Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 68

Crispy Potato Taco Bowls.

We love this crispy potato taco bowls for an easy dinner! Crunchy, roasted potatoes, ground turkey taco meat, cheese, guacamole, lettuce, tomato and all the toppings. Make it your own and it’s a weeknight dream!

I will never pass up a taco bowl!

These taco bowls are made with a base of crispy roasted potatoes, topped with ground turkey taco meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickled onions and tortilla chips.

They are super filling and super easy.

I love a meal like this! It’s a perfect weeknight meal, especially when you’re super busy and not sure what to make. The bowls are customizable based on what you enjoy (or let’s be real – what your kids want to eat) and you can use whatever you have in the fridge.

I like to use a base of ground turkey taco meat, but beef works, as does chicken or even just beans. This can be meatless or meaty – your choice.

These bowls are inspired by one of my favorite tacos that we get on vacation every summer. That taco itself is unique and has loads of flavor and texture, and I put my version of the recipe in my next book. (!!!!!)

But the potatoes stuck with me! Potatoes were my favorite food when I was a kid and most days I will choose them over rice. Especially this way. 

I love using the crispy potatoes as a base for taco bowls. They work in addition to rice or in place of rice! And they add such a wonderful crisp bite. 

Here’s how I make it happen!

I roast the potatoes first. This is simple! Olive oil, salt, pepper, maybe some garlic powder.

While the potatoes roast, I make the ground turkey taco meat. I use my own seasoning blend and have for years. But you can use your favorite spice pack too. 

Next, I chop everything I need! Tomatoes, lettuce, jalapenos, cilantro. Grate some fresh cheddar. Make some guac! 

When the potatoes are crispy, I like to top them with a bit of cheese and stick them back in the oven until it melts. You can do this for the entire pan or even just one or two servings. 

Finally, time to make the bowl! I put the potatoes in the bowl first, then top with meat and cheese. Next, all the toppings I can grab.

Life is all about toppings! (more…)

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A Week In The Life, Vol 16.

We started off the week with the eclipse!!!

The kids were off school for this… and I almost didn’t even get the glasses.

I’m so glad I did because it was so cool!

Loved experiencing this with them.

It didn’t get completely dark here, but it was noticeably darker!

Recipe fail!! Whomp whomp.

Emilia can feed the sourdough starter all on her own now.

Took a little trip to urban air to get the wiggles out.

They love it.

Emilia got to bring home the class “pet” this week – thank goodness it’s not a real one. She took it to tennis.

We sat in the rain while she played!

This is what a two hour target trip does to you.

Fave girl!

I couldn’t find Jordan for a minute. Came over and here he was. My heart!!!

Made sourdough pizza with our pet too.

Sourdough crust is the best.

We’re still very into puzzles over here.

Friday night we went to see our school’s musical!

Eddie took Jordan BACK to target. His favorite place.

Sugar high before bed.

Max loves all the trading cards.

Saturday we celebrated my cutie pie niece’s birthday!

I think Jordan needs a ponycycle.

Made a triple batch of sourdough waffles this morning because everyone LOVES them. Lots in the freezer now.

I can practically smell them through the screen.

Masters sunday morning!!

We got the taste of the masters this year so that is what we ate today!

It was good! I think we’d get it again.

And now a new week!

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What To Eat This Week: 4/14/24.

Your delish new menu is here!

What’s on your menu this week?!

What To Eat This Week

Homemade spaghettios!

Crispy baked quesadillas

Pork milanese

Black bean smashburgers

Sloppy joe stuffed peppers

Maple BBQ salmon and couscous

Pesto smashed chickpea salad

Smoked salmon cottage cheese toast

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Currently Crushing On.

Hello weekend!

This week on the blog I shared this charred cauliflower orzo. I also shared these sloppy joe stuffed peppers, a bunch of dinner ideas when you don’t know what to cook and these incredible black bean smashburgers.

And here’s everything I read in March!

There’s a new weekly menu up 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

Homemade chamoy!!! Making this.

Beautiful quiche florentine.

Peach cobbler pound cake. OMG yum.

Love this hot taco dip too.

Serrano sweet pea guacamole. Yes please.

This spiced chicken salad looks so good.

Hot little biscuits. Making them this weekend!

Craving this sweet chili shrimp.

Homemade hot fudge sauce. Delish.

Whoa – croissant french toast bake.

Salted caramel cheesecake. WOW.

I must make brown butter brioche.

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Black Bean Smashburgers.

These black bean smashburgers are my favorite veggie burger! A simple, easy black bean mixture is smashed into a hot sizzling pan until super thin and crisp. Top with cheddar and add your lettuce and tomato – omg! It’s perfect.

Weekend burgers are on the menu! 

This black bean burger is super flavorful and crisp with the crunchiest edges. It’s smothered in cheese and served with lettuce, tomato and my signature house sauce for the ultimate smash burger… made with beans! 

I’m in lust. 

Oh my gosh. 

This burger is my new favorite thing, EVER.

And that’s saying a lot, because I have an excellent veggie burger recipe already. I also have a fabulous baked black bean burger in Everyday Dinners!

But I’m quite partial to smashburgers – I just can’t help it. I love them because they are such thin, skinny patties! I don’t like to eat thick burgers – it reminds me of eating a meatball or something. Just on a bun.

So smashburgers it is. For me, forever. 

It’s just going to be that way always. 

This is how they come together!

First, I drain and rinse a can of black beans, then smash them with a fork. I like to smash them with the fork so some pieces remain whole but others are smashed – leading to excellent texture. 

Spices come next! Smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper, some dried thyme… these are my favorites. I love the flavor combo they create. 

Then, those extra ingredients to bind everything together. Some seasoned bread crumbs, a beaten egg. Cheese!! A little goes a long way. You can also add some diced shallots or peppers if you wish! 

I use my hands to bring everything together, and just like ground beef, I divide the mixture into four equal portions. And I form them into balls, because this makes the entire smashing process easier. 

Next, the smashing! A hot cast iron skillet, some avocado oil – and smash. I press one of the burgers into the skillet, then use the back of a glass to smash it into the skillet, pressing it into the thinnest patty that I can! 

Once the burgers are cooked on both sides, I add on some cheddar cheese. The rest is easy: brioche or potato buns, lettuce, tomato and house sauce. 

Or anything else you love on your burger.  (more…)

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27 Dinners I Like To Make When I’m Not Sure What To Cook.

These are some of my favorite easy recipes for dinner! All of these are on my list of things to make when I don’t feel like cooking. The best dishes that give me inspiration in the kitchen – ones that are still easy to make!

I’ve got dinner inspo for you today!

I threw together a list of some of my favorite recipes that I keep in a list when I don’t know what else to make. Things that I make when I don’t feel like cooking and am majorly lacking inspiration for dinner. I’ve shared one of these posts before and you guys loved it, so I figured it was time for another one!

I’m always looking for weeknight meal inspiration that includes meals that everyone will eat. There are a few big family favorites on this list as week as a couple of dishes that I really like to make for just myself.

What do you make when you don’t feel like cooking dinner?! Besides a phone call for takeout…

27 Easy Recipes For Dinner

(more…)

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Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers.

These sloppy joe stuffed peppers are a delicious and satisfying weeknight meal! My classic tangy and sweet sloppy joes are stuffed into roasted peppers and topped with melty havarti cheese. So good!

Dinner tonight!

These sloppy joe stuffed peppers are incredibly filling and perfect for a satisfying weeknight meat. The roasted peppers are filled with the tangy, sweet sloppy joe mixture and blanketed with havarti cheese, then popped into the oven until melty and golden and bubbly. 

Major favorite over here.

You can’t beat the ease of a stuffed pepper, especially when you can make half of this recipe ahead of time. It’s simple and quick to prepare and the leftovers are fantastic. I love having this for lunch the next day!

This recipe is a combo of our favorite sloppy joes and my taco stuffed peppers! I love how flavorful and satisfying the peppers are. They can be served in so many different ways or topped with crushed tortilla chips.

And I am here for it! 

I realize these don’t look like much. But they are so flavorful. So perfect when you need a good filling dinner. Cozy and delish.

I didn’t grow up eating sloppy joes, but the flavor still tastes very nostalgic to me. My family goes absolutely WILD over the sloppy joes. We eat sandwiches, sometimes topped with cheese, and Eddie often tops potatoes with the sloppy joe mixture. 

To start, I throw the peppers in the oven. YES. This is key! I do a quick little pre-roast of the peppers while I’m making the sloppy joe meat. This is my favorite stuffed pepper hack. It gives the peppers a head start – they become a bit caramelized and roasty all over, plus the inside of the peppers get a lot of flavor too! 

Then I make the sloppy joe mixture. I love to use a mixture of ground beef and turkey for this. I brown it and cook it with smoked paprika, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar and more. All of these ingredients bring that classic smoky, saucy, tangy and sweet flavor.

Next, I fill the roasted peppers up with the sloppy joe mixture. I top them with piles of grated havarti cheese and pop them back into the oven.  (more…)

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Tuesday Things.

1. How cool was the eclipse?! We loved it! It was such a nice day here and the kids were off school. Loved experiencing it with them.

2. This cheese quesadilla looks like the best one I’ve ever seen.

3. Our warm weather has me so ready for summer and I’m dying to plant my herbs. But it’s waaaay too early here. Very tempted to start them all inside.

4. Also, I still want a darn fiddle leaf fig. I really am a millennial.

5. How to live well.

6. TV things!! Still loving Girls on The Best, Palm Royale,

7. The 70 degree temps also have me going over my summer essentials list.

8. It’s 100% iced lavender latte season. My fave!

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What I Read In March 2024.

We’re getting to the most wonderful time of the book year – all the fun new releases!! I read so many good ones this month!

Let me know what you read down below.

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. That’s where I got Bye Baby 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 MARCH 2024Expiration Dates – 4.5 stars

This was my favorite of the month!! It was SO GOOD. The story follows a girl who receives a piece of paper (from the universe? I guess.) as soon as (or shortly after) she starts dating someone, and this piece of paper gives her a timeline of how long they will be together. I saw the ending coming and I hoped that it was the ending. I just loved this story so much, however I do wish some of the loose ends were tied up – like how and why did she receive these notes?! Super good though and I was hooked instantly.

The Reason I Married Him – 3.5 stars

I love to read a good Meghan Quinn book at night – it’s fun, light and fluffy and puts me in a relaxed state of mind. I didn’t feel this way when I first started reading them, so they’ve grown on me! This story follows a girl who accepts a proposal from an acquaintance because she wants the land he owns. In turn, he receives something if he is the first married grandchild. It was a good read, one I couldn’t put down, and I love how so many of her books are tied together. They don’t have to be read in order, but many of them have the same characters in them!

A Love Song For Ricki Wilde – 5 stars

Oh my gosh – LOVED this one. It was such a lovely surprise, I didn’t see what was coming. This story follows a girl who leaves her family (and family business) to move to New York. Her family kind of gives off Kardashian vibes in a way, and she is the youngest. The story is told in past and present day and there are lots of twists and turns! If you’re into the whole idea of fate, I think you will love it. The connection and relationships are so good and the epilogue!! Eeeeep!!

Recipe For A Charmed Life – 3.5 stars

This was so super cute. It follows a chef who has a dream to own a restaurant in Paris. But she loses her talent and has a series of disasters one night, which ends up leading her to visit her estranged mother. This place is charming and I just adored it – plus she ends up in a situation with the resident oyster farmer who is a big grump. Loved the ending of this, the relationships and the characters. It was an fun read and while it wasn’t a major page turner for me, I really enjoyed it!

Bye, Baby – 3 stars

I knew going into this one that it was risky. I don’t like reading any thrillers that involve kids, especially babies, and if you read the summary, you’ll know what that means. This story follows two friends – basically a toxic friendship – and their differences in their lives now along with their upbringings. One is tragic, one is more of an escape. There is also an influencer aspect to this book which was fun (and infuriating) to read about. There were parts that went slow for me but also a good majority where I just couldn’t stop reading. It is “scary,” and I did end up ultimately liking it, even though most of the characters were unlikeable.

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

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Charred Cauliflower Orzo.

This cauliflower orzo is one of our favorite side dishes. Charred, roasted cauliflower, dilly lemon dressing and tender orzo are combined with feta cheese, toasted pine nuts and tons of fresh herbs. So delicious and versatile!

I’ve got this dish on repeat.

This charred cauliflower orzo salad is filled with feta cheese, crunchy pine nuts, tons of fresh herbs and a delish dressing. It’s easy, comes together fast and lasts great in the fridge! 

Dishes like this might just be my signature. Hearty pasta-based salads that are packed with flavor and texture and can be used in a multitude of ways.

Adore it. 

I love my charred cauliflower carbonara so much. I’m always looking for new ways to incorporate that cauliflower, and I’m so excited that I’ve found it.

It sounds crazy, but I’ve always said that roasted cauliflower tastes like popcorn. Not fully like popcorn, but it takes on a toasty, buttery flavor and it was one of the first vegetables I learned to enjoy. It’s easy and simple and doesn’t require a lot, and you know when I can eat a vegetable with parmesan, it’s good. 

I love that this salad can be served warm or at room temperature. Or even cold straight out of the fridge. It can be both a main dish and a side dish, served over greens as a salad or even the base for another protein. 

We’ve added chicken, chickpeas and I’ve even thrown some tuna in here.

It’s good! 

Here’s how it comes together! 

I roast some cauliflower to the high heavens. Get it TOASTY. Those dark bits of flavor are what makes this dish shine. 

While the cauliflower roasts, I cook the orzo. If you’re serving this as a chilled/room temp salad, you can even cook the orzo ahead of time and store it in the fridge! 

I also get all of my other ingredients ready. I toast some pine nuts, chop a ton of fresh herbs, crumble some feta cheese and make the dressing.

As usual, the dressing is one of my favorite parts. I like to serve this with a dilly lemon vinaigrette and it’s super easy. Whisk it all together and boom, done. And! It can be made ahead of time.

Next, throw everything in the bowl. I do like to toss the orzo with some of the dressing first just to get everything coated and incorporated.  (more…)

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