Nine Favorite Things. – Half Baked Harvest

It’s almost October! We are less than two months out from the release of the new cookbook Quick and Cozy! And you guys, I am so excited but also so anxious and scared. I shared a bit of the ups and downs and behind-the-scenes of this cookbook with you all last week and just why this book, in particular, is so special to me. It’s my favorite book yet, and I really hope it’s going to bring you and your families so much happiness and, of course, yummy food!

But I am nervous. There is a lot of pressure with this book, and it’s scary! But you all left some overly sweet comments last week, and it’s amazing to see the excitement many of you seem to have for a new book release!

I’m excited because this book will be released just ahead of the holiday season. It contains so many wonderful recipes for your families, and it will make a good gift—even better if you pair it with a candle!

I spent this week at home preparing for all the travel I have coming up in the next few months. Today, I am en route to LA for a pretty quick two-day trip. I will then be home for a night before heading out again, this time to Chicago. Then I’m off to Utah and, lastly, Austin. So much is coming!! And I’m feeling grateful for all the wonderful blessings I already have!

We hope to share the dates for the upcoming book tour soon. Sorry it’s taking so long. We’ve just been working to plan these stops as best as possible before sharing all the details. But we have fun things coming!

While I am off to LA today, my family is finally back in Colorado after a month of travel. They returned home Friday night, and I am off this morning. It was nice to see them, even if it was brief!

Also, It’s spooky season! You guys all know how much I love this time of year. It’s just fun. I love a good Halloween movie. Halloweentown is my favorite, hands down. But I also love Hocus Pocus and Twitches, and I watch Harry Potter every single year in October. It’s so good. One type of Halloween movie I’m not into is the horror Halloween movie, not at all. What do you love? Are dressing up this year?

That’s it for our weekly update! I have lots of fun things below, I hope you all enjoy! Have a great Sunday and welcome to cozy season!

1. Things i’m loving, wanting, and excited to try.

loving…everything about fall. If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, try something from this list of 15 Fall Weekend Ideas That Are (Almost) Completely Free. A scenic drive to see the leaves is such a dream. Fortunately, we have incredible leaf colors right out my window! A chili cookoff sounds so fun, and I used to LOVE going to the farms to pick apples and running through the Halloween corn mazes. So fun! Top of my list? Pumpkin carving party. What a cute idea!

wanting…the new Birkenstock Premium Shearling Slipper.

gifting…I want to order every cashmere piece for my mom. So many cute fall styles I know she would love. First, this Lisa Lang organic cashmere hooded scarf. And then these cute Cashmere Donegal Mittens from Vince. To complete the cozy look, a cashmere hoodie and track pants set are needed. I know she would live in these pieces. She loves cashmere.

 

watching…Zara Streaming with Cindy Crawford & Kaia Gerber. This is so cute. Cindy and her daughter Kaia (love Kaia for a girl’s baby name) partnered for their new series, ZaraStreaming. The 30+ minute clip follows Kaia and Cindy as they arrive at their Zara shoot and pull pieces to share. It’s really sweet.

everything in my cart (low)…all things Zara. I love this wool cardigan and wool sweater. This ribbed t-shirt is a great piece to layer with this fall/winter. I need this basic gold knit button top. I think it’s so cute! And definitely this tailored blazer and matching straight leg pant. I’d style these suede kitten heel slingbacks with the suite. Also love this lace trim slip skirt. And lastly, you can never go wrong with a great trench coat!

I am so bummed because this Chunky Knit Cardigan from Mango is sold out. It’s the cutest. Ordering this ribbed knot cardigan instead.

From J.Crew, I need their Limited-edition 1983 heritage Barn Jacket.  Oh, and these Maryana Block Boots are a fall classic. I’d pair them with this satin skirt from Reformation.

Ok, last piece. Love this Vegan Leather 90s Relaxed Pant from Abercrombie. So, so cute!

 

listening to…Alex Clark –  Conspiracies, Health Truths, Big Pharma, Public vs Home School, & What They Don’t Want You To Know.

weekend travel…Wildflower Farms in Hudson Valley. Can you imagine this resort during the fall in peak season? I bet it is so pretty!  

reading…Experts Say This Delicious Drink Is “The Most Nutrient-Rich Food on the Planet”. My mom drinks a cup of hot cacao every single morning and has done so for as long as I can remember. Knew she was smart!

loving…Inside Coach Creative Director Stuart Vevers’s Fairytale Country Home. This home is straight out of a Disney movie. So magical.

wanting…this Patchwork Chore Jacket from Polo Ralph Lauren

everything in my cart (beauty)…holiday beauty sets are slowly rolling out, and the Lawless Merry Me lip plumping trio is in my cart. Speaking of lips, the Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Satin Lipstick and Shade Slick Gelée Sheer Tinted Lip Oil are both highly recommended by all beauty editors. I also love the Merit  Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara.

And lastly, I know this product is a splurge, but the Instafacial Plasma Bioactive Growth Factor Serum from Dr. Diamond’s Metacine has everyone talking. It leaves skin looking more lifted, firmer, tighter and luminous. Comments state that it reduces wrinkles!

 

watching…what’s in my bag with Sydney Sweeney. Wow, she fits a lot into a bag.

everything in my cart (high)…Coach has cute boots for fall. I am into the Raquel boot (love the brown suede) and Madeline boot (the leather with the gold hardware is so chic).

Love this Reformation blazer and Helsa curve jacket too! Great fall finds.

 

listening to…Fall-Must Haves: Who We’re Wearing, What Beauty Products to Try, Where to Shop, Trends to Lean Into and More!

cooking…my Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Chili for Sunday night dinner + Sunday night football. My favorite.

2. September’s Most Popular Recipes.

Most popular: Cinnamon Crunch Swirled Banana Bread

Runner-up: Glazed Honeycrisp Apple Fritter Cake

Also have to mention:  Crockpot Creamy Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

Best for fall: Butternut Squash Orzo Salad with Candied Bacon

My Personal Favorite: Harvest Brie and Cheddar Apple Kale Salad

And lastly: The 60 Most Popular Fall Recipes of 2024

3. Already Ordering Holiday Decor.

Anthro dropped their holiday collection, and you know I had to order it before everything sold out. I’m so excited to entertain this holiday! 

everything from the goop x CB2 collection

 

4. My OMG moment the week.

This might seem silly, but I was SO EXCITED to see the Pumpkin Smash candle listed as one of the best fall candles. The EveryGirl team gave it the sweetest review. I was jumping up and down with happiness! Next year, we need to have both pumpkin smash and apple cider included on this list!

I LOVE these candles so much.

5. A few more cookbook questions answered.

Where do you get your inspiration for the cookbook theme and recipes?

You all have inspired each cookbook. I take feedback from the requests I often get. I try to figure out what you could love and what style recipes you need most. With this cookbook launch being in the fall and ahead of the holidays, I knew I wanted the concept to be all things cozy. This is the coziest time of year! It’s also the busiest, so quick recipes are usually the most popular. And that’s how Quick and Cozy came to be!

If I do another cookbook, I already have a new concept in mind because you all provide me with some of the best feedback and ideas!

How do you choose the recipes? 

Once I have the theme of the book, I write out a million recipe ideas, then go through and narrow that list down to around 175-ish. From here, I start testing recipes, and by the time the book is complete, I’ve eliminated all the duds and shared only MY FAVORITE recipes from the list. These recipes always feel even more special. I spend so much time making them perfect!

Who tests them?

For all the cookbooks, I usually work with recipe testers based in New York and/or Los Angeles. They’ll test each recipe at least twice after I’ve tested it and then send any notes with detailed photos back to me!

How do you fit all that in, along with pushing out a brand new recipe on the blog/social every day?

This is hard. There is no sugarcoating it. It’s a lot to create all at once, but I usually have set days for the cookbook and then the website. This way, I don’t end up jumping back and forth mentally, and it helps streamline my process. But it’s hard, and I’m usually in the kitchen all day, seven days a week. Then, I write and edit content at night.

6. Inspiring me.

(source) 

(this is to cute) 

(screenshot of the week)

(happiest fall)

7. Favorite links i’m loving.

The Trader Joe’s Fall 2024 Drop We’ve All Been Waiting For

From Apple Picking to Leaf Peeping: 40 Fun Things to Do This Fall

18 Cozy Hobbies to Try, Just in Time for Fall

The 50+ Best Halloween Nail Ideas to Try This Spooky Season

Ready to Shake Up Your Morning Routine? You Have to Try Bullet Journaling

The 5 Recently-Opened New York Restaurants You Should Be Dining at This Fall

Fall Is the Perfect Time to Declutter: 8 Ways to Reset Your Space This Season

How to Select the Perfect Cheeses for Your Next Charcuterie Board

Do You Really Need to Double Cleanse? We Asked a Dermatologist

10 Things You Think You Need to Organize, But Should Minimize Instead

5 Types of Self-Care for Every Area of Your Life

The 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying Something

The Easiest Way to Motivate Yourself to Clean

8. Fall Fabric and Color Trends.

 

hoodies for fall

 

nordstrom/H&M/Revolve fall styles 

 

9. This week’s dinners + weekend eats.

Monday: Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Dumplings

Tuesday: Harvest Brie and Cheddar Apple Kale Salad

Wednesday: Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup

Thursday: Sheet Pan Chili Cheese Meatballs

Friday: Butternut Squash Pasta Carbonara with Rosemary Bacon

Saturday: Enchanted Graveyard Pomegranate Punch

Sunday: Baked Cinnamon Crunch Apple Cider Doughnuts

In an effort to keep this a happy, uplifting space for our community, any unnecessary, hateful, and just plain silly comments will be deleted. Any responses to that comment will also be deleted. Please remember that we are real people and we have feelings too. Your words hurt. Remember the golden rule, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”.

Happy Fall Sunday to our loving HBH family!!