Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 71

Greek Yogurt Carrot Cake Sheet Cake.

This carrot cake sheet cake is tender and moist, filled with wonderful spiced carrot flavor and topped with toasted pecan cream cheese frosting. It’s easy, delicious and feeds a crowd!

It’s carrot cake season around here!

This carrot cake sheet cake is super easy to make, loaded with carrot flavor, lots of spice and topped with the fluffiest toasted pecan cream cheese frosting. It’s the best carrot cake to make for a big gathering or potluck, because you can make it ahead of time and it will feed a bunch of people! 

Would you believe it if I said I’m not a huge carrot cake fan?! I think it stems from the fact that growing up, most of the carrot cakes I was served included raisins and/or some version of nuts. 

We all know that when raisins masquerade as chocolate chips… It’s just offensive. And I couldn’t get behind nuts in any dessert as a kid. 

Also, the fact that I really hated vegetables back then? Made carrot cake my worst nightmare. 

Then, I started coming around! To be honest, I think it was the cream cheese frosting. I’m freakishly obsessed with cream cheese frosting, as you know. 

I also make a really delicious pistachio carrot cake, and that got me on board with carrot cake + nuts. Pistachios are so buttery and salty and I LOVE what they add to carrot cake. P.S. I also address my cream cheese frosting obsession in that post so… we’ve come a long way. 

Or not. 

This recipe is based on my pumpkin sheet cake and my banana sheet cake. Both are crazy popular here on the site and they are easy to make, taste fantastic and feed a crowd.  

Add this one to the list! (more…)

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20 of My All Time Amazon Favorites.

We’re in the midst of the amazon spring sale and I thought this was the best time to share my faves with you! You can see some of my favorites from that sale here. But the whole thing inspired me to do one of these general favorite posts because I LOVE reading them from other people. I mean, who doesn’t love discovering a great find that can be dropped on your doorstep in two days?

I probably discovered almost all of these things from posts and IG stories just like this!

If you’re a regular follower, you’ve read about many of these in my favorites posts over the last decade! I also still have my amazon store front which has reading lists, summer favorites, baby and kid must haves and gift guides. And more!

Share some of your faves below with me!

Current Amazon Favorites

Parchment paper sheets. I have repurchased these a million times. I’ve used them for years and it’s the best way to use parchment paper with ease.

Diamond kosher salt. I also get my kosher salt from amazon! Diamond is my favorite kind, no matter what. This is also where I get my giant tub of flaked salt too.

Rotary cheese grater. This has been LIFE CHANGING!! If you are adamant about grating your own cheese (the best for tacos, mac and cheese, soup, etc), this is a must have. It suctions to the counter and grates cheese so quickly. It’s the best.

Loaf cake keeper. As a banana bread family, we use this every week! I also keep my sourdough sandwich bread in it too.

Farmhouse stonewear bowls. Speaking of sourdough, I needed a very heavy stone bowl to stretch and fold my dough. This is perfect. And it’s neutral and pretty too.

Simple Modern trek tumbler. I’ve raved about these for years so I’ll keep it simple: much better than Stanley. Spill proof, sleeker, lighter, etc.

Frost Buddy tumbler cup. I also LOVE this little tumbler for drive thru coffee! You can use it with cold and hot coffee.

Scout insulated cooler. This is my go-to cooler to use with kids. When I want to throw in some yogurts, fruit, etc but not pack full-on lunch boxes, this is awesome. It’s the best size! Also love using it for sports in the warm weather.

Motion sensor night lights. We have these all over our home. Wonderful with having kids.

Lightweight gold step ladder. I bought a few of these when we moved – we now have four! They are SO slim and lightweight – I like to store them all over the place. This sounds crazy but they are actually just so pretty to look at.

Press iron and steamer. I loathe ironing and this has changed that for me. This is like a flat iron for your clothing. I use it every week.

Pumiey bodysuits. I never thought I’d be a bodysuit person but these have changed me. They are like if a light lululemon align material was made into a bodysuit. And I love all the cuts!

Best no-show socks. The only socks that don’t slip AT ALL. They are the very best. I almost exclusively wear these.

Kitsch silk scrunchies. These silk scrunchies are what I use in my hair anytime I put it up while at home. I adore them.

Manta scalp massager brush. I bought both my mom and myself one of these for christmas. It’s a more gentle scalp brush and it’s flexible too.

Kenra blow dry spray. I’ve been using this for over a decade. Excellent heat protector and I swear it cuts my blow drying time in half.

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream. This is a polarizing product but I love it. It’s almost like a vaseline. I use it every night on my lips and hands. It is always on my nightstand.

Vitamin d3+k2 spray. Use this daily and have for years. One of my favorite supplements!

Cordless stick vacuum. I’m on my second one of these (the first broke in our move) and I love it. This is my kitchen vacuum. It’s so incredibly lightweight and it is excellent for crumbs. I can’t live without this.

Washing machine cleaner. I use this every month!! We do a ridiculous amount of laundry in our house.

De Solv It laundry saver. This has saved so many of my lululemon clothes – and anything else that has a lot of modal in it. This removes stains even after clothes have been in the dryer. I have yet to find something it doesn’t work on.

Mattress vacuum cleaner. I was influenced to purchase this and it’s fabulous. It’s actually gross how much it picks up from the mattresses. Gross and satisfying.

Felt tip pens. If you’re a pen and paper person, these are GOLD. Love how they write.

(none of this is sponsored, I just love to talk about what I like!) 

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Warm Spring Quinoa Chopped Salad.

This warm spring quinoa salad is chock-full of roasted vegetables, toasty quinoa and all the crunchy toppings. Golden, crisp quinoa is mixed with chickpeas and kale, then topped with pistachios, feta, radish and a lemon vinaigrette for the ultimate crunchy, warm salad that is satisfying and delish!

HELLO spring!

This warm quinoa salad is filled with chickpeas, kale, crunchy pistachios, creamy feta, radish, toasty quinoa and more. It’s drizzled with an incredible lemon dressing filled with herbs. And you’ll want to eat it over and over again this season. 

It’s the first full day of spring and we have snow on the ground! Crazy for a year where we’ve barely had any snow. 

That means it’s the perfect time of year to combine the seasons; to enjoy a salad that is filled with spring vegetables but also warm and cozy. Yes, we can have both!

If you haven’t heard of the “baked salad” trend, it was making its way around social media a few years ago. The idea of a baked salad doesn’t sound appealing to me, but that’s just because of the name!

The fact is that I’ve been toasting quinoa, roasted chickpeas and vegetables in salads for years. So what’s not to love?

Nothing! This is super delicious and a lovely way to bring in a new season when it’s still cold and gray. 

It’s also a fabulous dish to make if you have leftover quinoa. The cooked quinoa gets so toasty and golden and crunchy in the oven and it’s everything. I could eat quinoa like this all the time.

This is how it comes together!

First, I throw half of the ingredients on a sheet pan to roast them. This includes kale, cooked quinoa, chickpeas and asparagus. I like to roast them at at least 425 degrees F and for about 15 minutes. And I give them a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper – then they are good to go!

I keep the seasons on that part simple because we’re making a delish, refreshing vinaigrette. A wonderful lemony herby dressing that will soak into the salad and give it even more flavor. It’s super easy to whisk up, so I do it while the vegetables and quinoa are in the oven. You can also make it ahead of time too.

There are also a few ingredients that don’t get warm up: chopped pistachios, crumbled feta and diced radish. These things add the creamiest, crunchiest texture to the salad and really elevate the flavor as well. 

I can’t even express how delicious this is! The combination of the warm, crisp ingredients combined with the cool creamy cheese and the crunchy nuts – it cannot be beat. I am such a texture freak and this salad is right up my alley. 

It also gets better as it sits!

The dressing sinks into the quinoa and the kale. It’s tangy and bright and tastes like a big forkful of spring. 

Crunchy, cozy, crisp all while being refreshing and bright. This is how we bring spring into the air! (more…)

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Tuesday Things.

1. The amount of ketchup we go through in this house is alarming. My kids will dip anything in ketchup. It’s kind of horrifying.

2. This cherry blossom cake is STUNNING.

3. Spring cleaning is in full effect over here. I still have some stuff to unpack since our move but also ready to declutter closets – mine and the kids.

4. Speaking of spring, I’m looking for the BEST most comfortable outdoor furniture at a reasonable price point. I want a really big dining table, a few chairs, a couch, etc. But nothing too pricey because it basically gets destroyed in the elements here. You know, I go down the rabbit hole of RH and find myself with a 13K fire table in my cart. Um, not reasonable!

5. How to mute friends and not alienate people. This made me laugh. Mute button for life.

6. TV things! Currently watching Apples Never Fall on peacock and LOVING it. The cast is incredible. I read the book years ago. It’s good!

7. I will not lie. I am fully immersed in the “where is Kate!” speculation but also think it’s outlandish and wild.

8. One hour each week to change your life.

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Herb Butter Salmon & Couscous Parchment Packets.

These salmon parchment packets are so super easy and delicious! Made with couscous, a delish herby garlic butter and fresh asparagus, they are satisfying and filling, all while being light at the same time. And everyone gets their own little packet to enjoy!

This is how you make an adorable little dinner packet!

These salmon parchment packets are filled with herby, garlicky butter laced couscous, flaky salmon, asparagus and a big hint of lemon.

It’s such a satisfying yet light dinner. And it’s one of those meals that just makes you feel GOOD.

I love making my fish and orzo parchment packets. They are so flavorful and easy, not to mention incredibly versatile. You can really use whatever you have in the fridge or whatever ingredients you love. 

Recipes like this tend to be simple to make for everyone. It’s easy to leave ingredients out or choose the vegetables that you love most. You can even switch up the fish used inside. 

You know when I love to make this? When I find myself with leftover couscous. Or that could be rice, quinoa, any leftover grain that is hanging out in the fridge. This recipe is PERFECT for that. 

Of course, you can also cook the couscous just for this exact recipe. That works too. 

Because it’s worth it. A complete little meal in a cute parchment packet.

I love it! 

This is how it comes together:

I mix some herbs, scallions, garlic and melted butter in a dish. I could drizzle this on just about anything. I mix a little bit of that into the couscous. 

Next, I scoop some of the couscous into the center of the parchment paper. I top that with a few asparagus spears and a piece of raw salmon. The salmon gets covered in salt and pepper, then a big drizzle of the herb butter.  (more…)

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A Week In The Life, Vol 12.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

My favorite little leprechauns on the planet.

Jordy!

I made my cheeseburger sliders one night for dinner and they were just SO good.

Emilia started tennis this week!

Cutest brothers watching.

Takes his kindle everywhere.

Twins!

Emilia also got to be principal for the day at school. It was SO cute.

And then… it was HAIRCUT DAY!!!

Who is this child?!?

Oh my gosh, I can’t even handle him! He’s such a little BOY now.

Lovebug BFFs.

When he sees a picture of himself now, he says “that’s Max!”

We had a big hockey weekend with playoffs.

Emilia had basketball!

Her perfect little jump though!

Ate all the snacks at all the games.

We looooove watching Max.

The leprechaun dyed her milk green this morning!

Annnnd this is how your reap the benefits of being the third child… all the older siblings friends’ birthday parties!

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What To Eat This Week: 3/17/24.

Top notch fabulous recipes for this week’s menu!

What’s on your menu this week?!

What To Eat This Week

Chickpea salad bowls

Grilled fish tacos

Parmesan chickpea soup

Smoked sausage shredded cabbage salad

Grilled chicken avocado pizza sandwiches

Mediterranean turkey smash burger tacos

Our favorite tortellini salad

Bircher muesli

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Currently Crushing On.

Happy Saturday!

This week on the blog I shared this irish cheddar roasted cauliflower. I also shared a smoked sausage shredded cabbage salad, a ton of recipes for the first week of spring and these grilled chicken avocado sandwiches.

You can find a full easter recipe guide right here, as well as a ton of recipes for saint patrick’s day!

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

I need these cheddar chive biscuits in my life.

Chicken tinga looks absolutely perfect.

Cutest mini irish cream cheesecakes!

Cookies and cream shamrock shake also sounds great.

I have to make this chive blossom vinegar.

Caramelized onion frittata. So good.

My favorite hidden rainbow cake.

Banana pudding pound cake. Yum.

Making an irish whiskey espresso martini!

Coconut cream pie is my love language.

Putting focaccia pizza on the menu this week.

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Grilled Chicken Avocado Pizza Sandwiches.

We adore these chicken avocado sandwiches! Served on fried pizza bread, they are filled with roasted red pepper mayo, lettuce, tomato and cheese. Super delicious!

This sandwich is my newest obsession.

This chicken avocado sandwich is served with roasted red pepper mayo on a fluffy fried pizza dough bread, topped with lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. It’s deeeeelish.

I love recipes like this. It’s not too much of a RECIPE. It’s more so a method + an idea. A method for how I make a delicious meal and you can use your favorite ingredients to fill in the extras! 

You know how sometimes you just want a really GOOD sandwich?!

This is that. 

It’s incredible. So satisfying. Super flavorful.

I feel like I could eat this every single day and never get sick of it!

We make a lot of homemade pizza. It’s a versatile meal in our home because I’ll make traditional pizza, I’ll grill it, make it in a cast iron skillet, use a deep pan for a detroit-style crust or get it as thin as possible for a crispy thin crust. 

It never necessarily tastes “the same” and there is always a lot of variety in our pizza.

Since I’ve been down the sourdough rabbit hole, I’ve been using the discard from my starter to make overnight pizza dough. I use this recipe often. It’s a game changer and we all love it so much. I could live on sourdough bread, so sourdough pizza is just what I need. 

This works with ANY pizza dough though. I make these little fry breads with my pizza dough recipe or the sourdough pizza dough. They taste so incredibly indulgent, fluffy and cloud-like. 

And must I say that they only get better when stuffed?! Add your favorite sandwich ingredients inside one of these and you will be in heaven. 

Here’s the rundown:

First, the pizza dough sandwiches. We love a local burger that is served on a folded slab of pizza dough. It is SO fabulous. That was my inspiration here. Also, an old chicken sandwich from the cheesecake factory that is no longer on the menu!

For the filling, I’m using grilled chicken. But you can use just about anything you love. 

Avocado, tomato, shredded lettuce. The shredded lettuce is key! I like to get fresh romaine lettuce and chop it myself. This means it will have the ultimate crisp freshness. I also add some quick pickled onions if I have them in the fridge. 

Cheese! Of course. You can do slices of cheese or shredded cheese – heck, whatever kind of cheese you want! Ideally, I like to put this on the chicken right when I start stacking the sandwich so it kind of melts into meat. Of course, the chicken doesn’t HAVE to be warm. But it’s really delicious if it is warm. 

Finally, roasted red pepper mayo. Just a quick little mix made with diced roasted red peppers and prepared mayonnaise. I also like to drizzle in a bit of the olive oil from the jar of roasted reds.  (more…)

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25 Of My Favorite Spring Recipes!

These 25 recipes for spring will get you super excited for the season! Refreshing and bright flavors with a few spring soups, salads, pizza and more. Bountiful dishes that make you excited to cook again and create vibrant plates. 

Spring is almost here and I am all over these delicious meals.

Today I have 25 of my favorite spring dishes for you and oh man do I love them so much.

I am all about these delish spring recipes. The first three months of the year are always rough here when it comes to produce – it feels like so little is fresh. Finally, I’m getting my hands on some good asparagus and that’s just the start. The recipes below highlight some of my favorite ingredients in the spring season and are perfect to make this weekend!

Everything is so bright and fresh and full of vibrance and flavor. I love a mix of refreshing dishes and cozy meals in the spring, when it’s warm in the sunshine but cooler at night.

25 Favorite Recipes For Spring

(more…)

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