Nine Favorite Things. – Half Baked Harvest

Hi Everyone! I hope you all had a great start to October! Honestly, it was such a beautiful week here in Colorado—one of our best of the year, for sure. The leaves are starting to fall now, but they were in peak season earlier in the week!

I spent the first half of this week in LA filming a couple of recipes out of the new cookbook Quick & Cozy with a very special guest. Can you guess who? It was so fun and it was the first time I’d cooked from the actual cookbook. I still can’t believe the release date is so close. My nerves are all over the place. I’m not only nervous but excited and impatient too. I genuinely cannot wait for you all to get this book, it’s my favorite book yet. My biggest fear is that it’s not what you need. BUT I hope you’ll find it’s exactly what you all need most right now. Quick and cozy recipes to get us through the winter. My fingers are crossed that this becomes your favorite too!

I spent one day filming and the other recording a podcast, then quickly headed home. And now, I am typing this up late Friday night before heading off to Chicago in the morning! I’m so excited! We’re doing a doughnut popup with Firecakes Doughnuts today (Sunday the 6th) from 10 am to 1 pm CT. It’s going to be so fun. If you’re in the Chicago area, come grab a free apple cider doughnut and apple Cider Smash candle sample and say hi!!

From Chicago, I’ll head to Utah for a quick 1-night stay to film something fun. Then, I’m off to Austin for two very exciting shoots with my favorite type of content! It’s going to be a busy month. But I’m truly looking forward to it all. And when I start to feel overwhelmed, I think about how excited and grateful I am for all these opportunities. It’s such a wonderful time for HBH. My mom and I are so excited! A lot of really big changes are coming. But good changes we know you guys will love!

One of our Zooms this week was regarding a little website and brand refresh we’re working on. It’s going to be SO GOOD. We’re working with a really great team.

On the cooking front, I’m deep into fall cooking mode and jumping from creating Halloween recipes to planning Thanksgiving 2024. Can you believe the holidays are here? Again, I’m so excited! With Thanksgiving on my mind, I’m wondering, are you guys into a roasted turkey, or do you want to switch up your Thanksgiving main? What recipes would be exciting to share this year? I already have my theme set!

Sharing some fun favorites below. I put together a lot of affordable fashion finds, some big splurges, and some of my Amazon Prime Big Deal Day picks too! Plus, I’m sharing a small cookbook Q+A that I did on Instagram earlier this week. Hoping this answers some of the questions you all might have about the cookbook process!

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

loving…both the Bottega Veneta Milan Fashion Week 2025 show and the Saint Laurent Paris Fashion Week 2025 show. Both collections really are so pretty! And I love that Bottega had guests sitting in bean bag chairs! How fun! 

gifting…charm jewelry. With the holidays coming, I’m making a list of great gifts for hostess, stocking stuffers, and more. Love this Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Bear Coin Pouch. And you can never go wrong with monthly flower delivery. 

everything in my cart (low)…from Zara. My mom would love this hooded double-sided jacket. The suede is cute! Actually, they have SO many cute jackets. I love this Pockets Jacket. And, of course, a great Suede Jacket. This Corduroy Collar Jacket is adorable. And I’d live in this Soft Bomber Jacket for sure.

listening to…Dr. Stacy Sims: Female-Specific Exercise & Nutrition for Health, Performance & Longevity. This is long, 3 hours, but I’m slowly working my way through it, and it’s super interesting. 

dreaming of going to…Austria for Christmas! How magical! The family might be planning a trip. More to come as my mom is set on spending Christmas Europe. Basically we want to live in a Hallmark movie. 

loving…Stylist Mieke ten Have’s Upstate New York Retreat—And Her Tips for Fall Decorating. Such a beautiful home! Wow! 

reading…Leanne Ford’s new book, The Slow Down. This book sounds super cute, and I love learning about the behind-the-scenes aspects of home design. You can preorder it here. 

embracing…press tour networking. Taking notes as we head into the cookbook’s press tour this November!

everything in my cart (beauty)…ok, let’s start with a few Amazon highlights. I’m trying out this Green Tangerine Vitamin C Serum, a Korean beauty favorite. 

I reordered a tried-and-true, the Vanilla Apricot Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter from Josie Maran. I’m also trying out Shani Darden’s new Sake Nourishing Essence. I love these YSE Beauty Your Favorite Ex Exfoliating Pads.

On the laundry front…I only ever use the Branch Basics laundry detergent.

watching…31 Spooky Movies to Get You in the Mood for Halloween. BOO! I just love Halloween. I don’t love scary movies, but Disney movies are so fun for me! How about you?

a charming home…A Soaking Tub Is Only Steps Away From the Bed in This 900-Square-Foot Cotswolds Cottage. So sweet and cute. 

reading…13 Cozy Books to Get Wrapped Up in This Fall.

everything in my cart (high)…Jackets! This Corrine Suede Jacket from Staud. Reformation’s Veda Leon Oversized Suede Blazer, and then this Corrin Suede Trench Coat from Ducie are so chic. If I were to get one, though, I’m ordering that trench! So cute!

Lastly, this Christmas night tasseled crystal-embellished gold-tone clutch is a major splurge, but wow, it’s so pretty and unique! 

remember…Dooney & Bourke? Their bags used to be the IT bags, and now they’re coming back. This leather bag is cute and on sale!

shopping…everything from Coach. Like Dooney & Bourke, Coach seems to be the IT brand right now. Everyone wants a Coach bag, myself included. Personally, I have the Soft Empire Carryall Bag in my shopping cart. 

2. Amazon Prime Big Deal Day October Picks.

home

beauty

fashion

3. My Favorite Chili Recipes. 

Creamy White Chicken Chili

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Chili

Slowcooker Chipotle Queso Chicken Chili

Crockpot Spicy Queso Beef Chili

Healthy Slow Cooker Chipotle Bean Chili

4. New Cookbook Q+As.

How many new recipes are featured in the new cookbook?

125+

How do you go about selecting the cover photo?? It must be so hard to choose!

It is sooo hard! With this book, I didn’t have much of a choice. We needed to decide on the cover almost as soon as I started shooting the recipes for the book. At the time the cover needed to be chosen, I had only had a handful of recipes photographed. And I still didn’t feel like we had a cover. I pushed out the deadline as long as could – like as long as I possibly could. I shot the cover at the 11th hour but the second I saw the photo come up in my Lightroom catalog on my screen, I knew I had it.

Wait, let me rephrase. My mom knew I had the cover shot. Of course, I was still not sure, but I did love the photo, and I knew the recipe was a good one, so meatballs it was! And now I do love the cover. There is only one other recipe I would have considered, but in the end, I think we have the perfect cover! It all worked out!

Is it more of a “familiar dishes/back to basics” or a “something different/unique new flavors” type of book?

I’d say it’s a mix. If you know my recipes, then you know that I always try to include something unique that makes the recipe special and different. I don’t love creating recipes that have already been created unless it’s something my parents made growing up or a holiday recipe that is tradition. That said, I think you’ll find comfort in recipes that feel familiar but different and exciting too!

When will the book signing locations be announced??

So soon! Promise! We’re just working through details and changing schedules, but NYC, NJ, DC, Atlanta, Denver, Texas, Chicago, Nashville, Miami, LA, and San Fran (and others we’re still working on)—I’m coming to you soon!! We’re really trying to make these events fun and special, not just your average book signing.

More to come!

What Do You Love Most About The New Cookbook

This book is so special to me. It’s the one I am most proud of, excited to share, and nervous to release! I really put everything I had into creating this book. I buckled down and made it my only focus for so long.

The recipes and stories I’m sharing reflect the way I cook today. You can really see my growth as a not only a recipe creator, but my styling, photography and approach to cooking and entertaining throughout these pages.

Simple, real food, easy to make, no fuss, totally delicious, beautiful, and family favorites. There’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Are many recipes gluten-free?

Yes! There are some gluten-free recipes. But even if they aren’t gluten-free, most people find my recipes to be very easy to adjust.

Will you have autographed books available with the new cookbook? I’d love one!!

We will have limited signed copies available at independent bookstores! I can get details on how you can preorder those today. On my list of “to-dos” for this week is to sign a whole bunch of cookbooks!

Are they quick recipes and kid-friendly?

Yes, I definitely think so! 

How do you know whether certain recipes will work in different parts of the country, the world, or in different climates?

I had two recipe testers for this cookbook, plus myself and some family/friends testing recipes, too. We had one tester in New York and another on the West Coast, plus team members in Nashville and California testing recipes! These recipes have been tested from all over the US. I want the recipes to work really well for everyone!

Can you do a cookbook for dinner parties? Cooking for a Crowd

Haha! Guys let’s focus on i book at a time!!! But I do love this idea

Will you do a holiday bundle with all 4 of your books please!

I love this idea! I’m not sure we can pull it off in time for this holiday season, but I’m definitely going to ask our teams what we can do!

Already preordered!
Thank you to everyone who has messaged saying they’ve already preordered! You guys have no idea how much your support means! I created these books for you, and my only hope is that they solve the problem we all ask ourselves, “What am I making tonight?” I hope these recipes bring new inspiration and deliciousness into your lives!!!

5. Inspiring Me – fall pumpkins.

6. Something Sweet.

Someone had asked, “why the random ladder to know where tho? Love you like a sister, lol”. And this was a follower’s response, so sweet: 

7. Favorite Links i’m Loving.

10 Cozy Fall Destinations That Look Straight Out of a Nora Ephron Movie

How To Layer Your Skincare Products To Make Them As Effective As Possible

The Reason Why I’ll Only Be Using the “Brown Stem” Rule to Pick Out the Sweetest Apples (Farmers Swear By It!)

10 Fall Foods to Boost Your Gut Health, According to a Nutritionist

A Nutritionist Names the Best Fall Foods for Hormone Health

The Who What Wear 100: Every Fall 2024 Item to Shop This Season

31 Halloween Recipes for All Your Spooky Gatherings This Fall

The Prettiest Dessert of the Season is this Pear Frangipane Tart

How to Clean Leather Boots and Keep Them Looking New

8. Favorites Under $150 for Fall.

from Free People

the best from J Crew, Abercrombie, Madewell

9. This Week’s Dinners + Weekend Eats.

Monday: Apple Cider Smothered Chicken

Tuesday: Sheet Pan Ginger Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

Wednesday: Sage Brown Butter Pumpkin Pasta Alfredo

Thursday: Crockpot Chipotle Queso Chicken Chili

Friday: Marry Me Chicken in Pumpkin Cream Sauce

Saturday: Hocus Pocus Old Fashioned

Sunday: Spooky Homemade Twix Bars

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