Jessica Merchant's Blog

These lemon cream scones are unreal! Flaky, buttery and filled with intense lemon flavor, they are topped with a lemon cream drizzle making them the ultimate spring treat. 

Self-proclaimed scone freak, I am! 

These lemon cream scones are a fluffy dream, filled with bright citrus flavor, flakey layers and a creamy vanilla lemon glaze that blankets the top. 

Seriously, so good. 

I don’t know what has possessed me to make so.many.darn scone recipes the last few months, but I think it’s because my kids love them. Especially Jordan – he asks for one almost every morning. 

And it’s huge because you probably couldn’t have paid me to eat a scone when I was four years old, but here we are. Also, my scones are 10 million times better than any scone I had as a child, so that helps. They are actually light, moist and flaky. Not dense, dry and cardboard-like. 

Mine also don’t have raisins, which are just a sad addition masquerading as chocolate chips. I cannot. And will not! Ever. 

If you ever see me post a raisin recipe, assume I have been kidnapped. Send help. 

Anyway.

Lemon cream scones! An extra lemony scone with the glaze that will make the whole thing melt in your mouth. Look at those layers before baking?! Incredible. 

I like to put lemon zest AND a drop of lemon extract into these scones, because it gives them that extra bakery-like lemon flavor. It’s incredible! You can skip the extract if you don’t have it. You want as much zest as you can get, because that’s where the lemony flavor is. Don’t worry about lemon juice. Save it for something else! 

The coarse sugar on top just gives them this delicious texture-y crisp crunchy. The way it crunches between your teeth is so satisfying!

It’s not a necessity because we’re adding a glaze, but I do love the little pop of texture there. (more…)

The post Lemon Cream Scones. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

It’s almost summer and I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things from the last couple of years. These are all my must haves that have been huge wins in previous summers. You may recognize a bunch from my favorites posts! Everything from beach bags to sunscreen to trash cans and kids stuff. All the good things.

20 Of My Warm Weather EssentialsThe best pool bag:

I love the simple modern bag so much more than a bogg bag. I think it’s cuter, a better shape and I love that I don’t see 100 of them at the pool or a sporting event. But it’s the same thing – a waterproof rubber tote! Very easy to clean. And cheaper too.

The best beach bag for full days with a big family:

I’ve used the 4 boys scout bag for over five years now and it’s incredible. Has a zipper, fits EVERYTHING including towels, it’s so lightweight and easy to use, etc. It is such a great bag for many things – traveling, etc. I love it.

A summer activity bag I use every year:

Years ago I bought a longchamp backpack and in the summer, it’s my go-to. Sporting events, amusement parts, travel days, parks – etc, it is PERFECT for my kids’ current ages of 4, 8 and 11. I can fit just enough in it and be hands free. It’s also incredibly lightweight and so simple to use. This is for when we’re going places, and we don’t need a giant tote, but we do need a bag that fits “stuff.”

The sun hat I wear every single day:

The cuyana la toquillera is something I’ve worn daily in the sunnier months for years and years. I LOVE IT. I now have three of them – I basically always keep one at home and one in my car. The band is so stretchy, it provides great coverage of your neck and you don’t get too hot since your head isn’t covered! I’ve gifted many. I’ve traveled with it. I have never found a hat I love so much!

For the hottest of days:

I go nowhere without this rechargeable portable fan, because I am the hottest, sweatiest person on earth. This is so slim and fits in any bag and I love it! We have multiples and the kids love them too.

The cutest active skirt that is going to be my uniform:

This skirt is fabulous. SO comfortable, super easy to wear, yet you look put together. And the colors!! I am living in this.

And the tank top I have worn nonstop for years:

This stretchy tank is so flattering and comfortable. I love the cut of it! It does pill after many washes but it’s something I live in day in and day out. I will buy two or three this summer and get rid of the old ones. Then live in them!

A game the whole family can play:

We never can get enough of uno splash. It’s so easy to take to the pool or beach!

Cute and affordable polarized sunglasses:

I have super sensitive eyes so I’m wearing sunglasses year round. But these cat eye ones are SO cute and flattering – they sit so nicely on the face and look waaaay more expensive than they are!

If you need a non-sticky sunscreen:

This light as air sunscreen is absolutely incredible and I already stocked up for this year. It goes on so easily, is not sticky, greasy and feels like almost nothing on your skin. My kids love it, I love it and it’s one of our go-tos all summer long!

The cleanser you need at the end of every day:

If you’ve never used a cleansing oil to remove your kids sunscreen, let this be the year. I use it on myself too! Use the oil on dry skin and it instantly melts off the sunscreen – get in the shower and emulsify with water and it’s perfect. Totally clean. Then use your regular soap! This is a must-have that we do daily in the summer to get the sunscreen off easily. This giant one with a pump is great for the shower.

The best face sunscreen I can’t get enough of:

I’ve been using the tatcha milky sunscreen for a few months now and I adore it. It goes on and is silky, then it dries down but it leaves your face glowing and glass-like. It’s great under makeup. The dry down is just incredible!

A must have for summer entertaining:

Fly fans. I use these ALL season long outdoors – I even travel with them. They are rechargeable. I even took some down to the beach last year. They really help keep bugs away when you’re eating and entertaining in the warmer months.

The best pool & beach towels:

I have two that I love. These turkish towels are amazing and roll up well so you can fit them in a small bag or backpack. These dock and bay towels are also a huge fave because my kids SOAK towels and it’s crazy how fast these dry. They also roll up into a small bundle!

A sleek, chic and simple flip flop for everything:

These project cloud slim flip flops are identical to tkees and a fraction of the price. They come in a million colors and have a memory foam bottom. I love them!

To make any day feel magical:

This bubble blower is the best one we’ve found. It’s INCREDIBLE and I’ve been buying bubble machines for ten years now. It’s absolutely worth it. If you have kids or are having a party, this one is a must have! Even on days where we do nothing but play outside, if we turn this on it’s just so fun.

A must have post-shower:

This razor bump roll-on stick is something I use daily after every shower, even if I haven’t shaved that day. It doesn’t burn at all, it helps ingrown hairs so much and really keeps them at bay. I swear by this stuff!

For lounging:

My obsession with zero gravity chairs is off the charts. These are SO comfortable and relaxing. And I love to sit in them outside while my kids are playing. They are very relaxing and give me a few minutes to be off my feet.

The kids’ favorite pool toy:

This watermelon pool ball has been a favorite for years – maybe five or six? My kids love it – all ages – and it’s something they play with constantly in the pool. It would make a fun summer birthday gift idea too!

For outdoor cleanup:

This outdoor trash can is one of the first things I bought when we moved to our new house. It is super sleek and I had seen it at a friends house for years. We love it! I have one on our deck and another by the pool. A classy way to hide the trash!

The post 20 Of My Warm Weather Essentials. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Sharing 30 favorite tacos and margaritas here! Lots of delicious tex-mex options with tons of delicious margaritas for the side!

Tacos and margaritas coming in hot today!

Today I’m sharing over 30 of my favorite tacos and margaritas! A bunch of delicious tex-mex options, all paired with some of my favorite margaritas that I’ve made here on the blog. Since anything tex-mex is basically a staple of our weekly menu, I have tons of dishes that I absolutely love. Some days we do tacos, sometimes it’s enchiladas, often it’s a version of a burrito bowl and I can always go for a sheet pan nacho situation.

I mean, who wouldn’t?!

And! I’m a bit partial to the bubbly jam margaritas below but also ADORE my classic margarita recipe that I’ve been making for over a decade. It’s just so darn good. Scroll down and let me know what your pick would be! I’m thinking bang bang cauliflower tacos for tonight…

35+ Favorite Tacos and Margaritas

Bang bang cauliflower tacos

Sheet pan roasted shrimp tacos

Summer carnitas tacos

Grilled fish tacos

Grilled steak tacos with chimichurri

Weeknight baked ground turkey tacos

Summer salmon tacos

Honey chipotle shrimp tacos

Crispy cheese breakfast tacos

Our favorite ground beef tacos

Sheet pan lime shrimp fajitas (more…)

The post 35+ Of My Favorite Tex Mex and Margarita Recipes! appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

This delicious tomato hot honey ricotta tart is a dream! Flaky, crisp crust, melty cheese, creamy ricotta, burst garlicky tomatoes, basil, and parmesan come together before a drizzle of hot honey is added on top. It’s delish!

Another day in the chronicles of my puff pastry life. 

If you’re wondering just how many puff pastry recipes I can share, well… me too! This burst tomato ricotta tart is SO easy and delicious. Kind of like a white pizza, but a little fancier. Packed with fabulous flavor, very easy and looks super pretty too.

Which makes it a win all around! 

I just can’t help it with the puff pastry recipes. It’s easily the BEST store-bought ingredient I get and it’s incredibly versatile. I think what makes it so special is that it looks beautiful, it tastes wonderful and it instantly elevates almost any recipe.

Maybe it’s the shiny crust or the flaky layers. But it looks prettier than traditional pizza. It looks fancier and at the same time, like you tried harder. But really, you didn’t try at all. Because it’s EASY!

Embarrassingly easy, in fact.  

I tell my secrets for puff pastry all the time, but if you’re new here, they are worth mentioning again. 

First, it’s best to use refrigerated puff pastry that rolls out into a large triangle. I prefer it over the pre-perforated frozen kind. If frozen is all you can find, it will still work! It may just not look *quite* as pretty. 

Next, it’s very important to not overload the toppings. Additionally, whatever toppings you do use should be very evenly spaced out. 

For instance, ricotta is a heavier ingredient. Instead of spreading ricotta all over the crust, I do a few dollops here and there. They are spaced out nicely around the crust, therefore not weighing down any specific section. Same with the tomatoes that go on top!

It’s also important to do thin layers of everything. Cheeses, sauces, pestos – whatever toppings you’re using, keep them light and easy. This will help the crust bake evenly – and frankly, help it bake fully! (more…)

The post Burst Tomato, Hot Honey & Ricotta Tart. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

1. Peanut butter pound cake?! I will eat peanut butter anything!

2. I’m very excited to start planting flowers but here’s the thing: once I plant them, I have to water them. And I am terrible at that. Maybe I can think of it as a meditation moment.

3. I am such a baby and don’t love anything spicy. Here’s how to build a tolerance to spicy foods.

4. Max’s new favorite restaurant is Texas Roadhouse. It’s very cute. Maybe someday he will realize I can cook.

5. I loved reading this from Maria Shriver so much: fierce hope. Gosh, I adore her!

6. TV things! I watched Unchosen on netflix, on a whim. I was hooked instantly! Wow, it was crazy.

7. The cost of rushing through everything. Exactly what I needed to read!

8. A peek inside my life right here with my recent buys. Eeeep!

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

This strawberry pistachio chicken salad is a spring staple. Peppery arugula greens are tossed with juicy strawberries and creamy goat cheese. Thin strips of crispy chicken blanket the top and the whole thing is tossed in a pistachio vinaigrette. Delish!

Say hello to your new favorite salad.

This strawberry pistachio salad is one that I make and eat frequently, the whole family enjoys it and it’s packed with fresh spring flavor. The chicken is so crunchy, the arugula is peppery, the strawberries sweet and the dressing brings it together like no other.

The goat cheese also gets mixed in with the greens and brings a creamy pop to each bite. 

I freaking love it. 

Strawberries are my favorite fruit (by far!) so there is no shortage of ways I will use them. Savory, sweet and everywhere in between. I love adding them to salads though, if only because of the nostalgic flavor. Like, a classic spinach salad with strawberry and red onion. Or a berry summer salad with candied almonds. 

Those are potluck-y and party salads that my family has always shared at our large gatherings and they are always a hit. Probably because the kids will never pass up a strawberry. 

If I could own stock in strawberries, I would. We go through POUNDS per week. 

I can’t even tell you how many times I have made this salad over the years. It incorporates so many of my favorite things and the flavor is fabulous. Crunchy, crisp, refreshing, sweet, nutty, creamy – it has a little bit of everything. 

In this bowl we have:

A base of arugula, because it’s the best for salads. My favorite! 

Strawberries, goat cheese and a few chopped pistachios sprinkled into the arugula mixture. I love to toss it all up because salad toppings get nicely distributed when you’re using arugula. The skinny arugula leaves allow for full incorporation, making sure you get a bite of everything on your fork. 

Next, my chicken cutlets. These are a must-have in our house. My kids request them weekly, if not multiple times per week. Paper-thin chicken with the crispiest, crunchiest coating. And then I make it even better by slicing them into narrow pieces. Delish!

And herby pistachio vinaigrette. Think cilantro, fresh mint, parsley – all the good spring herbs. Chopped pistachios, good olive oil, a touch of red wine vinegar. It’s tangy but fresh and delicious!  (more…)

The post Strawberry Pistachio Salad with Crispy Chicken. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

Another week gone by.

I am getting so sad as we near the end of school! Excited for summer, but still.

The last of Emilia’s flowers from her play last week.

Jordy in the school drop off line.

My tennis girl!

Obsessed with her.

AND!! Now I have a tennis boy! Jordan started tennis this week!

Yay friends and cousins.

Her cutie little outfit.

And then guess what… my brother and SIL had a baby!! Oh my gosh.

This baby is SO DELICIOUS. I cannot handle it.

His name is Noah (love!!) and he is the squishiest chunk in all the land. I can’t wait to snuggle him constantly.

Speed skating for Max.

I love the angle.

Jordan’s favorite color is hot pink!

Funny faces!! Black and gold day to celebrate the draft being in town.

Max had a dance on Friday night.

Yes!! A dance!! Must shoot some hockey first.

This baby’s cheeks!! I can’t even take it.

It tried banana cream cold foam.

Speed and strength class for them.

She LOVES this. She wrote in her school journal that it was the most fun part of her weekend, lol. Hope she always feels that way!

Woohoo!!

Then it was hockey time for this one!!

I have to admit… it’s very weird not having him in the stands.

I think both Emilia and I felt it was weird!

So we went down to the ice to watch him more.

Is this not so adorable? I don’t remember Max being this cute!

Hi.

Max playing hockey in the other rink.

Then food!

He wanted all the meatballs.

I got a salad with crispy chicken!

Hearts.

Then a treat for a great hockey practice.

Milkshakes all around.

And finally, these crazy bananas in PB and chocolate. Wow!

The post A Week In the Life, Vol 17. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

We have some delicious meals for the week!

What’s on your menu this week?!

What To Eat This Week

Chili lime salmon with mango slaw

Green chile beef taco soup

Burst tomato pasta with chickpeas

Honey mustard chicken with asparagus

Skillet bucatini pie

Grilled mushrooms pizza

Smashed pesto chickpea salad

Strawberries and cream oatmeal cups

The post What To Eat This Week: 4/26/26. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

This week on the blog I shared this skillet bucatini pie. I also shared this hot honey hummus, a bunch of recipes for the kentucky derby next weekend and these potato chip rice krispie treats! I also shared my april favorites here.

My substack newsletter can be found here, where I share something new each week! You can find all my favorites in my amazon store front, shopmy and LTK shop!

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

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

What I’m Loving This Week

This vanilla pound cake is stunning.

Orange ice cream! My kids would love.

This lemon chicken orzo looks amazing.

Salsa morita is now on my list!

Have to make italian hoagie dip!

White chocolate macadamia cookies for the win.

Making honey lime margaritas this weekend!

Smoked salmon cream cheese looks delicious.

This lemon blueberry pound cake looks so good.

No bake tiramisu! Delish.

Gotta make hashbrown casserole.

Chicken salad with croissant croutons. OMG.

I want to make these roasted red potatoes.

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

These potato chip rice krispie treats are a sweet and salty lovers’ dream! They are super chewy and crunchy with lots of salty kettle chips and a drizzle of dark chocolate. Delish!

Your weekend is about to be super fun!

This weekend treat is going to make snacktime a whole lot more fun. Potato chip rice krispie treats are super crunchy, salty, sweet, chewy and gooey. If you’re a sweet and salty freak like I am, you will absolutely flip. 

These have all the texture, crunch and the perfect amount of salty sweet that is ideal in a treat. Everything tastes better with a little salt! 

When it comes to homemade desserts, I will never pass up a rice krispie treat. I have zero interest in the pre-packaged versions – they don’t taste anywhere near the same. But homemade? Sign me up.

Eating them straight from the pot? Double sign me up. 

Homemade cakes and cookies don’t even join the ranks of rice krispie treats for me. The homemade version is elite and something I will always love, even if half of it is due to nostalgia. 

They are also one of Eddie’s favorite treats. Aside from peanut butter blossoms, I am pretty sure they are the first treat that I ever made for him. You don’t even want to SEE what happens to a full fresh pan of rice krispie treats in our house.

It can be demolished in minutes. 

My secrets for the perfect rice krispie treats include always browning the butter and having more marshmallows on hand as needed.

Browning the butter is just a given at this point. Why do it any other way? You’re already melting the butter in the pot so you may as well just take another five minutes and brown it. Those golden caramel flecks add so much depth of flavor. They are really a game changer!  (more…)

The post Salty Potato Chip Rice Krispie Treats. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.