Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 63
May 27, 2024
Memorial Day.
Remembering all today who gave their lives for our country and those who continue to protect and serve.
xoxo (more…)
The post Memorial Day. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
May 26, 2024
What To Eat This Week: 5/26/24.
Summer is back!
What’s on your menu this week?!
What To Eat This Week
The post What To Eat This Week: 5/26/24. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
May 25, 2024
Currently Crushing On.
It’s the weekend! And unofficial start of summer!
This week on the blog I shared this potato salad with crispy shallots. I also shared this red white and blue sheet pan shortcake, a bunch of recipes for memorial day weekend and my summer reading list!
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 WEEKReally good pasta salad! I love this.
This beef tinga sounds incredible.
Strawberry cinnamon rolls. YUM.
Craving a lemon shandy refresher.
Strawberry rhubarb pie cookies. Yes yes.
And strawberry tiramisu is amazing.
Cauliflower grits look fabulous.
Love these classic meringue cookies.
The ultimate guacamole. Making this weekend.
Making these blackened shrimp tacos.
Grilled sausage with mango salsa. Delish.
Need this sweet potato cornbread.
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May 24, 2024
My Summer 2024 Reading List!
It’s here!
This is one of my favorite days of the year – sharing my summer reading list. Oh my gosh – there are SO many great books this year. My list doesn’t even cover them all. I am so excited about all of these reads for the season!
The first half of the list is full of books that are already released, with the second half in order by release date. There are some weeks where I just can’t even wait for a new release. I have 99% of the books linked below to bookshop.org. If you are able to purchase the books through bookshop, it would mean so much to me! Bookshop supports YOUR local independent bookstore. To me, bookstores are MAGICAL. I walk in and instantly feel like I’m in a Nancy Meyers movie and could stay there all day.
If you prefer to purchase on amazon, I’ve also made a 2023 summer reading list shop here for easy access.
Also! If you’re new around here, my go-to reads and favorites picks are most types of women’s fiction. Light, fun, beachy reads are my #1 choice. I love to listen to nonfiction, memoirs and autobiographies on audible. I like thrillers, but have a few triggers that I stay away from. I read to escape, to get lost in the story, to feel like the characters are my friends. And I actually love the day after I finish a great book and can’t even stand to start a new one because I’m mourning my new (character) friends. It’s the best worst feeling.
I can’t WAIT to hear your recommendations in the comments, what you’re reading now and what’s on your list!
MY 2024 SUMMER READING LISTListen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Leaving by Roxana Robinson
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
Come and Get It by Kiley Reid
Last House by Jessica Shattuck
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
After Annie by Anna Quindlen
The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl
The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer
Lovers and Liars by Amanda Eyre Ward
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
The Only Black Girl in the Room by Alex Travis
Blank by Zibby Owens
Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie: A Novel by Jackie Lau
Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello
The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan
A Storybook Wedding by KJ Micciche
The Me List by Julee Balko
Summers at The Saint by Mary Kay Andrews
Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman
Husbands by Mo Fanning
Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan (6/4)
Enlightenment by Sarah Perry (6/4)
Meet Me in Tahiti by Georgia Toffolo (6/4)
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (6/11)
What Fire Brings by Rachel Howzell Hall (6/11)
The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden (6/11)
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood (6/11)
The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center (6/11)
Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand (6/11)
One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon (6/11)
Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo (6/18)
The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine (6/18)
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley (6/18)
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager (6/18)
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller (6/18)
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston (6/25)
A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey (6/25)
Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams (6/25)
Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell (7/2)
Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella (7/2)
The Cliffs by J Courtney Sullivan (7/2)
The Match by Sarah Adams (7/2)
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (7/2)
This Used to Be Us by Renée Carlino (7/9)
The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin (7/9)
Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle (7/9)
Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerry Mayne (7/9)
Humor Me by Cat Shook (7/9)
The Hollywood Assistant by May Cobb (7/9)
It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier (7/16)
The Design of Us by Sajni Patel (7/16)
A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner (7/16)
A Certain Kind of Starlight by Heather Webber (7/23)
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell (7/23)
No Road Home by John Fram (7/23)
What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena (7/30)
Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus (7/30)
The Days I Loved you Most by Amy Neff (7/30)
Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman (7/30)
House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen (8/6)
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston (8/6)
The Axeman’s Carnival by Catherine Chidgey (8/13)
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig (9/3)
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (9/10)
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (9/10)
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop (9/17)
P.S. FOR OTHER READING RECOMMENDATIONS:you can check out all of my reading lists here!
Especially my 2023 summer reading list, 2022 summer reading list, 2021 summer reading list, 2020 summer reading list, 2020 fall reading list, 2020 winter reading list, 2019 fall reading list, 2019 winter reading list, my 2018 summer reading list and my 2017 summer reading list!
(This is not sponsored and I purchase all books myself! There are a few affiliate links above to bookshop and amazon. Thank you!)
The post My Summer 2024 Reading List! appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
May 22, 2024
Red, White & Berry Sheet Pan Shortcake.
The perfect dessert for summer! This berry sheet pan shortcake is delicious and feeds a crowd. The biscuit cake is fluffy and flavorful, topped with a mascarpone whipped cream and all the berries. Pretty and festive too!
I live for a festive summer cake!
This berry sheet pan shortcake is so delicious and easily feeds a crowd! The biscuit cake is so fluffy and tender, full of creamy vanilla flavor. It’s topped with a whipped mascarpone cream and all the fresh summer berries.
It’s so fun and gorgeous and looks pretty on the table!
I first saw the idea of this sheet pan shortcake on southern living. I was instantly hooked! It makes so much sense to me – especially when it comes to entertaining friends and family in the summer!
I love that you can make a big slab biscuit that essentially pulls apart easily. And then top it with whipped cream and tons of fresh berries!
Oh and speaking of whipped cream… It’s mascarpone whipped cream.
!!!!!!!!!
Dreamy!
Words can’t express how delicious this biscuit cake is.
The thing is that it’s not sweet. It is not overly sweet at all. And it’s studded with blueberries and strawberries for the perfect fruity pop in the cake.
I also choose not to sweeten the whipped cream. There is something about unsweetened whip cream that I just love, especially in a dessert. It’s light, fluffy and almost tastes more decadent when it’s NOT sweet.
What a revelation!
I cut up tons of berries! I like to use strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. But any berries that you have work. Use what is in season for you.
The cake is super simple. Flour, sugar, buttermilk, cream… I love these ingredients. Delicious!
I stir in some chopped berries too. And then I scoop it onto a sheet pan, lined up in the little scoops. Then I bake it and let it cool.
While the cake is cooling, I make the whipped cream! Heavy cream and mascarpone with a touch of vanilla. I like to keep it soft. I don’t whip it to heavy peaks… just very soft peaks.
The key is frosting it once it’s cool, this way the whipped cream won’t melt off. And then top it with tons of berries!
You can also do some fresh mint and even a drizzle of honey.
Use a spatula to gently cut and pull apart the shortcake to serve. It’s so easy! (more…)
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May 21, 2024
Tuesday Things.
1. Majorly craving this lemon meringue strawberry shortcake!
2. I saw a video on IG of someone covering fritos in peanut butter and chocolate and I’m half horrified, half intrigued.
3. And people are putting pickles in soda!! I mean, I live for pickles, but hmmmm.
4. Also I know it’s the trend and now I am old/not cool, but you couldn’t pay me a million dollars to wear high socks. Ankle socks for life.
5. My life is complete because we finally got a shake shack! By far my favorite burger place, ever.
6. TV things!! I need something new to watch. Or binge.
7. May totally got away from me. I can’t believe that my summer fridays series starts next week!
8. Oh and my summer reading list comes THIS WEEK!!! Eeeep. I’ve read so many great books already this month and am just so excited for summer reading.
9. Supposedly the best summer freeze pops you can get are the wyler’s italian ice ones! Now I need to try.
10. All my summer favorites are here! Including current kid favorites and entertaining favorites too.
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May 20, 2024
Potato Salad with Crispy Shallots.
This potato salad with crispy shallots is a favorite summertime side dish! Tender, buttery potatoes in a creamy dressing with celery and dijon. Add in lots of herbs and crispy shallots and you have the perfect potato salad!
Side dish summer!!
This creamy potato salad with crispy shallots is my new fave. The potatoes are buttery, the dressing is tangy and briney and the bowl is filled with fresh herbs and crispy onions!
Sure sounds like a dream potato salad to me.
If you’ve been around here long enough, you probably remember when I shared my mayo-less potato salad. A non-creamy potato salad with tons of flavor but none of the creaminess.
I still LOVE that potato salad. You guys do too. It’s consistently a top recipe every summer.
But! As I got older (or just, well… old), I decided that maybe I do like a creamy potato salad.
Hear me out.
I don’t like it SUPER creamy. I don’t want the potatoes swimming in dressing. When I think about that, nightmare deli cases with soaking wet soggy potatoes in cream come to mind. Nothing appetizing or appealing at all.
But the idea of a simple potato salad with a light creamy dressing – not light on flavor and not even light in general – just a lighter dressed version – sounded wonderful to me!
That’s it. I’m definitely old, right?
We all know that I need some texture. It’s practically my middle name.
Food shouldn’t even exist without texture, in my opinion.
Those of you that are able to eat egg salad or pimento cheese on soft white bread? I might secretly think you’re a monster.
Now add some potato chips and I can totally get behind it.
So, yes. I had to add SOMETHING.
Crispy shallots were my top choice.
And the best part? You really don’t need to make crispy shallots anymore. Trust me, I have plenty of recipes on this blog where I’ve made my own crispy shallots. It’s not that difficult and it doesn’t even require that much oil.
But doing so still adds in some extra work, and these days you can get really great crispy shallots at the grocery store.
I use those! Sue me.
You also won’t believe it, but I add celery to this potato salad.
WHAT.??????
I know.
Celery is on my hit list. But there are very few instances where I can manage celery and find that it improves the dish. This is one of them. Again, it adds that incredible crunch that you can’t really get anywhere else.
That leaves us here, with this crispy shallot potato salad. If you’re looking for other delish versions of potato salad, I also make a mean smashed potato salad, this potato salad with piccata vinaigrette and even my bacon blue potato salad.
Yay summer! (more…)
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May 19, 2024
A Week In The Life, Vol 21.
This year is going too fast!
This is their new favorite thing to do and it kills me!
While the big kids were at their activities, Jordan and I took another trip to the greenhouse.
He is so fun.
Can’t wait for summer days.
Cutest colorful girl.
Jordan had a fun picnic day…
While I got to go with Emilia on her class field trip!
Jordy got to hang with Cooper at the park.
And we visited one of our favorite farms!
Had a few more baseball nights!
Such a pretty night!
He looks 15!
We had a fun adventure park date with cousins.
Jordan loves it.
And a cousin playdate!
Also had a BFF bowling date.
When you’re the baby you get to play all the games.
Look at these natural little beach waves!!
Ended the weekend with a rousing game of Uno.
It’s their fave!
Only two more weeks of school left!!
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What To Eat This Week: 5/19/24.
Most delish meals coming at you this week!
What’s on your menu this week?!
What To Eat This Week
Smashed chickpea tortilla wrap
Mediterranean smashed turkey burger tacos
Kale pesto pasta with roasted chickpeas
Strawberries and cream oatmeal cups
The post What To Eat This Week: 5/19/24. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
May 18, 2024
Currently Crushing On.
Hello weekend!!
This week on the blog, I shared these strawberries and cream baked oatmeal cups. I also shared this grilled portobello burger, a ton of recipes for memorial day weekend and these peanut butter iced coffees!
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 WEEKBang bang chicken skewers! Oh yum.
Love this green goddess hummus.
Mexican street corn salad is perfect.
Love this rhubarb upside down cake.
Fried pickles forever.
These strawberry blueberry daiquiris are so fun.
Mini pimento cheese balls! How cute.
Craving chocolate strawberry scones.
Refrigerator pickles are also a fave.
I want these apricot ginger scones.
Pistachio cake!! I am love it.
Absolutely adore this strawberry caprese pasta salad.
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