Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 83
December 9, 2023
Currently Crushing On.
Happy saturday!
This week on the blog I shared these rosemary melting potatoes. I also shared this bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, a bunch of fabulous drinks for the holidays and my annual christmas cake – a white chocolate mocha cake!
It’s gift guide time! You can find my gift guides for:
I also shared everything I read in november!
There’s a new weekly menu up and a peek at a week in our life!
The Everyday Dinners cookbook club is on fire! If you have a copy of the book, request to join the group. If not, get one here! We’re finishing up our summer cooking challenge. Ready to start on fall! It is such a wonderful community and an amazing place for recipe ideas.
xoxoxo
WHAT I’M LOVING THIS WEEKGinger molasses cookies look incredible.
Love these charcuterie cups!
Brown butter oatmeal raisin cookies. Oh my.
Everyone loves taco dip.
Ground turkey shepherd’s pie. Making this!
We make reindeer chow every year.
Gingerbread blondies!! Yes.
I always want a good espresso martini.
Red velvet marble cake. Gorgeous!!
This quiche looks wonderful.
Bacon gruyere popovers. Delish.
Making this christmas tree pull apart bread!
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What To Eat This Week: 12/10/23.
Lots of delicious eats in this busy holiday season!
What’s on your menu this week?!
What To Eat This Week
Weeknight BBQ chicken sandwiches
Fire roasted chicken tortellini soup
Lemon flatbread with hot honey
Maple butternut couscous salad
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December 8, 2023
White Chocolate Mocha Cake.
This white chocolate mocha cake is cozy, rich and delicious! It’s made after your favorite coffee drink, with dark chocolate cake, coffee cream cheese frosting and white chocolate curls. It’s a show stopper!
It’s christmas cake day!!
This white chocolate mocha cake is an actual dream. Rich and tender chocolate cake covered in cream cheese espresso frosting and white chocolate curls.
I mean, oh my goodness.
There are no words!
For years I’ve shared a christmas cake in early December. The most popular one is my white christmas sparkle cake, and I love it so much. Followed closely by my hot cocoa cake with whipped marshmallow.
I’ve also shared a pink peppermint cake (it looks like it’s straight out of The Grinch!), this spiced orange snowball cake and this christmas ice cream cake which is incredible.
The truth is that I don’t love baking. Because I hate following directions! I especially do not love baking cakes, so I like to make cakes that are easy enough for just about anyone. A cake at holiday time is so fun because it feeds a crowd and looks pretty. It can be your festive centerpiece!
I usually like to keep my christmas cake rather “christmas-y” in flavor. Of course, this isn’t a holiday specific flavor, but it’s a super popular flavor!
It’s been years since I’ve really loved a white chocolate mocha in drink form. However, it was pretty much my gateway drug into coffee! As can be expected, given that it’s like drinking a giant dessert.
I take my mom a white chocolate mocha every single week – she loves it. She had her first one probably two years ago and thinks it is the best thing ever. That was my inspiration for this cake and I find it to be super festive and cozy.
The flavors are warm, rich and decadent.Perfect for the season.
And the best part is that I used components of some of my other favorite cakes to bring this all together.
First, I used the base of my hot cocoa cake. This is a wonderful, rich chocolate cake. The original recipe is from Ina. The crumb is lovely!
Next, the coffee cream cheese frosting from my banana sheet cake. We all know that I’m an absolute freak over cream cheese frosting. I add a few tablespoons of instant espresso powder to that and the result is incredible. You’ll want to eat it straight out of the bowl.
Finally, white chocolate shavings! Or curls. I don’t get super fancy here. I take a white chocolate lindt bar and a vegetable peeler and go to town. It’s easy. They stick right to the frosting! As long as you use a high quality white chocolate, you’ll love it.
A little sprinkle of cocoa or espresso powder on top can finish things off. (more…)
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December 7, 2023
30 Festive Holiday Drinks! Every Cocktail, Mocktail & Coffee You Need For The Holiday Season.
The best holiday cocktails! Festive cocktails, mocktails, punches, coffees, hot chocolate and more are here for your holiday season to enjoy.
I have the list of all my favorite holiday drinks for you!
We have festive cocktails and mocktails, punches and more. Coffees, hot chocolates, spritzes and smashes! There is something here for everyone to enjoy. Make a pitcher for a party or just make a drink to enjoy by the sparkly lights.
30 Best Holiday Cocktails, Mocktails & CoffeesThe post 30 Festive Holiday Drinks! Every Cocktail, Mocktail & Coffee You Need For The Holiday Season. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
December 6, 2023
What I Read In November 2023.
This was such a fabulous reading month! Everything I read was very enjoyable. Most got me in the holiday spirit.
What are you reading right now?!
You can find my reading lists here and previous what I read posts here.
And you can follow me on goodreads here.
I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. 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 NOVEMBER 2023
I loved this one so much!! The story follows two people who went to highschool together, run into each other before they holidays and decide to pretend to be in a relationship to make going home to their families easier. I love a fake dating trope! This was so cute, so feel good, I loved both families and the ending just made me so happy. Festive and fun!
I was so hesitant to read this but oh my gosh, I absolutely loved it. I don’t like to read anything that would scare the heck out of me, but I could not put this down. The story is about a plane that crashes into the ocean shortly after taking off. It then sinks to the bottom and a rescue team is on a mission to save them. This is so fast paced, non-stop, so wonderful, emotional, everything!! Definitely a great read.
After I read Snowed In, I had to read this one! It’s the first book in the series before Snowed In, but you don’t have to read them in order. The story follows two friends who fly home together for the holidays, but a snowstorm has cancelled their flight. They are determined to get home though. I love a good friends to lovers romance! The characters in this one play minor characters in Snowed In. I love that.
This was in my book of the month box and I loved it so, so much. This is technically YA, but I don’t love YA and I really enjoyed this. So don’t let that hold you back. The story follows two chess players who engage in a charity tournament and end up very drawn to each other. I loved these characters so much!
This was cute! The story follows the children of two former rockstars – women who were in a popular duo and best friends only to split when a huge incident happened years ago. The kids are the same age and they sign on for a reality show to reunite their moms to sing on christmas eve. It’s a quick read but there is a good plot and I didn’t want to put it down. It’s definitely a steamy read so just be prepared going into that.
(This is not sponsored but there are a few bookshop and/or affiliate links above! Thank you for reading!)
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Garlic Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin.
This bacon wrapped pork tenderloin is an extra special meal! Garlic and brown sugar spice up the pork, which roasts with strips of bacon on top until crispy. Delicious, festive and simple!
This pork tenderloin screams holiday season!
A holiday pork tenderloin is rubbed with brown sugar, garlic and spices, then wrapped in bacon and roasted until tender and juice with a crispy outer coating. It’s ridiculously delicious.
Welcome to part two of our holiday meal this year! This bacon wrapped pork tenderloin goes perfectly with the rosemary melting potatoes. There is a crazy amount of flavor in this meal, and I can’t get enough.
If you’re looking for the perfect holiday meal to serve your dinner party this year, or one to make on Christmas eve – or one to just make during the month of December when you’re feeling extra festive, this is it.
I love pork tenderloin. My kids love it, Eddie loves it. It’s so easy to make, it’s almost foolproof. And it also reheats very nicely the next day for sandwiches! Just a tip, FYI.
And it’s a great meal to serve a crowd. It makes a good amount – and in this case, I roast two pork tenderloins so we can feed a large family.
Plus, the rosemary melting potatoes complement this so well.
First, I make a paste of garlic, brown sugar, salt, pepper and olive oil. I love this method. It’s simple. I rub it all over the tenderloin.
Next comes the bacon. Instead of fully wrapping the bacon around the tenderloin, I prefer to wrap it around the top and the sides. Unless you are roasting the tenderloin on a wire rack, the bacon on the bottom will not cook. It will stay raw and chewy. For that reason, I cut the pieces to fit from one side, up and around to the other. Make sure to use long pieces, because the bacon will shrink a bit.
Then I roast it! I use a roasting pan or even a large skillet. I throw some extra herbs into the pan, like rosemary. It only takes about 20 to 25 minutes to fully cook, but make sure the internal temperature is 145 degrees before eating.
If you’re looking to add a vegetable side dish to this, I love serving it with my parmesan roasted broccoli or even this spiced maple brussels sprouts salad. It’s also delicious with maple mustard roasted green beans! A big classic greens salad works too, of course.
This is such a hearty, indulgent, festive meal for the holiday season. It feels extra special because it’s not something you will make any other time of year. It’s decadent and satisfying, plus it’s a little fancy too.
At the same time, the whole thing comes together fairly easily. Here’s the way I do it:
I prepare the pork tenderloin first. While it roasts, I prepare the melting potatoes.
I remove the pork tenderloin and let it rest while the potatoes roast. At the very end of the potatoes cooking, I pop the pork tenderloin in for just a few minutes to warm through again. Sometimes I even have it sliced already. It doesn’t take very long – you don’t want to overcook it. You just want to get it warm enough to serve with the potatoes. (more…)
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December 5, 2023
Tuesday Things.
1. Going to see queen of Christmas Mariah Carey in concert tonight! I can’t even handle it. Hello sequins.
2. Pretty sure I need to host a raclette party.
3. This is the season that I fall in love with everything red. Red clothes and shoes, decor, kitchen items, you name it. I have to remind myself that I only love it for 25 days out of the year.
4. TV things!! Oh man, I am loving Black Cake. Also, the two episodes of Virgin River were very cute, even if they are rather boring now. I also finished The Crown and just felt so uneasy after.
5. The worst christmas candies of 2023. What do you think?
6. My obsession with uggs is off the charts. I feel like I’m back in 2006.
7. What’s your cookie personality?! I want to make ALL of these! Especially the buckeye cheesecake ones.
8. Eggnog lattes on repeat right now. I want to make eggnog cold foam!
9. How to create a slower holiday season. It’s already going so fast.
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December 4, 2023
Rosemary Melting Potatoes.
These rosemary melting potatoes make the perfect side dish! Golden, crisp outsides with creamy, melty insides, they are drizzled with rosemary garlic butter. Absolutely delicious!
I live for side dishes.
These rosemary melting potatoes are roasted until crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, drizzled with rosemary garlic butter and served with just about anything. They are versatile, delicious and easy to make.
Plus, they are super cute! Very cute, melty, creamy potato disks.
Who wouldn’t love them?!
Every holiday season I like to share a meal that is a little fancy, something special for your festivities. This year, I’m sharing a new pork tenderloin recipe with these rosemary melting potatoes.
And it is so darn good!
I’ve shared a holiday pork tenderloin before, and it’s wonderful. Our usual go to is the best beef tenderloin ever and I’ve also made an espresso crusted version of it served with truffle risotto.
Then, there is this cider pork roast with rosemary smashed potatoes. I also love this crabmeat stuffed salmon recipe, lobster mac and cheese and my brown butter scallops with champagne risotto.
There are so many delicious options for a good festive meal!
I’ve been fascinated with melting potatoes for years. They are incredible – practically melting in your mouth – hence the name. And they are pretty darn easy too! You slice the potatoes into rounds, bake them, flip them, then add stock to the pan.
The end result is a golden, crisp outside with a creamy, truffle-like inside that truly almost melts in your mouth. They are SO GOOD.
I love just how versatile these potatoes are. When I say they can be served with just about anything, they really can. Sure, they are a wonderful accompaniment to steak or chicken, or the pork tenderloin that I’m going to tell you about later this week.
But they are also an amazing size to vegetarian main dishes or even an easy weeknight meal!
They take around an hour to make, which is more than a traditional side dish. But they’re rather simple and you just can’t beat the rosemary butter. (more…)
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December 3, 2023
A Week In The Life, Vol 49.
This week!! It was a nice one to ring in December.
This is how most of our pics go!
Puzzle time. These little snax size puzzles are amazing! The kids love them.
They build them over and over again.
Library time for this little love.
I want Emilia’s entire wardrobe this week.
My food tree makes us so happy.
We had our cookie decorating party with friends!
It’s cheeseboard season. P.S. the lemon baked ricotta from trader joe’s is back. It’s insane!
I mean, does this come in my size? She doesn’t even know she is “posing!!”
We did this last year for the first time and it was really fun.
Jordy joined in this year and he did so well.
Cutie kids cookies.
Max loves decorating.
So proud.
We also started our advent spiral!
I put these little holographic trees in Emilia’s room. Found them at the dollar spot in Target a few weeks ago!
Max had his first basketball game this weekend.
It was so exciting!
Emilia went to breakfast with santa with her little bestie.
Can you even!!
She loves a face painting.
Jordan in Jordan.
Max and his baseball card obsession.
Last night we had our first family movie night in our new movie room.
The weather was wacky today but it ended with a double rainbow. Gorgeous.
My little loves.
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What To Eat This Week: 12/3/23.
We’re rolling into December with some delish meals!
What’s on your menu this week?!
What To Eat This Week
Slow roasted sweet potatoes with spicy garlic chickpeas
Squash soup with curried brown butter
The post What To Eat This Week: 12/3/23. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
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