I’m at all times impressed by those that break free from typical paths and carve out a inventive journey uniquely their very own—like Tieghan Gerard, the creator of Half-Baked Harvest. I first met Tieghan in 2017, and within the years since, she’s created a model and enterprise that really displays her passions. From her transformed barn within the Colorado mountains, Tieghan crafts the form of recipes that really feel like a heat hug—homey, comforting, and impossibly scrumptious. She wears many hats, enjoying the position of recipe developer, stylist, photographer, and storyteller, sharing new recipes virtually each day. This hands-on strategy has earned her a faithful viewers of thousands and thousands who flip to Half-Baked Harvest and her bestselling cookbooks for each day dinner inspo.
Simply earlier than the launch of her fourth cookbook, Fast & Cozy, Tieghan got here to Austin, the place we co-hosted a vacation ceremonial dinner in my yard. The night was magic—buddies gathered round a candlelit desk, sharing dishes from her upcoming ebook that felt each festive and easy.
Within the vacation concern of Camille Types EDIT, we shared my heartfelt dialog with Tieghan about her journey—from constructing her profession to going through social media drama. You’ll want to take a look at the complete piece for those who haven’t but, and skim on for all of Tieghan’s ideas for cozy vacation internet hosting.
At Residence in Colorado
First issues first: what informs your strategy to meals?
Simplicity is essential—however make it stunning and scrumptious.
What does a typical workday appear like for you?
It relies upon. After I’m touring, I’m doing interviews, picture shoots, and meet-and-greets. I’m multitasking, taking telephone calls whereas I’m getting hair and make-up performed for an occasion. It’s nice, it’s thrilling, it’s busy. It’s a very completely different facet of the enterprise.
After I’m dwelling, my day couldn’t be extra reverse. I’m within the kitchen sunup to sunset. I’m cooking, testing, photographing, and capturing video. I’m very targeted on creating content material, so I attempt to not ebook calls throughout this time so I can keep actually targeted on the creating. At evening, I’m doing emails, writing weblog posts, and modifying photographs.
What’s your must-have cooking instrument and why?
That is form of humorous, however a cookie scoop is absolutely nice. I exploit it for lots of issues—scooping meatballs, cookies, muffin batter and cupcake batter.
Everybody additionally wants a great forged iron skillet. It’s simple to wash and it’s higher for you.
Inform us a number of issues we’ll at all times discover in your fridge?
Goat milk, completely different cheeses, jalapeños, avocados, and many recent produce.
Your go-to weeknight meal to eat at dwelling?
I’m a crispy taco woman. Like, I simply love a taco, beef, crispy taco that’s so easy, nothing fancy with cheddar cheese. So good, you guys. It’s so good.
How Tieghan Hosts a Get together
What are three merchandise you’re keen on for the desk?
- Candles. Each single desk is made higher with candles—they create such a comforting setting. In the event you’re doing tall taper candles, use just some of them, and for those who’re doing low candles, you need to use heaps.
- A fairly bowl for a centerpiece. Fill it with seasonal produce, like pomegranates and persimmons within the fall, and even gather some acorns from outdoors, no matter you’ve entry to.
- A meals merchandise. I really like to make use of meals as decor—usually I set a desk actually minimally, however I like to set out an exquisite cheese board or serving platter with meals to make it really feel ample.
Apple Vanilla Chai Scorching Toddy
Baked Honeyed Brie
Garlic Mushroom Rooster Skillet
Winter Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts
Lemon Pesto Orzo
Traditional Tiramisu
What does a fantastic gathering appear like for you?
There’s a hearth roaring and there’s mild music enjoying within the background. There are candles lit in all places, there are flowers, and there’s the scent of actually good meals gradual cooking within the oven. Simply actually stress-free and comforting—and also you gotta have candles.
The proper ceremonial dinner playlist contains:
Very mellow and stress-free music. Classical is fairly. My grandma at all times used to play Frank Sinatra, and I really like turning on his music at Christmas.
Your signature dishes for gatherings?
There are many nice recipes for gathering in my new cookbook, Fast & Cozy. The brisket recipe is unimaginable for gathering and could be good for a Christmas Eve dinner. Additionally, the meatballs on the duvet. In the event you don’t eat pink meat, you’ll be able to swap in floor hen—I offered these substitutions within the ebook, so folks can adapt the recipes simply for his or her wants or their style buds. The whole lot within the ebook is tremendous easy, cozy, and fast.
What’s your no-stress occasion rule to reside by?
Set the dinner desk the evening earlier than. Create a menu that you could make prematurely—a crock pot or gradual cooker recipe is one of the best. Hold it easy.
Dream dinner visitors?
Victoria Beckham—proper now I’m simply loving her designs. After which, you would possibly as effectively invite David, proper? I additionally wish to meet their son Brooklyn—he simply launched a brand new scorching sauce model which is so fascinating. So I suppose I’m simply inviting your complete Beckham household!
Fill within the blanks:
An ideal meal ought to: really feel comforting to everybody.
It’s not a cocktail party with out: candles.
Each cook dinner ought to know find out how to: make a cheeseboard.
