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Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.
I know I said this yesterday, but I love this time between Christmas and New Years’. Everything and everyone just slows down. And even though I’m still working (because I literally just can’t stop), I’ve slowed a bit and taken some time to chill with my family, think back on this incredible year we’ve had, and start thinking ahead for 2020. It’s been such a nice Christmas break and I’m excited to still have a few lazy days left.
Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations were low key and perfect. I followed the dinner menus I shared with you all to T. Our dinners were simple but delicious and we all greatly enjoyed our time together at the table.
My favorite gift was hands down the canvas painting that Asher made me (she’s very into painting right now). It’s hanging in my house already and I love it. No major plans for New Year’s Eve, other than making some traditional Filipino foods and most likely falling asleep before midnight. What are you all up to?
In much more exciting news, my cousin Maggie and her long-time boyfriend Tom (who also happens to be my brother’s best friend) finally got engaged! It was so fun to be able to celebrate with the two of them while they were here in Colorado. We all couldn’t be more excited for those two! Maggie recently started working with us here at HBH. She’s been doing a lot of work behind the scenes helping out with social media. She’s quickly becoming a big part of HBH so I’m sure you’ll be getting to know her better.
Coming up this week… Tomorrow I’ll be sharing the most popular recipes of 2019. Then on Tuesday, we’ll have a round-up of my favorite healthy…ish recipes for the New year. I’ll be taking New Year’s Day off, then kicking off 202O with a creamy, but extra healthy, curry. And as we always do, we’ll be finishing up the week with something sweet…but balanced. So many delicious recipes this week…and much more to come in 2020, can’t wait!
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. Healthy January + 2020 content request?
Healthy January 2020 officially starts on January 2nd. And even though I’ve already started developing and photographing recipes for the new year, I would LOVE to hear what you guys are looking for most when it comes to healthy eating. I know many of you struggle with meal planning, easily get bored with salads, and that eating healthy on the go can be difficult. Is there anything I am missing?
Let me know what recipes you would love to see! Also, would more detailed meal plans be helpful? Or are the ones I give within this post perfect?
2020 Content Request
What would you like to see more of?
Is there anything you’d like to see less of?
Do you want more lifestyle and DIY posts? Or would you prefer we keep posts all recipe-focused?
Anything you are wanting to see on Instagram stories?
Let me know. It’s always so helpful having your feedback so that I can provide you guys with content you really want to see!
2. Best New Years’ Eve Cocktails.
sparkling christmas party punch
the spicy sweet grinch cocktail
holly jolly christmas citrus cocktail
holiday cheermeister bourbon punch
spiced cranberry rosé spritzers
3. Just a few coziest winter finds…
4. favorite questions of the week.
q: Are you ready for 2020.
a: Never been so excited for a new year!! 2019 was incredible, one of the best. I reached so many milestones and I’m sooo excited to carry that into the new year. Fun new things in the works!
q: Did you ever think of going to culinary school?
a: Nope! I actually think not going to culinary school has allowed me to think outside of the box and create recipes that are very unique to me. I don’t cook with any kind of guidelines or rules, I just cook what I love. And I choose a process that I find easiest/simplest…even if it’s not technically the “right” way to do it.
q: How did you get so many followers? No doubt you are talented, but still it is so hard.
a: This didn’t happen overnight. I’ve been working on HBH for almost 7 1/2 years. And I’ve worked pretty hard and consistently for all that time. I get this question a lot and the bottom line is that it takes so much work and a lot of dedication. You have to put in the hours. It’s not going to happen overnight. I’m grateful that my growth has been gradual. It’s allowed me to build an amazing community around HBH. You guys are all the best and always so kind!
q: How do you clean your cast iron?
a: I get this question so much. I literally just rinse it with warm water, then put it on the stove over low heat to dry (takes 2 minutes, but you can also wipe dry too). If I need to scrub anything off, I use soapy water with a gentle scrub pad like Scotch Brite. And that’s all I do, I don’t really stress about it, it’s pretty easy!
5. newest videos.
One Pot Spicy Pesto Cheese Baked Rigatoni…craving Italian, but also need something simple? Make this.
Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates…Sweet. Spicy. Cheesy. Salty. Highly addictive.
6. Photos from Christmas.
(snowy Christmas scenes)
(when Blake Lively made my Santa cookies…still cute and so fun!)
(dad)
(Asher)
(hand written recipe for Filipino Kare Kare from Hailey)
(Asher in her new Stuart Weitzman boots)
(Oslo)
(Asher)
(Asher + Hailey)
(the family)
(after Maggie and Tom got engaged)
(my favorite face cream that has changed my skin)
(candy cane bagels)
7. a few links i am loving…
18 instant pot tips, tricks, and hacks…if you got an instant pot for Christmas, read this!
the 10 most anticipated books to read this winter…to cozy up with on a cold day.
9 Trader Joe’s products to add to your cart…all about that cheese.
5 Beauty Resolutions for 2020…love these, especially #3.
the best-designed hotels of 2020…i’d very happily (and excitedly) stay at all of these hotels.
best shimmer makeup for NYE…a little bit of glitter and fun to celebrate.
the 10 most expensive celebrity real estate transactions of 2019…if you’re into where the celebs are living.
3 meaningful ways to spend New Year’s Day…if you are looking to reset.
the absolute best sports bras for every workout…to help get you excited about working out this year.
the 5 biggest food trends of 2020…what’s exciting you this year in food?
25 New Year’s Eve appetizers for stressed-out hosts…these sound so good and easy.
10 ways to reduce food waste daily…love these easy tips/tricks.
63 last-minute New Year’s Eve appetizers…because you can never have too many appetizers.
8. Favorites from the after Christmas Sales…
9. this week’s dinners…
Monday: best super easy penne…with a lot of garlic
Tuesday: Happy New Year’s Eve!
appetizer: spinach and artichoke stuffed soft pretzels
dinner: brown butter lobster ravioli with tomato cream sauce
salad: winter pomegranate salad with maple candied walnuts
Wednesday: super green sun-dried tomato herb salad with crispy chickpeas
Thursday: saucy 30 minute thai basil salmon curry
Friday: Indian coconut butter cauliflower
Finally, check out all the past Nine Favorite Things posts here.
Thank you so much for such consistently great content!! HBH has been my favourite blog of 2019 and the first place I go when I am looking for a certain recipe.
I personally don’t feel that you need to branch into DIY/lifestyle content, the food is more than enough for me (with these wrap ups giving enough of the extras)!
I am from Australia so often don’t lean towards the heavier/heartier meals with our war er climate, so would equally ,ove to see some healthier, less “heavy” meals, but at the end of the day will be avidly reading along and making many a meal you serve up for us!
Thank you and happy new year!!
Thank you Alannah! xTieghan
This is all so beautiful and inspirational! Just started following you and made the amazing winter salad for Christmas- so good !
Random question: where are Asher’s cute pjs from ?
( the ones where she is wearing the white hat )
My daughter would love a pair of her own ?
Hi Marcy! I am so glad you enjoyed the salad and hope you love other recipes of mine! Her PJs are from Target! xTieghan
I would love to see more vegan-friendly recipes!
Happy new year!
Thank you! Happy New Year! xTieghan
I’m fairly new to HBH but am loving it immensely! I made (and quadrupled) your Brussels sprouts with pomegranate seeds for our big Christmas Eve dinner and it was a major hit. Thank you!
In the new year I’d love to see EASY & QUICK delicious, vegetarian meals for weeknights with the family. I’m a working mom who is trying to be more health and environmentally conscious. But it’s hard with a husband who requires yummimess and a fairly picky 5 year old. Happy holidays to you and congrats on all your success this year! Look out 2020!
Thank you so much Samantha! xTieghan
I have been loving your content for 6 years +. So many recipes are now standards in our house. That cashew sauce for the Vietnamese meatballs in lettuce wrap is the bomb (!)…Personally I love all the spices- you are one of the few chefs who actually produces amazing flavour! One can always reduce the amount if they find things too spicy…In terms of suggestions, I am always on the lookout for sheet pan, 1 pan meals and lower calorie. I agree with a previous comment- your salads are never boring and one can NEVER have enough salad recipes :). Really you never fail to impress. Enjoy your Christmas and New Year’s break 🙂
Awh thank you so much for supporting my blog all of these years, Sue! I am so glad you have been loving my blog! xTieghan
RE: healthy eating… something that can be used multiple ways. So I’m still meal prepping, but not eating the exact same thing every day.
Yes! Thank you so much Alex! xTieghan
Your 2015 “Fall Harvest Peanut Picnic” post was the one that introduced me to your blog. It caught my eye on FoodGawker and I was instantly obsessed! I absolutely adore seeing the stunning landscapes around your barns and would love more standalone posts like that one that incorporate your beautiful photography outside. I’m also so curious to see more of the barns! Maybe a video walk-through of the whole space, or posts focusing on the seasonal decor of certain rooms? Living in an apartment in Brooklyn, I love the escapism of seeing life in a barn in the mountains, so I really can’t get enough lifestyle content on your blog!
Thank you so much Allison! Love these suggestions! xTieghan
I’d love to see a cute printable of your weekly meal plans to follow and hang on the fridge!
Thank you Haley! That is such a great idea! xTieghan
Have all your books and LOVE them. I suggestion for your next book.
I have a lot of company and there are so foods that different people wouldn’t eat.
Could you write a cookbook that includes – one recipe, but have different options for vegetarian, gluten free , dairy free and no shellfish.
Love our friends but cooking for them drives me crazy!
Thank you
Thank you Carol! I will look into that! xTieghan
I love your recipes and look forward to seeing what you create in 2020!
I’d love some recipes that meal prep well (for lunches during the week) or use one dish in multiple ways. For example, make BBQ chicken and then use it for BBQ quesadillas, a Southwest salad, a wrap, etc. With a toddler, we’re having a hard time cooking something new each night!
Thank you Hilary! xTieghan
Love your site! My 4 yr old grandson and I made the Santa cookies! They were fun and easy to make! But somehow we only got 5 cookies out of the recipe! ?♀️?. Also I made the one skillet creamy sun dried tomato chicken and orzo! It was so good!
I would love to see more low carb recipes for the new year! Keep the recipes coming!
Thank you so much Tanja! I am so glad you have been loving my recipes! xTieghan
I always love the fashion items that you share! Would love to see more of that.
I would love to! Thank you Jasmine! xTieghan
For healthy January I would love to see recipes using the most simple staples that people would keep in their freezers (boneless skinless chicken breast, shrimp, salmon, pork…) I got your cookbook for Christmas and am excited to dive into it!
Yes! Thank you so much Sarah! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
In response to number one, some healthy one-skillet recipes would be awesome! Especially anything that could be considered a healthier comfort food. Thank you for these posts! They make my day.
Awh that is so amazing! Thank you jessie! xTieghan
Hi Tieghen, thank you for sharing another beautiful 9 fav things post. I finally received your cookbook. It is amazing. For the new year, it would be nice to see some healthy savoury breakfast recipes on the blog – but since you already have so many recipes with egg, may be some other vegetarian options? Perhaps some breakfast recipes which makes it possible to pack breakfast and can be carried to work? Look forward. Wish you a very happy new year.
Thank you for all of these suggestions! I will try to incorporate! Thank you! xTieghan