Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 61

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…)

The post Peanut Butter Cup Golden Grahams S’mores Bars. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp Lettuce Cups.

These grilled shrimp lettuce wraps are a delightful summer meal! Grilled shrimp, cilantro lime dressing, corn, cotija cheese and fresh lime come together for the most delicious bite. Major summer favorite!

New favorite dinner alert!

These cilantro lime shrimp lettuce wraps are super fresh, easy and taste amazing. The shrimp is grilled to perfection, doused in cilantro lime dressing, topped with corn and cotija cheese and wrapped in a butter lettuce + iceberg combo.

It is divine. 

The perfect summer bite!

I’ve been dreaming of making this for dinner all spring. It’s such a refreshing and satisfying meal, one that tastes great at the end of a hot summer day. Preferably eaten on the patio with a lovely little spritzer.

Maybe even add some yacht rock. I am secretly 80 years old! 

Oh my gosh – the flavor!! 

If I had to choose one dressing to have forever in my fridge, out of all my recipes… I think it would be this one.

There is something so fresh, bright and flavorful about this dressing. It’s not overly cilantro-y or overly lime-y. It’s the best balance of both and when served with something like lettuce wraps and grilled shrimp, is the epitome of summer.

The dressing is what makes this recipe. You can make it a day or so ahead of time and store it in the fridge so it’s ready to go. Just shake it before using. 

Everything else is super easy.

Grill the shrimp. It takes literal minutes. 

Build some lettuce wraps. I love a combo of both iceberg (for refreshing crispness) and butter lettuce (for that soft wrap-around texture). I layer them and serve the shrimp on top. 

Once the shrimp is in the cup, I add corn, cotija cheese and a few big drizzles of the dressing. 

THAT’S IT! (more…)

The post Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp Lettuce Cups. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Tuesday Things.

1. This elote pasta salad looks incredible.

2. Recently have revisited the “bowl of cereal before bed” snack and it’s giving me life right now. So good.

3. Going to try this 3 things nighttime routine.

4. TV things!! Rewatched the summer I turned pretty over the weekend. Can’t believe we have to wait an entire year for it to come out again.

5. Costco is no longer going to sell books. NO.

6. On that same note, my favorite place in the world to walk into is a book store. Better than anywhere else!

7. Helpful rules to own less stuff. Love this for decluttering.

8. Yesterday the kids asked me what “getting grounded” meant. Um, can it always stay this way please?

9. As an olive lover, I have decided that I must candy them!

The post Tuesday Things. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Summer Chicken Tortellini Salad.

We adore this chicken tortellini pasta salad! It’s the perfect summer lunch or dinner, can be made ahead of time and is super satisfying. The pesto vinaigrette makes it extra delicious!

Big summer vibes in a bowl today!

This summer chicken tortellini pasta salad is filled with so much flavor, complete with tomatoes, corn and green onions, lots of fresh herbs, tender chicken, cheese tortellini and a pesto vinaigrette. 

This is an easy summer salad that you can make ahead of time for lunch or even dinner prep. Make it to take in a cooler to the pool or beach, pack it in containers for grab-and-g0 meals. It’s simple and easy!

You can make it even easier by using a rotisserie chicken. Grab it, shred it up and throw it right in this salad to make this a 30 minute meal. 

This is a dish that I can bring together fast. I often have some tomatoes and green onions on hand – occasionally I even have them chopped already. Herbs can be torn and throw in a bowl, the dressing can be made ahead of time or right before. However you want to do it!

And cheese tortellini only takes three to four minutes to cook!

Easiest dish ever. 

We are infatuated! 

Here’s what goes into our salad:

Cheese tortellini – or any version of tortellini you like. 

Shredded chicken 

Cherry tomatoes

Corn 

Green onions

A bunch of fresh herbs! Thinking basil, parsley and chives 

And then comes the dressing. 

Seriously, the best part of this pasta salad is the pesto vinaigrette! I use a few tablespoons of my pesto and whisk it into a vinaigrette. You could totally stir in a store-bought pesto too, making this super easy and quick. It’s a great way to elevate a summer dressing and bring in some herby flavor without making a full blown pesto pasta dish. 

This all gets stirred together and it lasts in the fridge. It’s something you can make ahead of time – or make right before eating. Everyone loves it, it has tons of flavor, lots of staying power (most satisfied ever!) and tastes better as it sits.  (more…)

The post Summer Chicken Tortellini Salad. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

A Week In The Life, Vol 24.

Summer is in full swing over here!

And we had a full week!

Very much loving a lavender latte in the morning.

Made my bruschetta chicken pasta one night.

Max had one of his last baseball games!

I’ve never seen so many snacks consumer.

The little catcher!

A bowl of watermelon in the early morning sun.

I could eat him up!

Max had a day with a friend so we went swimming!

Canonball!

Little fishies.

Too cool for school!

Emilia had a baseball game mid week.

I made a batch of pumpkin muffins in June!

Because Max had a hockey tournament this weekend. I always make them muffins & cookies to take.

We took a little mall trip while Max and Eddie were away.

Just showing her my ways…

White pizza is the best pizza.

Max had a few goals in the first game!!

Eddie dressed him up at bass pro shop… he was thrilled.

My baby.

Emilia had one last game for the season.

These cute little baby BFFs.

And Max finished out his tournament!

Onto the next week of summer!!

The post A Week In The Life, Vol 24. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

What To Eat This Week: 6/9/24.

We’ve got a delicious summer menu today!

What’s on your menu this week?!

What To Eat This Week

Summer risotto stuffed peppers

One pot garlic butter chicken and orzo

Vodka sauce baked bucatini

Grilled garlic baguettes with italian chopped salad

Summer salmon with chimichurri

Summer shiitake tacos

Southwest couscous bowls

Peaches and cream oatmeal cups

The post What To Eat This Week: 6/9/24. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Currently Crushing On.

Happy saturday!

This week on the blog, I shared these summer shiitake tacos with cilantro ranch. I also shared these smoked turkey & provolone summer sliders, a ton of recipes for father’s day and a new summer fridays post!

You can find a bunch of father’s day gift ideas here and my may favorites here.

And everything I read in May!

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

Love this veggie pizza dip!

Firecracker ice pops at home.

This peach simple syrup needs to happen.

S’mores cake!! OMG.

Italian tortellini pasta salad sounds amazing.

Avocado salad is the perfect side.

Homemade cosmic brownies. My kids will flip.

Chocolate gobs. Eddie loves these.

Trying these summer quinoa stuffed peppers.

Strawberry trifle. It’s perfect!

Can’t wait to make grilled mango chicken.

Making a peach crisp. Yes yes.

The post Currently Crushing On. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

What I Read In May 2024.

In my opinion, this is the best reading month of the entire year! So many of my favorite authors released books in the last few weeks. I can’t get to them fast enough!

I shared my giant summer reading list a few weeks ago – you can find it here!

Let me know what you’re reading below!

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. That’s where I got a few books from this month. I get so many of my new releases and debut author books there. You can sign up for one here.

All of these books are linked through bookshop (if available!) and I highly suggest shopping through there because it will support your local indie bookstore. You can choose the local bookstore to support! I support Penguin Books when I buy which is my fave here in Pittsburgh.

WHAT I READ IN MAY 2024The Paradise Problem – 4.75 stars

Ah, such a fabulous one. I loved this book so much. The story follows Anna, who we meet five years after she married a guy for family housing in school. It was a business arrangement, but they never officially divorced. And now he is back and is asking her to play the part of his fake wife. I love a fake dating/marriage trope so I thought it was great! Funny too. Anna is such a fun, unique, quirky character and I loved her. And Liam so much.

This Summer Will Be Different – 5 stars

Okay, I loved this just about as much as Every Summer After. Oh my gosh – it’s the ultimate delicious summer book. The story follows Lucy and Felix – Felix is Lucy’s best friend’s brother. They accidentally meet BEFORE she knows he is her BFF’s brother and we follow their situationship for a few years. This was so great and I was curious the whole time what Bridget’s issue with her fiance was! Loved the ending, loved the characters.

How To End a Love Story – 5 stars

Loved this one!! It had me hooked instantly. I love a second chance romance/reconnection and this is just that. Helen and Grant reconnect on a work project after a many many years when a tragic event occurred. The story is heart breaking but SO good and the chemistry is incredible. Loved ALL the characters in this.

Happy Medium – 3.5 stars

Man, I wanted to love this one so much. This is the author who wrote Mrs Nash’s Ashes which I adored. This was just a like for me though. The story follows Gretchen who is a fake spiritual medium and intends on helping an “old man” – who ends up being young and gorgeous. I don’t usually love ghost stories so I went in not expecting much. The ghost is funny and friendly, the story is cute but it was just a little outlandish for me.

The Guncle Abroad – 4 stars

I loved The Guncle and this almost felt like I was watching the second season of a series! I want them to make this into a show/movie. Definitely read the first book first. This second one follows the kids and their uncle, their father and what is happening five years after the first book. I still think I loved the first book a little more, but this is super cute!

Ready or Not – 3.75 stars

This was one of my book of the month picks a few months ago. I really liked it! This story follows Eve who has a one night stand and finds herself pregnant. It’s another story where we find the main character in a situation with her friend’s brother, haha! Super cute and I really liked the ending.

The Rumor – 5 stars, forever

I re-read this novel of Elin’s in anticipation for the release of Swan Song this month!! This was one of two of her books that she suggested rereading and man, I loved the revisit. This is definitely one of my favorites of hers!

(This is not sponsored but there are a few bookshop and/or affiliate links above! Thank you for reading!)

The post What I Read In May 2024. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Summer Fridays, Vol 2.

Back for round two of summer fridays! Here’s what’s happening this weekend. (more…)

The post Summer Fridays, Vol 2. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

48 Recipes For Father’s Day Weekend!

All of my favorites in one place for father’s day weekend, from the best hot dog bar, a slider bar, frozen icy cocktails, grilled snacks and sides, salads and treats!

We’ve got the best of the best for father’s day weekend!

There are SO many incredible recipes here – to use this weekend or through the end of summer. Every BBQ needs some grilled sides and icy drinks!

I have the ultimate Father’s Day weekend recipe guide here – tons of dishes we love (and Eddie’s absolutely favorites too, let’s be honest). From the best ever ribs (I adore the root beer BBQ sauce) to my smash burgers to alllll the things with caramelized onions, I’ve got you covered!

48 RECIPES FOR FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND

(more…)

The post 48 Recipes For Father’s Day Weekend! appeared first on How Sweet Eats.