Jessica Merchant's Blog, page 84
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.
December 2, 2023
Currently Crushing On.
Happy December!!
This week on the blog I shared this huge holiday recipe guide! I also shared this winter citrus farro salad, cranberry orange coffee cake muffins and peanut butter blossom bars!
It’s gift guide time! You can find my gift guides for:
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 WEEKTriple chocolate peppermint cookies look amazing.
Really want to try this mac and cheese.
Easy christmas punch! Here for it.
And this frosted gingerbread martini. So cute.
Frosted sour cream cookies. Love them.
Craving these spicy deviled eggs.
Sweet potato pie looks incredible.
This mulled wine margarita is brilliant.
Pomegranate sorbet is stunning.
Making these air fryer hasselback potatoes!
Chocolate caramel bars. OMG.
I need a caramel brûlée latte.
White cranberry tart. Beautiful.
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December 1, 2023
Peanut Butter Blossom Bars.
Peanut butter blossom bars are everyone’s favorite holiday cookie, in bar form! These chewy peanut butter cookie bars are studded with hershey kisses that melt into the bars for the perfect kiss cookie. Slice into bars and serve!
Oh my heavens, it’s the perfect bar.
These peanut butter blossom bars are just like everyone’s favorite cookie, but in bar form.
Chewy peanut butter cookie bars topped with a soft and melty hershey kiss. Baked to perfection. A slightly sugary crunch on top, chocolate that melts into the peanut butter cookie…
Need I say more!?
The real question is: why haven’t I been making peanut butter blossom bars all along?!
I don’t know why I love peanut butter blossoms so much. Sure, the peanut butter chocolate combination will forever be my favorite. I do adore it. And I especially love a chewy peanut butter cookie.
But! I don’t love a hershey kiss – I would eat many other kinds of chocolate before I’d choose the kiss.
However, there is something about how it gets so soft and melty in the oven. It almost turns truffle-like. It is easy to bite through and melts into the peanut butter, really showcasing the best of the best peanut butter chocolate flavor.
And, the nostalgia. Of course, the nostalgia. I am quite possibly the most nostalgic person I know.
Plus, the other thing is that they are just a cute cookie! A little kiss cookie. Adorable, beloved and pretty easy to make.
I’ve been making my grandma’s recipe for years and years. We are talking, like, basically my whole life. Easily for 20 years on my own. And so many of you make them every year too!
So, I took that recipe and made a few adjustments to have it fit a 9×13 inch baking dish. The original recipe makes a lot of blossom cookies!! I can’t say that I will always make the bars over the individual cookies, but these bars are such an awesome switch from the classic. (more…)
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November 30, 2023
Your Ultimate Holiday Recipe Guide! 85 of My Favorite Recipes For The Holiday Season.
Sharing my best holiday recipes today that you can make all season! Christmas cookies and brunch, main dishes and cocktails, there is something for everyone! Scroll down for all the deliciousness below. 80 recipes for your festive fanciness!
It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year!
I have all my holiday recipes here loaded up and ready to go so you can make them all season long. December here we come!
Below you’ll find my favorite holiday main dishes and sides, along with the best holiday appetizers. I also have a ton of holiday breakfast and brunch ideas, as well as cocktails and cookies and desserts!
What are you looking forward to making the most?
Holiday Main Dishes & Sides
Herb Brown Butter Scallops with Champagne Risotto
Pomegranate Cider Pork Roast with Rosemary Smashed Potatoes
Espresso Crusted Filet with Truffle Risotto
Seared Filet with Blue Cheese Butter
Holiday Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
Herb and Butter Roasted Beef Tenderloin
Slow Cooker Cabernet Short Ribs with Mascarpone Polenta
Greek Yogurt Twice Baked Potatoes
Prosciutto Wrapped Stuffed Turkey Breast
Brown Butter Hasselback Potatoes
Holiday Appetizers
Pomegranate Jeweled Cheeseball
Spiced Orange Macadamia Cheeseball
Overnight Croissant Breakfast Bake
Make Ahead Eggnog French Toast
One Hour Cinnamon Orange Rolls
Orange Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins
Pepperoni Roll Breakfast Strata
One Hour Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls
Sweet Potato Kale Bacon Quiche
Sweet Orange Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread
Hot Cocoa Cake with Whipped Marshmallow
Maraschino Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Pistachio Shortbread
Frosted Cranberry Drop Cookies
Bourbon Soaked Cherry Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Perfect Peanut Butter Blossoms
Cranberry Pomegranate Mint Julep
White Christmas Margarita Punch
The post Your Ultimate Holiday Recipe Guide! 85 of My Favorite Recipes For The Holiday Season. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.
November 29, 2023
Winter Citrus Farro Salad with Arugula.
We love this winter citrus farro salad! It’s hearty and satisfying, is delicious served warm or chilled and the perfect make-ahead lunch.
I’ve got the best winter salad we can enjoy for the next few months!
This hearty citrus farro salad is satisfying and delicious, tossed with arugula, pistachios, radish slices, orange segments and feta cheese.
It tastes incredible, looks pretty, is the perfect combination of sweet and savory and hits the spot.
I can’t get enough of this!
Sure, the combo of ingredients is one of the reasons that this is so good. The texture and crunch, the chew of the cooked farro, the creaminess of the cheese and the tang of the dressing.
But there is one other big thing.
The reason this farro salad is so delicious? The farro is cooked in orange juice!
I cook the farro in a mixture of water and orange juice. It’s delightful. Sweet but still savory, chewy with a hint of the citrus tanginess. It brings a real depth of flavor to the salad too. Trust me, you’ll want to eat a few spoonfuls of the farro alone.
Once the farro is finished, I toss it with the arugula. This adds a peppery bite that complements the citrus very well.
I also make a pomegranate vinaigrette that I drizzle on the base – all over the farro and arugula. This dressing is so delicious! It has hints of maple, red wine vinegar, pomegranate and garlic. It’s wonderful for the season and very versatile too.
After the dressing shower, I toss the salad over and over before adding the rest of the goods.
Let’s just call them the best part.
Thinly sliced radish, for that extra crisp with a bite.
Orange segments, with all their juicy, refreshing flavor.
Chopped pistachios, because they are everything.
And creamy feta! I live for feta.
Toss it all together and boom, the ideal winter lunch or dinner bowl. (more…)
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November 28, 2023
Tuesday Things.
1. HOW IS IT SO DARK OUT!!! I know, we do this every year. But gosh. It is SO dark by 5pm. How do we live our lives in the evening?!
2. Half and half chocolate chip cookies. Oh my gosh.
3. Going to do a big holiday Trader Joe’s run this week and can’t even wait. What’s your must have?
4. We’ve been in the constant cycle of sickness since school started. With a family of five, it’s like it cycles through everyone just in time to start the cycle again. I don’t remember this happening when I was a kid.
5. These quirky food pairings! Um, of course I can do #6.
6. TV things!! Oh how I loved the end of Lessons in Chemistry. Also, Black Cake is so, so good!
7. I need some ideas on how to “warm” up my new kitchen and house. I still haven’t bought anything new, so I’m open to all suggestions! I want it to feel cozy and lived in.
8. Christmas movie style icons. I love it.
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November 27, 2023
Cranberry Orange Coffee Cake Muffins.
These cranberry orange muffins are a holiday dream! Tart, bright cranberries mixed with tangy orange zest and a crumb topping – they are fluffy and soft with a crunchy top!
Look at these little holiday beauties!
My cranberry orange muffins are soft and fluffy with a crunchy streusel topping. It’s like a two-bite coffee cake and makes the perfect breakfast or treat.
My family has an obsession with cranberry orange muffins. Them – not me. I have never loved the cranberry orange combo. One or two bites around the holidays are enough for me.
But everyone else?! Straight up obsessed. I take my mom a cranberry orange muffin once a week. Jordan and Emilia also love them. While Max is partial to pumpkin muffins, his next favorite is cranberry orange.
So it was only natural that I put a big scoop of cranberries into my cinnamon orange coffee cake muffins!
Festive, fun and so delicious.
Orange around the holidays is very nostalgic for all of us. My mom would make the orange cinnamon rolls out of a can every December. My grandma made orange cake. She also put oranges in our stockings.
And because winter citrus is at its peak, we go through dozens or oranges, clementines, satsumas – you name it – this time of year. It’s easily my kids’ favorite snack!
I took my favorite orange coffee cake muffin recipe and made it a little extra special. The one I make weekly during the holiday season. They are already filled with lots of cinnamon and orange zest, but adding in the fresh cranberries is the perfect pop.
Literally!
I love how the cranberries burst right in the muffins. Not only do they have that sweet and tangy flavor, they look so pretty.
Like Christmas jewels.
The crumb topping is, of course, my favorite part! It’s so crunchy, a little crisp, and adds the best texture to the otherwise fluffy muffin. You can also add a glaze on top if you wish! I do add a glaze on my orange muffins, but for this one I skipped it. The crumble just looked so pretty and I didn’t want to mess it up!
If you find that you’d like a sweet drizzle on top of these muffins, you can use the glaze that I use in my orange muffins right here.
I love these for Christmas morning! They freeze well and they are also lovely to gift someone too. (more…)
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