vintage tupperware.

5. TV things!! Still can’t stop watching TSITP. Also watched the thursday murder club!

6. See also: why adult women love TSITP!

7. Oh and I really want to try dirt bombs.

8. Fall reset is in full effect this week! Cleaning out all the kitchen spices, tools and my makeup/toiletries.

9. The best life is a simple one!

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