Jessica Merchant's Blog

These buffalo wing hot dogs are so delicious! Wrapped in buttery puff pastry, they are filled with sharp cheddar and blue cheese, drizzled in buffalo wing sauce and topped with green onions. Serve with ranch for the ultimate dip!

Cue six words I never expected to utter together! 

Annnd you might be wishing I never uttered them either. But I’m telling you, these buffalo wing puff pastry hot dogs are deeelightful. Especially if you have super bowl food on the brain? Yes. Of course!

We have the ultimate hot dogs wrapped with cheddar and blue cheese in a puff pastry square, baked until golden and crisp, then drizzled with tons of wing sauce. Oh and served with my homemade ranch! Oh and even better – topped with green onions and cilantro! And more wing sauce.

And crumbly blue cheese. 

Now I think I’m done?

For years I have talked about my favorite buffalo wing flavor combination. It includes wing sauce, sharp cheddar, blue cheese, green onions, cilantro, chives and ranch. 

YES.

The answer is D, all of the above. You need all of those things for the perfect buffalo wing-inspired recipe. At least in my flavor brain, you do.

So I use all of those things and then include hot dogs and puff pastry! Now this isn’t the first time I’ve shared such an embarrassing recipe like this before. I once made puff pastry wrapped hot dogs with hot honey mustard and let me just say that if you’re not a buffalo wing fan?

Make those ones instead. Incredible. 

Plain and simple, this is just fun food. 

Growing up, my parents would make crescent roll wrapped hot dogs. My uncle always made them at the beach too and we loved them. Not only are they a nostalgic comfort food, but one that tastes great too! 

They are a fun food to make for a party, a game day or even a play date. The kids just go wild over these and as long as you keep the wing sauce/spice to a minimum, it will be a win for everyone. 

The hot dogs are also so easy to make. Since we’re using smaller squares of puff pastry, they only take about 15 to 20 minutes in the oven and boom: deliciousness right at your fingertips.  (more…)

The post Buffalo Wing Puff Pastry Hot Dogs. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

These are my favorite valentines recipes! Tons of recipes for valentine’s day, from red wine lattes to champagne risotto and chocolate cream pie. You can find apps, cocktails, dinner and dessert!

Time to make the most delicious meals for the next two weeks!

Whether you’re celebrating valentine’s day or maybe galentine’s day or just want to make a delicious meal for yourself (do it!), there are so many delicious options here.

I mean, anything tastes better when it’s in the shape of a heart!

So, I talk about this all the time on my crumbs page, but ever since I had kids, celebrating these fun little holidays has been a blast. These micro holidays give us something to look forward to and enjoy together. You know? Even if it’s just making heart cut out cookies or a fun breakfast. We will make something delicious that day and enjoy it!

Heart shaped pepperoni pizza, of course! (more…)

The post 25 Recipes for Valentine’s Day. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

These beef lettuce wraps are an easy, delicious weeknight meal that you have to try! The beef is browned with red peppers, green onions, honey, garlic and ginger then served in crisp, refreshing lettuce wraps. They are so satisfying and taste amazing!

I’ve got a delish and simple dinner for you today! 

These ginger beef lettuce wraps are so satisfying and filling. They have amazing flavor, incredible crunch and texture and taste exactly like what you want to have for dinner. You can make the meal super fast too! 

January always feels like it lasts forever and while I could eat soup daily, it’s nice to add something into the rotation that feels, tastes and looks different than usual. Still tastes amazing, but isn’t the same comfort food that I usually find in my kitchen this time of year. It’s such a nice twist! 

One of the reasons I love this dish so much is because it’s super refreshing. It makes it *feel* like you’re eating something summery and fresh! It feels like it’s not -20 degrees outside and we are not covered in two feet of snow! 

It’s also a fun dish that you can make for friends because it comes together so quickly. Or even in the warmer months for happy hour – these are a dream. 

My kids love them because their all-time favorite food is tacos, and these are very taco-like. They really enjoy crunchy watery lettuce like iceberg or romaine. So it’s fun for them to scoop the beef into the lettuce cup and eat it like that.

I won’t tell you that Emilia always asks to douse her in ketchup… but here we are.  (more…)

The post Honey Ginger Beef Lettuce Wraps. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

1. Okay I desperately need to make this bang bang shrimp. Mouth watering.

2. What are you reading now? I finished The Correspondent over a week ago and can’t stop thinking about. It was SO good.

3. I absolutely love reading these rituals of others! Two fun ones I have: Max and I watch funny hockey bloopers on tiktok once a week and Emilia and I always watch gilmore girls if we’re home alone while the boys are at hockey.

4. I’ve wanted my colors done forever – I tried using one online and it gave me the complete opposite of what I’ve always thought! Now I don’t know if I’ve been gaslighting myself or if the online thing was just a bunch of baloney.

5. How valentine candy hearts have changed over the years.

6. TV things! I watched all of Finding Her Edge with the kids – totally cheesy and gave major hallmark vibes but we are so excited for the olympics that we sort of enjoyed it. Also, as if the characters of Tell Me Lies could get any worse! OMG.

7. The trader joe’s favorite products of the year! The soup dumplings have been a staple of ours for years and the hot honey popcorn is incredible.

8. I haven’t tried the viral Japanese cheesecake because cheesecake is my absolute favorite dessert and I just don’t think yogurt will do it for me. Have you tried it yet?!

The post Tuesday Things. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

I’ve got dinner tonight!

This shrimp taco soup has a base of fire roasted tomatoes, is packed full of beans, corn and green chiles and tastes absolutely amazing! It comes together really quickly (especially for soup!) and doesn’t leave any flavor behind. My shrimp-loving family just adores it. 

It’s also a fun change-up from traditional taco-inspired soups! We almost always use rotisserie chicken and maybe beef or ground turkey. So making it with shrimp is an expected but very welcome treat. And the whole frozen shrimp thing makes it SO easy too. 

You just want to be sure to use uncooked shrimp that is peeled and deveined for the best results. Then it will be so easy you won’t believe it! 

I just can’t get enough of it. The base of this soup comes from my personal favorite taco soup that I actually make just for myself all the time. It’s often something I prep for lunch, freeze for myself when I know I’ll need some quick meals and I have it on hand often because I love it that much! 

Eddie and the kids like it too, but I actually think they prefer it this way, with the shrimp. 

Because frankly, when it comes to tacos with beef, they really just love them in taco form. Whereas I can eat anything in soup form and crave it.

Give me all the soup. 

First, the veggies. I saute some onions, bell peppers and garlic in a bit of olive oil. I also add the green chiles here! 

Next come the spices! Garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, even a touch of chili powder. Think everything taco-like that you have. Tajin is great too!  (more…)

The post Shrimp Taco Soup. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Holy snow!

It was a cold cold week around here.

Back on the cottage cheese/hot honey sourdough toast combo.

Fun at the library on MLK day!

Can’t stop making this coffee I talked about in my substack.

Haircut for this little nugget.

Put this outfit together herself and I had to document.

Worked the book fair at school! My favorite week!

Hockey practice.

This weekend Emilia, my mom and I went first communion dress shopping!!

No photos allowed but I had to sneak one. We didn’t get this dress but it was pretty.

This was how we all felt after the experience. Let’s just say it was not great.

While we did that, the boys went to basketball!

And then their favorite place… texas roadhouse, haha.

Then the storm came.

I made so many different beige foods! Butter swim biscuits.

Chicken and dumplings at Eddie’s request… because we needed more dumplings after biscuits. He needed the snow shoveling energy!

Cookies of course.

The kids lasted outside for a few minutes!

Cutest baby was the coldest!

Can’t get enough of them.

Too bad it was absolutely freezing! They stayed out for a short time then came in for all the hot cocoa.

The snow was so deep that Jordan could barely walk in it. It was cute!

Loved it.

I bought them ski goggles for christmas which have been great! Even though we don’t ski.

And then we ended the night here. Cold, snow, fire, cookies!

The post A Week In The Life, Vol 4. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Here’s a bunch of deliciousness to get us through January!

What’s on your menu this week?!

Black bean burger bowls

Cauliflower enchiladas

Salmon aglio e olio with lemon orzo

Chicken and biscuit crumble

Pretzel crusted chicken with honey mustard arugula

Sweet potato chicken noodle soup

Herby white bean tuna salad

White chocolate raspberry granola

The post What To Eat This Week: 1/25/26. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Happy weekend!

This week on the blog, I shared this chicken and biscuit crumble. I also shared this white chocolate raspberry granola, 50 recipes for game day/the super bowl and these sticky BBQ cauliflower bites!

I also shared my January favorites! And my valentine’s day favorites here too!

Here are all my cozy winter favorites.

There’s a new menu for the week and a new peek inside our everyday life.

You can find all my favorites in my amazon store front and LTK shop!

Thank you for continuing to make the launch Easy Everyday absolutely amazing . If you haven’t got your book yet, you can order here! xo

These spicy hawaiian sloppy joes sound amazing.

Frosted chocolate cookie bars are calling my name.

This lemon chicken orzo looks incredible.

Chilaquiles are one of my favorite meals.

Obsessed with this mexican vegetable soup.

Chicken quinoa strawberry salad looks so freaking good.

Give me all the she crab soup!

Chipotle chicken looks perfect for meal prep.

I want to swim in this chocolate fudge frosting.

Banana cake is the absolute best!

Gotta make these cheesy biscuits soon!

Raspberry chia pudding is so gorgeous.

The post Currently Crushing On. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

These bbq cauliflower bites are sticky, savory, sweet and so delicious! Made with an airy beer batter and dipped in a sticky sauce, they are served with a greek yogurt blue cheese sauce for the ultimate flavor combo. We’re obsessed!

Here’s how to eat your veggies this weekend!

My sticky BBQ cauliflower might be your new favorite way to eat cauliflower?! Cauliflower florets are coated in a crispy breading and dipped in a sticky sweet sauce that has just a tiny zing to it. Then – yes, THEN! They are dredged through blue cheese sauce made with greek yogurt.

Hello, I could eat that with a spoon. It’s fantastic. 

Looks exactly like what you want to make if you get snowed-in this weekend right?!

Go! Run to the grocery store now! 

Here’s the thing: the beer battered cauliflower has the lightest, crispiest outer coating that practically melts in your mouth. It’s so crunchy and the sauce clings to it perfectly – like my sticky chicken fingers! You won’t want to stop popping these… like candy.

Except savory sticky sweet candy topped with blue cheese. 

I don’t know about you but I’d eat blue cheese candy! 

So. This is definitely what you should make for the football games this weekend! A satisfying little snack that is savory and sweet, sticky with sauce and delicious when dipped in blue cheese yogurt sauce. 

Tastes like heaven! 

Also, I know. Frying is a pain, and I rarely do it.

But in this case, it happens quickly and is almost easier than waiting for the cauliflower to bake. Of course another option is to use a different breading and air fry. You CANNOT use this beer batter in an air fryer – it is too wet and liquidy. If you’re air frying, that’s the time when you want to break out the egg wash and breadcrumbs, if you know what I mean. 

First, the beer batter. A mixture of flour, seasonings, an egg and beer! That’s it. If you don’t want to use beer, you can always use club soda or even ginger ale. The bubbles are what make it super light and airy! 

Next, the cauliflower. Cut a head of it into florets. I try to keep them around the same size so they are easier to cook together. 

Then, the sauce! Let the sticky sauce bubble and come together. Then dip each piece of the cauliflower in the sauce, coating it completely. 

OH MY YUM.

The sauce actually has buffalo wing sauce in it, but it’s not overly buffalo-y, if that makes sense. The concept, not the sentence. Because that sentence barely makes sense. Anyway! 

We have the other sauce, the dipping sauce! I like to make a greek yogurt blue cheese sauce. I love everything blue cheese, so it just makes sense. But especially with BBQ sauce – it’s such a great complement.  (more…)

The post Sticky BBQ Cauliflower Bites with Greek Yogurt Blue Cheese. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

These game day recipes are perfect for the super bowl or any big game! Lots of snacks, crowd-pleasing apps and a few treats along with sandwiches and pastas. So great for a party with friends!

Just sharing a cool 50 of my favorite recipes with you today!

Ha. Yes, 50! Of course. I would have 50 favorites.

I know that the big big game is still a few weeks away, but if you’re watching the games this weekend, make some good eats!

Regardless of if you actually want to watch the game or just enjoy the snacks, these are my top picks. I used to do a huge football food post every september and I have a LOT of delish ideas for game day. These are my absolute top picks – all of which I wish could appear in my kitchen right now!

These are GOOD.

Buffalo chicken guacamole pizza

Our favorite pimento cheese

Smoked cheddar and caramelized onion potato skins (more…)

The post 50 Game Day Recipes To Make For The Super Bowl. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.