Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

(I made my 6 ingredient tomato soup!)

Welcome back to yet another summer Sunday favorites post. We may only have a few weeks of summer left before fall sets in, but I’m soaking up these remaining dog days of summer. Well, at least that’s what I’m trying to do. It’s been challenging to keep my head above water later. Especially with the release of HBH Super Simple this October. But slowly and surely I am learning something new every day…I’m trying my hardest to work “smarter, not harder”.

Have you guys heard that one before?

I’ve listened to some of the people who I look up to most in the business world give this advice. I know it’s something I need to work to strive for every single day. Sometimes I do things the hard way, the long way, and the not smart way. Right now my biggest focus is learning to work smarter and not harder. This means hiring help, trying to build out an incredible HBH team, planning ahead, not being such a perfectionist all the dang time, not stressing out over the little things, not overthinking every single move I make, and just pushing forward. Let me tell you, it’s HARD. But when I start second-guessing myself, or working on a task that is not worth my time, or just plain being way too much of a perfectionist, I stop and say, work smarter, not harder.

Seems like such a simple thing to do, right? I’ve found it to be super helpful just to pause and reevaluate what I’m doing in the moment. It helps to redirect my thoughts and in-turn work smarter! No real reason in sharing this other than it’s what I’m currently thinking and working on!

If you guys have any tips for me, let me know. I truly love hearing your thoughts and ideas!

In other news, this week was all over the place. New recipes are coming, fall planning is in full force, and I’ve been working on bonus material and events for the cookbook’s release. I’m so excited for the months ahead!!

Coming up this week on HBH, we’ll be sharing a new instant pot recipe that’s great for summer, but even better for the busy fall nights ahead. We’ve got something sweet and cheesy switching things up on Tuesday. A new go-to skillet salmon that takes minutes to make. A delicious one-pot meal that’s perfect for using up the summer corn. And we’ll be ending the week on a very sweet and buttery note. I couldn’t be more excited to share!

Lastly, if you missed anything from the past week, be sure to sign up for our newsletter here. Hope you’re all having the best weekend, soaking up the end of summer sunshine. And of course, enjoying this Sunday’s Nine Favorite Things!

1. Inspiring Me on Pinterest.

(photos via pinterest)

Question: what inspired you this week?

2. Catching up on Instagram…and Other Things.

I know so many of you who read HBH daily also follow along on Instagram, but I wanted to do a quick update on everything I’ve been sharing on IG. Instagram has really become the space where I am able to easily share new recipes, how-to videos, behind the scenes actions, and so much more! I LOVE interacting and talking with you all through comments and DM’s. I know I say this often, but it’s my FAVORITE.

So, Instagram stories. I have been sharing so much on my stories lately. A few recipe highlights include…

The ever so popular blueberry basque cheese, which I have now made sooo many times. It’s just so easy and a real show-stopper!

I made the jammy cherry tomato pasta with crispy rosemary lemon chickpeas and gave you all my secrets for getting EXTRA crisp chickpeas.

I baked up this easy, healthy…ish sneaky zucchini chocolate chunk coconut bread. It’s a favorite, and certainly, a great way to rid yourself of any extra zucchini you may have.

And finally, my heirloom tomato cheddar tart with everything spice. I make this every year. Obsessed with this recipe.

Make sure you are following along on stories. Most of the recipes I’ve been sharing, I also make step-by-step on my Stories. I made the healthy coconut tart this past Friday, and also my favorite tomato soup. It’s so much fun to cook with you guys and I love that IG stories easily allows me to do so.

Other recent stories have included videos and photos like the ones below…

 

Also! Many of you had been asking about a way to save your favorite HBH recipes and we now have that feature available. You may have noticed, but at the bottom every recipe there is a “save to recipe box” button. Just click this button twice and you’ll be able to save all your favorite HBH recipes in one place. It’s so easy to use and super convenient for accessing your most loved HBH recipes. Please let us know what you think! We want to make sure HBH is working amazingly for YOU guys.

Other Things…

Thing one…very excited to share that Food and Wine has included Half Baked Harvest Super Simple on their list of 18 Essential New Cookbooks for Fall 2019. YEAH! So honored to be on this incredible list and cannot wait to share HBH Super Simple with you all this October. If you haven’t ordered yet, you can pre-order your copy now on Amazon! We have lots of fun stuff coming your way this fall!

Thing two…In addition to Instagram stories, we have also been releasing new HBH Presents videos on IGTV every week. This past week my video with Lauren and Hannah from The Little Market went live. I think this might be my favorite video yet. So much fun cooking with these two! Make sure you grab the recipe for the Paloma Mocktail over on Lauren Conrad.com and watch the full video below or on IGTV!

Question: We are planning more HBH Presents videos for the fall, what would you like to see more of with these videos? Any special guests you would love to see me cook with? Any recipes you’re dying to watch me create? Please let me know!

PS. If you want to catch up on all the IGTV videos, you can watch them all right here.

3. Early Fall Decor and Kitchen Finds…

Because I just can’t help but be excited for my favorite season to arrive. Here are some of the decor and kitchen finds I found at Terrian.

4. Questions of the Week: 

q: #1 thing you want in your kitchen right now?
a: This is super specific, but I am dying to replace the white panel in the back of this cupboard with either vintage wood or a hand-painted wood panel. Working to think up something super pretty. Any ideas?

q: What was the hardest part about starting your own business?
a: It’s mine, so at the end of the day everything falls on my shoulders. It’s a lot to handle, 24/7 work, pressure, basically non-stop. I’ve had to learn a lot about “business” and am still very much trying to learn to trust myself and my decisions. The hardest part though has been building out a team. I’m so used to doing it all, so managing others is a bit over my head. Slowly but surely I am learning!

q: Have you had any bad cooking injuries?
a: 1. Almost burnt my eyebrows off last fall while making caramel. Not fun. 2. Sliced the edge of my finger off pretty good. Also not fun

q: Will you post regular versions of your Instant Pot recipes, please? I don’t have an Instant Pot.
a: Just FYI, with all the instant pot recipe I share, and any of the IP recipes in the new cookbook, I give an instant pot option, stovetop option, and most of the time, a slow cooker option too. I get that not everyone has every latest appliance, so I really try to make recipes easily adaptable for everyone!

q: What should I get first…a food processor or a KitchenAid Mixer?
a: If you love to bake, get the mixer, but if you only cook, for sure get the food processor

5. Newest Videos: 

Crispy Salt and Vinegar Smashed Potatoes…video says it all. These are the BEST.

Herbed Butter Heirloom Tomato Pizza…the end of summer pizza we all should be making

6. A few Back To School Recipes.

30 minute butter chicken meatballs

homemade chicken noodle casserole

instant pot chipotle cheddar corn chowder

 

weeknight 30 minute coconut curry chicken meatballs

broccoli cheese quesadilla with chipotle sauce

better than takeout sweet thai basil chicken

buttery pull apart whole wheat potato rolls

fruit roll ups…for back to school!

sneaky zucchini chocolate chunk coconut bread

the best chocolate chip peanut butter swirled cookie bars

double the streusel apple butter bars

7. A Few Links I Am Loving…

how oils have totally transformed my skin…yes. yes.  yes. love oils.

3 design ideas to bookmark from Shea McGee’s cozy new office…love this simple, cozy look.

The El Paso challenge – 22 acts of kindness…free hugs for all.

everything a co-founder of a vegan restaurant has in her kitchen…because I love looking into other people’s kitchens.

why to visit Providencia, the last remaining Caribbean island you’ve never heard of…well now I must go.

the 11 most beautiful national-park hotels in the U.S…would love to visit the smoky mountains.

Sophie Jaffe’s post-beach hydrating smoothie recipe…this sounds so good.

the 8 fall trends to shop now…certainly excited for fall fashion.

10 feel-better tricks and immune boosters…what to do if you’re feeling a cold come on.

the best gluten-free and vegan chocolate chip cookies…so tempted to try these.

8 essential tools to master meal prepping…for back to school, back to work, back to real life.

the Nora Ephron tomato sauce I Make every year…if you have a ton of tomatoes.

these 13 buildings redefined architecture in the past 5 years...simply amazing.

Anastasia Soare’s hilltop estate Is a design playground…wow, so pretty.

we can guess your phones battery percentage based on the desserts you want to eat…mine was ah, very accurate.

8. Transitional dresses for a late Summer wedding….

9. This Week’s Dinners:

Monday: souper creamy lemon butter cheesy zucchini orzo

Tuesday: sicilian style salmon with garlic broccoli and tomatoes

Wednesday: better than takeout thai drunken noodles

Thursday: corn, tomato, and avocado chickpea salad

Friday: spicy pesto and cheese stuffed zucchini involtini

Finally, check out all the past Nine Favorite Things posts here.