This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

Nine Favorite Things | halfbakedharvest.com

Happiest first Sunday of November! What a week it has been! I started things off in NYC (more on that below) with a whirlwind trip that I will never forget. Kicking off the launch of HBH Super Simple in New York was like nothing else. So fun, so exciting, and the best way to start the week. It was a quick trip, I was already back home by Wednesday night…and back to Thanksgiving planning and prep! I’ll be sharing my menu in just about a week, so hold tight for that. I wish I could’ve gotten it photographed sooner, so sorry, but it’s coming soon!

I am currently sitting all cozied up at my desk with my candles going while writing this post. But I’m off to LA this morning to spend a few days promoting HBH Super Simple. I get in tonight and will hit the ground running on Monday morning with a full schedule. We’ll be starting things off with an influencer lunch at Pizzana. Then a small break mid-afternoon before quickly heading to the book signing at Shoppe Amber Interiors. The signing starts at 6 pm and is open to everyone. If you’d like to come, just RSVP here. And then, it’s a full two days of podcasts, meetings. I’ll be wrapping the trip up with a stop at the always fun studio of Home & Family (which I believe will air on Thursday).

Then home again on Wednesday night. As much as I’m excited for LA…I am already excited to get back home as well. Travel is fun, but it’s also not really my thing. I LOVE being at home so much, especially this time of year. Plus, there is so much to do for Thanksgiving. Luckily we still have a few weeks to go, since Thanksgiving is so late this year!

Question: have you already started your Thanksgiving planning? Be sure to follow along with all my Thanksgiving tips on Instagram all month long.

This week on HBH, we’ll be starting the week off with the easiest dinner that’s healthy, hearty, and cozy. Then we’ll move on to my favorite new Thanksgiving side dish. And on Wednesday we’ll continue on with side dishes, by making a classic much easier. Thursday we’ll have a fresh take on beef stew. And of course, on Friday, we’ll be ending the week with the perfect November dessert. Oh, and on Saturday we’ll have a pretty cocktail that’s perfectly fitting for the season! All good things, and I’m so excited to be entering into these holiday months!

Lastly, if you’re catching up on blog posts from the week, be sure to sign up for our daily newsletters. They’ll help you to stay up to date with everything that’s happening here, as well as fun content you’ll only get via email. And of course, if you’re meal planning today, don’t forget to check out my menu below (it’s #9 on the favorite’s list).

1. NYC and all things HBH Super Simple.

I really can’t put into words just how amazing my trip to NYC was. First, before anything else, I have to say THANK YOU to you all. You guys…my HBH family…you are all AMAZING, and after 7+ years together, you truly feel like family. Thank you for ordering the cookbook, for leaving the kindest Amazon reviews, for making my recipes, for messaging me daily, and truly just being the best community. The book is doing SO well, it was even #3 over ALL of Amazon’s books for over a day. Just incredible, and I am so excited that everyone truly seems to be enjoying the book. Thank you all for being the best!

Side Note: Be sure to look out for giveaways on Instagram over the next two months. We have some really fun ones planned, all involving my favorite products, as a way to say thank you!!

My New York trip started off with thirty plus TV interviews via satellite, which took from about 7 am to 12 pm. From there I headed straight to an event at The Feed Feed in Brooklyn. I got to meet so many of you, do a fun Q&A, make a cheese board, and sign a lot of books. By the time the night was over it was 9 pm and I was about to drop, but still feeling so excited.

Tuesday was cookbook release day…and my appearance on Good Morning America. Honestly? I cannot tell you how much fun this was. If you missed the interview you can watch the GMA full clip here as well as a fun Facebook Live that I did with Ginger Zee here. Everyone on GMA was so kind. I LOVED hearing that Ginger happens to be a huge HBH fan and has made 75% of the recipes on the blog (and she told me she was just as excited about having me on as Reese Witherspoon…no big deal…right). Appearing on GMA was the BEST possible way to kick off the launch of HBH Super Simple. So exciting, and a day I will not forget.

I went straight from the GMA studios to my publishers – Clarkson Potter (the lifestyle division of Penguin Random House) for a few (exciting) meetings. Then it was back to The Bowery Hotel for a small window to catch up on social and email. I spent the night teaching a fun cooking class at Eately, and then got back to the hotel around 10ish. I flew home the next morning and just like that, it was over.

Truly went by in a New York minute, but it was the BEST trip. All the photos below!

Lastly, Amazon Reviews: If you’ve ordered the cookbook and are enjoying it, I would SO appreciate it if you could leave your review on Amazon. Those reviews mean SO much and can help make HBH Super Simple even more of a success. Thank you!!

 

2. The most popular recipes of October.

Weeknight Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken Meatballs | halfbakedharvest.com #easyrecipe #chickenmeatballs #healthy

Most popular: weeknight sticky ginger sesame chicken meatballs

Never would have thought these meatballs would be SO popular. I almost didn’t share the recipe because I don’t like the photos…I’m serious. BUT I LOVE the recipe and so do you guys! They’re quicker than any take-out meal, and they’re so much healthier too.

Healthier 30 Minute Beer Braised Chicken | halfbakedharvest.com #chicken #instantpot #slowcooker #easyrecipes

Runner-up: healthier 30 minute beer braised chicken

One of my personal favorites. This one is easy, comforting, and reminds me of a childhood dinner. It’s so GOOD, and best enjoyed over rice with a side of buttery homemade beer bread.

Super Simple Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala | halfbakedharvest.com #Indian #healthyrecipes #chicken #easy #fast

Also have to mention: super simple coconut chicken tikka masala

SO HAPPY you all are loving this recipe straight from HBH Super Simple. I only shared this a little over a week ago and it’s already in the top four recipes for the month of October!! Yeah!

Slow Cooker Red Wine Sunday Ragu Pasta | halfbakedharvest.com #pasta #ragu #Italian #slowcooker #crockpot #instantpot

Bonus: slow cooker red wine Sunday ragú pasta

Another one that I only shared just the past week. So happy you guys seem to be enjoying these cozy recipes! This ragú is the perfect Sunday sauce to serve over pasta. Best with a side of crusty bread…and maybe a glass of wine too.

3. All the Thanksgiving tools you need.

4. Questions of the week.

q: What are your essentials for filling in a large cheese board for the holidays?
a: I keep things pretty simple…ish. I like to choose between 3-5 types of cheese for a holiday board. A good brie, Merlot, sharp gouda, nutty aged parmesan, and a buttery Havarti. I also think every good cheese board needs a funky blue cheese. But you should use any mix of cheese that you love most. Just be sure to get cheese blocks in different shapes and sizes for a nice variety.

Fruits: pomegranates, persimmons, apples, figs, and citrus. Add some fig preserves and honeycomb, then finish the board off with salty olives. Add meats like prosciutto, and plenty of varying crackers!!

I could go on and on…I love holiday cheeseboards!

q: How long after you started HBH did you start seeing a profit?
a: Getting a lot of questions like this. I barely made a dime for the first year, but then slowly started to build HBH. It takes so much time and a lot of work to see any kind of money.

q: What made you want to write a cookbook? Was it a hard process?
a: At first I really didn’t want to write a cookbook. I figured I was already sharing recipes online, so why a book? But then publishers kept reaching out. I slowly warmed up to the idea of creating something that you all could physically cook out of in your kitchen! So I wrote a proposal and sent it off to a few publishing houses. That part wasn’t too hard, but actually creating a cookbook start to finish is SO HARD and SO MUCH work. Especially when you are the author and the photographer!

q: Who do you trust the most when taste testing your recipes?
a: My brothers. They’ll tell me right away if something is no good

5. Newest videos.

Cream Cheese Swirled Pumpkin Bread with Salted Maple Butter…everyone’s favorite bread.

Butternut Squash and Brie Soup with Crispy Prosciutto…the perfect Sunday soup.

6. Currently loving…

Heritage by Ariel Gordon

If you are unfamiliar with Ariel Gordon jewelry, it’s some of the prettiest I have come across. It’s dainty and unique and some of my favorite invest pieces that I wear time and time again. Ariel recently launched a collection of vintage and estate jewelry and I wanted to share a few pieces before they sell out. Here are the ones I love, and while these are investment pieces, they would make such a special holiday gift..or just a gift for yourself.

Etched Cigar Band…such a statement piece.

Baby Oval Signet Ring…bold, but with a sweet vintage vibe.

Diamond Buckle Victorian Ring…so unique.

Victorian Albert Chain With Stone Fob…love the details.

7. A few links i am loving…

cacio e pepe brussels sprouts…should be on your Thanksgiving menu this year.

5 new holiday traditions to start this year…love a round of board games.

pumpkin lasagna…the secret to a no-stress dinner party.

no bad beauty days…all the Nordstrom beauty favorites.

7 immune system boosting soups…to keep that cold away.

30 dresses in 30 days…love this series SO MUCH.

a design lover’s guide to Bath, England…what a beautiful place. would love to visit.

a design lover’s guide to Chicago…perfect for my upcoming trip.

secrets to productivity…follow your energy…it works.

how to do Paris like a Parisian…if you happen to be doing some November travel.

7 Sunday rituals…to set you up for a really good week

what Hannah Bronfman buys at Trader Joe’s…all the good things.

a cozy and neutral holiday look…if you decorate early.

Brooklyn Heights townhouse renovation…so pretty.

how to wear an oversized sweater…because it’s November and it’s COLD.

“I never use the words win or failure anymore”…quotes from Create and Cultivate.

we know your favorite holiday based on your dessert choices…to be expected.

8. Anthro has 40% off all sweaters today only…

9. This week’s dinners…

30 Minute Coq au Vin Chicken Meatballs with browned Butter Mashed Potatoes | halfbakedharvest.com #meatballs #easyrecipe #dinner

Monday: 30 minute coq au vin chicken meatballs with browned butter mashed potatoes

Sweet Potato Lentil Curry with Crispy Sesame Chickpeas | halfbkaedharvest.com #healthy #vegan #easyrecipes #fallrecipes

Tuesday: sweet potato lentil curry with crispy sesame chickpeas

Browned Sage Butter Chicken Pot Pie

Wednesday: browned sage butter chicken pot pie (full recipe in HBH Super Simple)

Spicy Italian Pesto Noodle Soup | halfbakedharvest.com #soup #easyrecipes #Italian #fall #autumn #winter #healthy

Thursday: spicy Italian pesto noodle soup

French Onion Mushroom Pizza | halfbakedharvest.com #pizza #mushrooms #easyrecipes

Friday: french onion mushroom pizza

Burnt Basque Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake | halfbakedharvest.com #pumpkin #cheesecake #thanksgiving

Sunday Thanksgiving “test” baking: burnt basque pumpkin spice cheesecake

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

Add a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.