I’m all the time impressed by those that break free from standard 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 actually 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 function of recipe developer, stylist, photographer, and storyteller, sharing new recipes nearly each day. This hands-on strategy has earned her a faithful viewers of tens of millions 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 banquet in my yard. The night was magic—pals gathered round a candlelit desk, sharing dishes from her upcoming ebook that felt each festive and easy.
Within the vacation situation of Camille Kinds EDIT, we shared my heartfelt dialog with Tieghan about her journey—from constructing her profession to going through social media drama. Make sure you take a look at the total piece in case you haven’t but, and browse on for all of Tieghan’s suggestions for cozy vacation internet hosting.
At House in Colorado
First issues first: what informs your strategy to meals?
Simplicity is essential—however make it lovely and scrumptious.
What does a typical workday appear like for you?
It relies upon. Once 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 achieved for an occasion. It’s nice, it’s thrilling, it’s busy. It’s a completely completely different aspect of the enterprise.
Once I’m residence, 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 strive to not ebook calls throughout this time so I can keep actually targeted on the creating. At night time, I’m doing emails, writing weblog posts, and enhancing photographs.
What’s your must-have cooking device and why?
That is form of humorous, however a cookie scoop is de facto nice. I take advantage of it for lots of issues—scooping meatballs, cookies, muffin batter and cupcake batter.
Everybody additionally wants a great forged iron skillet. It’s straightforward to scrub and it’s higher for you.
Inform us a number of issues we’ll all the time discover in your fridge?
Goat milk, completely different cheeses, jalapeños, avocados, and plenty of recent produce.
Your go-to weeknight meal to eat at residence?
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 surroundings. If you happen to’re doing tall taper candles, use only a few of them, and in case you’re doing low candles, you should utilize heaps.
- A fairly bowl for a centerpiece. Fill it with seasonal produce, like pomegranates and persimmons within the fall, and even acquire some acorns from outdoors, no matter you may have entry to.
- A meals merchandise. I like to make use of meals as decor—sometimes I set a desk actually minimally, however I like to set out a good looking cheese board or serving platter with meals to make it really feel plentiful.
Apple Vanilla Chai Scorching Toddy
Baked Honeyed Brie
Garlic Mushroom Hen Skillet
Winter Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts
Lemon Pesto Orzo
Basic Tiramisu
What does an ideal gathering appear like for you?
There’s a fireplace roaring and there’s gentle music enjoying within the background. There are candles lit all over the place, there are flowers, and there’s the scent of actually good meals gradual cooking within the oven. Simply actually enjoyable and comforting—and also you gotta have candles.
The proper banquet playlist consists of:
Very mellow and enjoyable music. Classical is fairly. My grandma all the time used to play Frank Sinatra, and I 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 unbelievable for gathering and could be excellent for a Christmas Eve dinner. Additionally, the meatballs on the quilt. If you happen to don’t eat crimson meat, you possibly can swap in floor hen—I offered these substitutions within the ebook, so individuals can adapt the recipes simply for his or her wants or their style buds. All the pieces within the ebook is tremendous easy, cozy, and fast.
What’s your no-stress celebration rule to reside by?
Set the dinner desk the night time earlier than. Create a menu you can make prematurely—a crock pot or gradual cooker recipe is the perfect. Hold it easy.
Dream dinner company?
Victoria Beckham—proper now I’m simply loving her designs. After which, you would possibly as effectively invite David, proper? I additionally need to meet their son Brooklyn—he simply launched a brand new scorching sauce model which is so fascinating. So I assume 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 the best way to: make a cheeseboard.
