Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 60

Summer Fridays, Vol 4.

Happy summer friday! Here’s what’s happening this weekend.

EATING

This smoked salmon cottage cheese toast. And my pickled veggie sandwich. Summer stone fruit caprese, broccoli pimento cheddar melts. Cilantro lime salmon and rice is also on repeat

DRINKING

My grapefruit tequila soda. Or mango frose! Or watermelon frose!

MAKING

Can’t stop making my peach cobbler granola. It’s FABULOUS. Also, my watermelon crunch salad. More bruschetta pasta salad too.

BAKING

Pistachio lemon loaf. And these cookies and cream bars!!

CRAVING

My no churn strawberry ice cream. OMG. And these mojito watermelon wedges!

GRILLING

My grilled shishito peppers are a summer staple here. My pesto peach prosciutto pizza too.

READING

Currently reading The Rom-Commers and LOVING it. Katherine Center is one of my faves! Here’s the big summer reading list.

LISTENING

To breakfast in a Nancy Meyer’s kitchen. Put this on every morning and your day will start beautifully!

LOVING

I can’t even tell you how this beauty by joseon sunscreen has changed the game for me. I struggled putting sunscreen on every morning and would inevitably end up skipping it one (or three) days. My tinted moisturizer always has SPF but it’s not enough. This sunscreen however… oh my gosh! Doesn’t smell like sunscreen, is so smooth and moisturizing. I absolutely LOVE it. They are having their summer sale right now too. Also grabbed one of these essie cuticle roll ons that I love! And my summer shower scrub: the sol de janiero bom dia body.

WEARING

I live in my eggshell eva birkenstocks… years after saying I would never own a pair. I also still live in the hoka bondi 8 sneakers. Right now, the neon coral and green are my favorites. They are just so comfortable! Also, when it comes to swimsuits, nothing beats this la blanca one (I’ve had one since 2010! the blue shades and black are my faves) and I adore my andie swimsuit – the malibu one piece. I’ve had this for years too. Both are SO comfy.

SHARING

My summer entertaining essentials. There are so many things I have been using the past few weeks that I can’t live without. First, the pampered chef cool and serve trays. I have multiple versions of these and use them almost daily in the summer! I didn’t buy through a party or anything, I just bought on the website. I’ve also been LOVING this little toppings holder over ice. It’s perfect. I love how this acrylic ice tub looks during a party. And these side table coolers!!! Life changing.

SHOPPING

The hill house summer sale! I still love the traditional ellie dress so so much. And I love this new shade of bandolier case – these are the best crossbody phone cases ever! Such high quality and look so cute. Also, I really want this rainbow tote?! I can’t handle how cute it is.

CELEBRATING

I know it’s two weeks away, but start combing through my 4th of july recipe guide now!! So many delish ideas that you can make ahead of time.

The post Summer Fridays, Vol 4. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Your 4th of July Recipe Guide!

Sharing my 4th of July recipe guide, with 60+ delicious recipes to make for the most fun summer holiday! Snacks, apps, stuff to grill, burgers, salads, desserts, drinks and more. You can find everything you need right here!

The 4th is going to be extraordinarily delicious!

We’ve got salads and dips and tons of red, white and blue. Of course burgers and hot dogs with pasta salad sides and corn. All the best of the best! Cocktails and mocktails and everything you need to make this weekend off-the-charts incredible.

I love to do a classic BBQ menu with lots of red white and blue desserts and apps. Berries are so fabulous right now that it makes it easy! Lots of my favorite summer recipes are on this list and you can’t go wrong with any of them.

What are your plans for the 4th this year? Let me know what you’re making below.

4th of July Recipe Guide – 60+ Recipes for the 4th of July

10 minutes best grilled bruschetta 

Chimichurri grilled feta

We adore this peach burrata crostini. It’s so good. (more…)

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Creamy Lemon Zucchini Bucatini.

This lemon zucchini pasta is true summer comfort food. Creamy bucatini with melted, caramelized zucchini, fresh lemon zest, garlic and tons of parmesan is one of the most satisfying dishes ever. Add a handful of basil and you’re good to go!

We’ve got a super easy dinner on the menu tonight!

This creamy lemon zucchini pasta is so simple and flavorful. It’s satisfying and filling, loaded with summer herbs and garden zucchini and finished with lots of shaved parmesan cheese. 

Sounds like my kind of dish! 

These are my favorite kinds of meals. Meatless pasta dishes, filled with vegetables and citrus and herbs, finished with parmesan and served on their own or as a side. They please everyone in one way or another! 

I love this served with one of my favorite salads. Eddie usually will eat it as a side dish. For the kids, I can chop up some grilled chicken or shrimp and toss it into one bowl. It’s always a hit!

I’m a huge fan of zucchini and pasta together, especially when the zucchini melts down into this caramelized delicious bite. Take my melted zucchini baked ziti for example. 

There is something SO delicious about cooking the squash down. Even though it takes quite a bit and doesn’t yield a huge amount, it tastes fabulous. 

I find it so worth it – sort of like caramelized onions. The whole flavor packs a punch! 

Here’s how we make it!

First, grate the zucchini. I like to get 3 to 4 cups of shredded zucchini total. Once I have that, I squeeze out as much of the excess water that I can!

Next, the zucchini goes into a big saucepan with some butter, salt and pepper. This cooks down and gets caramelly and absolutely delicious.

While the zucchini cooks, I make the pasta! I boil the bucatini and set some of the starchy pasta water aside too. 

Then comes the cream, lemon zest, herbs and parmesan. This all goes into the skillet with the pasta, as well as some of the starchy water. The good stuff!

I like to mix this similarly to how I mix carbonara: quickly with a wooden spoon or soft spatula, so everything gets combined and almost emulsified. 

Finally, a ton of fresh basil and chives go into the skillet. And I top it off with even more parmesan, this time in the form of shaved parm. Which I adore!

The end result is this deliciously creamy and lemony pasta studded with zucchini bits. It really does remind me of carbonara in a way, just minus the egg. (more…)

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Tuesday Things.

1. Already feels like the summer is flying by! What’s on your bucket list?

2. This no bake chocolate cheesecake is a dream.

3. Current fave snack though is peanut butter stuffed dates, dipped in chocolate, rolled in coconut and stored in the fridge.

4. TV things!! Watched Hit Man over the weekend!

5. Loving the idea of clutter cleansing clothes.

6. Current favorite podcasts? I’m still in somewhat of a true crime genre which is MIND BOGGLING to me as it has never been of interest. I’m making my way through some episodes of Morbid now.

7. How to find focus in a world of distractions.

8. Currently in my fridge: a pitcher of water with fresh mint, lemons, limes and cucumbers! It’s SO refreshing.

9. Updated my summer essentials!

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Peach Cobbler Granola.

I adore this peach cobbler granola! Peach cobbler granola is made with dried peaches, peach preserves, oats, pecans, brown sugar and white chocolate chips. It’s crunchy and tastes like the classic summer dessert!

This is how we make summer mornings magical.

The peach cobbler granola tastes like a crunchy bite of summer, made with dried peaches, peach preserves, oats, brown sugar and tiny white chocolate chips. 

It is SO good. 

I love making a big batch of granola to have on hand for snacks and breakfast. Sometimes even a bedtime snack. I find homemade granola with milk to be incredibly satisfying and filling. 

When it’s made at home, I also love sprinkling in chia seeds or hemp hearts for extra fiber and protein and fat, upping the satiety factor even more. 

How on earth can we make granola better?!

Make it taste like the epitome of summer. A classic summer dessert. 

Here’s the thing: I can’t get enough of this peach cobbler granola.

I’m already completely head over heels for peach cobbler, the dessert.

But turn that flavor into a super crunchy granola that can be sprinkled in yogurt and topped with milk? 

BEST IDEA EVER.

And it’s easy too!

The key ingredients are peach preserves and dried peaches. Dried peaches are very chewy, but in this case we are going to dice them up. I love this because they get caramely and juicy in the oven! 

Butter, brown sugar and peach jam make up the wet ingredients. My favorite peach preserves/jam comes from American Spoon. My family has been eating their red haven peach preserves for as long as I can remember. Years… actually, decades. 

The dry ingredients are where you can get creative. We have:

Old fashioned rolled oats

Dried peaches

And chopped pecans

This is where you can add in any other nuts or seeds that you enjoy. Swap in some walnuts or add those chia seeds here. I also like to add in ground flaxseed sometimes. 

Everything is combined on a baking sheet, baked for 30ish minutes and tossed a few times. Once it sets and cools, a sprinkle of white chocolate chips goes on top! 

Think melty vanilla ice cream or whipped cream when it comes to the chocolate chips. They give a creamy richness to the peach granola that makes it taste dessert-like. But it’s just a bite!  (more…)

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A Week In The Life, Vol 25.

We had such a fun summer week!!

It was a full one too!

Baseball wrapped up!

One last game for Max.

Still making sourdough sandwich bread!!

Every 2 to 3 weeks I make a double batch and freeze.

Waiting for Emilia at tennis. Like whaaaat.

Then it was Jordan’s birthday!!

How on earth is he THREE?!

Blows my mind.

Emilia had a basketball camp and an exploration camp at school all week. Max did a cooking camp!!

Birthday breakfast with baby BFFs.

Cutest.

Jordan was unimpressed.

Trying to be fun summer mom!! Swim day!

My little neon crew.

They must have jumped in the pool 75 times.

Cousin hugs.

Max had another tournament this weekend.

And we had Jordan’s birthday party!

Baby forever.

BFFs forever!

Look at baby Lucy smiling on the side!!

It was also my mom’s birthday too!!

This cake had coconut cream on the inside… OMG.

Funfetti + white chocolate for Jordan’s cake.

He loved every minute.

And there was a gorgeous rainbow outside!

Family date after Max’s game.

These two had a BLAST together this week. It was so cute.

Pizza party.

They even have inside jokes now.

She kills me.

It was a double ice cream weekend.

My girl!

Four points in his game!!

Not serious at all.

Pancakes for father’s day!

And a long hilarious game of UNO.

We couldn’t stop laughing.

Max is very serious and logical so when he cracks up, I crack up.

And they had Jordan in stitches all weekend. What fun!

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What To Eat This Week: 6/16/24.

Love a great summer menu!

What’s on your menu this week?

What To Eat This Week

Summer squash pasta with goat cheese and brown butter

Grilled corn and zucchini summer enchiladas

Grilled shrimp lettuce wraps

Summer pesto mini meatball soup

Marinated tomato BLTs

Chili lime chicken street corn pizza

Summer chicken tortellini salad

Bircher muesli 

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Currently Crushing On.

Hello weekend!

This week on the blog I shared these grilled shrimp lettuce wraps. I also shared this summer chicken tortellini salad, the most amazing peanut butter cup golden grahams s’mores bars and a new summer fridays post!

Plus, a new weekly menu and a peek at a week in our life.

You can join The Everyday Dinners cookbook club right here! If you have a copy of the book, request to join the group. If not, get one here!  Ready to start on fall! It is such a wonderful community and an amazing place for recipe ideas.

xoxoxo

WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEK

Flank steak tacos for the win.

Need this black cherry ice cream!

Italian sub pasta salad sounds good too!

Making breakfast BLTs!

Strawberry rhubarb sauce for everything.

A simple cucumber salad is perfect.

Jalapeno poppers! So good.

Craving this strawberry sheet cake shortcake!

Raspberry crumble bars too.

Love this banana pudding pie.

Salted oatmeal chocolate chip latte cookies. What!

And this couscous salad. Delish.

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Summer Fridays, Vol 3.

Happy summer friday! Here’s what’s happening this weekend.

EATING

My buffalo smashed cucumber salad. And grilled chicken caprese pasta salad. Ooooh and root beer pulled pork. Finally, grilled chicken orzo salad!

DRINKING

Strawberry summer water. And frozen gin & tonics!

MAKING

A ton of stuff for this weekend. 48 recipes for father’s day right here! Oh oh plus my hot honey chili crunch dip! And jarlsberg cheese dip.

BAKING

Aperol spritz snack cake! And my gruyere herb slab biscuits!

CRAVING

My ricotta pancakes with salted blueberry butter. YUM.

GRILLING

The perfect slider bar. My pimento cheese grilled chicken sandwiches! This chimichurri quinoa bowl.

LISTENING

To this father’s day playlist! It’s a good one.

READING

Swan Song!!! I mean… it feels like a full circle moment. P.S. huge reading list right here.

WEARING

CRZ yoga does it again… their skirts are SO good. I love this pleated tennis one, this a line golf skirt and I even got the ruffled one! And even though I hate shorts I am so tempted to try one of these lightweight shorts/shirt sets!

LOVING

My favorite things to gift on father’s day? Polarized sunglasses, massage guns and backpack coolers. Boring, predictable but all so useful and practical! I have a huge list of all my favorite father’s day gifts here.

SHOPPING

Okay so Jordan’s official birthday was yesterday and as the third child, we have just about every toy he would be interested in! In a moment of utter panic I ordered the pony cycle and OH MY WORD was that a fabulous idea. He absolutely LOVES it. I love that it’s a bike (cycle… duh) and not motorized. He has had so much fun and adores it. We also set up this waterfall wall for him on our deck and he was in heaven! Max and Emilia love that too.

CELEBRATING

Jordan’s third birthday party tonight!! I have NO IDEA how on earth he is three years old. I feel like I had him five minutes ago. How is this possible?! Anyhoo, we have a truck with lots of construction vehicles so that is the most important! Today is also my mom’s birthday! And father’s day this weekend. And US Open weekend! SO many good eats coming up.

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Peanut Butter Cup Golden Grahams S’mores Bars.

We adore these golden grahams smores bars with peanut butter cups! Super melty, marshmallowy and ridiculously crunchy, these bars are like a giant crunchy s’more filled with mini peanut butter cups. Everyone goes wild for them!

Here’s to the crispiest, crunchiest treat you can make this season.

These golden grahams s’mores bars are filled with melty marshmallows and mini peanut butter cups. They are gooey and crunchy and filled with the best flavor combo in the universe: chocolate and peanut butter.

If you haven’t tried the golden grahams treats, you must. They are basically rice krispy treats, but with golden grahams.

And I don’t even know how to say this, but golden grahams are kind of better than regular graham crackers.

YEP.

I said it. 

They are so thin and crunchy and crispy. Poured into a bowl of milk… the texture is phenomenal. So I can’t even begin to express how great they are mixed with melty marshmallows, brown butter, peanut butter cups… 

I mean, oh my gosh. 

This is how I make them!

First, brown a stick of butter. LOVE this. I let it bubble and get some brown bits.

Then, I stir in the marshmallows. Let them get super melty and creamy. Add a splash of vanilla too!

Next, take everything off the heat. Stir in a bunch of the graham cereal. 

THEN, stir in some mini peanut butter cups! I love the ones from trader joes, but reese’s makes them now too! 

The key is doing a quick fold so they don’t totally melt. Use a strong, sturdy spatula because the marshmallows are sticky and can be hard to stir. 

I press the entire mixture into a 9×13 dish using parchment paper to press and pack. 

The best part about these? They only need, like, 30 minutes to set. Maybe not even that!

On the flipside, you can make them an entire day ahead of time before slicing them. Super fun and versatile for a summer cookout! (more…)

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