Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

(rose lemon spriter)

Happy Sunday everyone! Hoping you’re all are having a great weekend! Over here we are buried in snow, it is a true winter wonderland. Thursday night we got hit with a huge storm that left us with couple feet of snow. Most of the main roads were closed all day on Friday and everyone pretty much spent the day shoveling out. Asher had a snow day, which doesn’t happen that often, since we are all very prepared for snow here. They only call school when there’s truly just too much snow for everyone to manage. It ended up being perfect since all of our family is in town. Everyone played outside and soaked up time together. It was a great way to start the weekend.

The highlight of the week was watching my brothers, Malachi and Red, win an award for their snowboard movie, Joy. Both of them worked so hard last year to make that movie and it was amazing to see them be rewarded for all of the long hours they put in. It may not seem like it from the outside looking in, but doing what they do every day takes not only physical skill, but hard work, and so much passion. I love watching these two achieve their goals and do what they love most.

What are you all up to? I mentioned last week that I’ll be doing a small cookbook tour with Williams-Sonoma this March. I’m trying my best to prepare and get ahead on content while home. So that will be my BIG focus this week. It’s always a little hard for me to travel, but I’m excited to be doing some more of it this spring. Dates and details to come as soon as I have them…hopefully by next week!

Coming up this week on HBH… I’ll be sharing a few last-minute Valentine’s Day recipes including a new pasta and a sweet chocolate dessert. There will be a cozy Indian inspired recipe that’s a cross between a soup and a stew. Then on to my favorite weeknight taco. And of course, the simplest Friday dessert. All very good things.

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).

Hope you enjoy this week’s Nine Favorite Things!

1. Things I’m loving…

The sweetest reader email

Hi there! I know Tieghan is the most popular gal in the world and chances of her seeing this are slim, but I just wanted to send it in the off chance it would get in her hands. I have always had a very complicated relationship with food and have withheld it from myself as punishment sometimes and have just really struggled in my adult life to find the joy in eating. Getting a hold of Tieghan’s cookbook has actually changed my life. I’ve made the majority of the recipes and they feel good for my body, and I actually enjoy the process of making the food and EATING it (HUGE win).

A friend of mine was just applauding my progress with food a couple days ago and I really do think the discovery of Half Baked Harvest is the reason for this change. So I just wanted to write and send a big thank you for her existence. It has made life immensely easier on me and I just thought this was worth sharing.

To say that reading this email truly melted my heart would be an understatement. My only hope is to be able to provide you all with recipes that you, your family, and your friends can all enjoy. But messages like this stop me in my tracks and remind why I work so hard every day. I just want to say thank you to you all who show up here every day for new recipes, follow along on Instagram, and recreate my recipes in your own kitchens. I can’t tell you how happy I am able to be able to share my love of cooking with you guys. You truly feel like family.

PS. Yes, I read all the messages and emails you guys send!! Of course, I do have help managing it all, but every message that’s sent through email, social channels, and left here on HBH is read. So please keep leaving them!!

Netflix’s Miss Americana 

Have you guys watched this documentary that shares Taylor Swift’s journey to stardom? Even if you’re not a fan of her music, it’s a documentary that we can all learn something from. Taylor has always impressed me. I’ve always found her to be someone who is incredibly inspiring and wise beyond her years. This documentary shows her in a completely new way. It’s very raw and talks about topics that are very vulnerable. She shares details on her career, songwriting, what’s she learned over the years. She opens up about her struggles with self-esteem and her history of eating disorders. It just goes to show you that everyone has their own battles. It’s a very inspiring story. Here is the full trailer.

2. Valentine’s Day Recipes.

Per everyone’s request, here a some of my favorite Valentine’s Day recipes.

Dinner

brown butter lobster ravioli with tomato cream sauce

red wine cranberry braised short ribs

garlic butter creamed spinach salmon

slow cooker red wine ragù pasta

herby buttered balsamic mushroom ravioli

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

one pot creamy french onion pasta bake

garden herb shrimp scampi linguine

Dessert

lemon rose shortbread cookies

vegan triple chocolate mousse cake

easy chocolate heart doughnuts

6 ingredient vegan chocolate chia mousse

fudgy avocado brownies with chocolate fudge frosting

valentine’s day double chocolate chex mix

Drinks

rose lemon spritzer

rose and ginger Paloma

3. New kitchen finds with spring in mind…

4. favorite questions of the week.

q: I love you, but do you ever get any critics or haters on HBH?
a: Of course! It’s just apart of the job and I’ve had to learn to grow a thick skin. I try hard to not let that stuff get to me. In all honesty, I feel really, really lucky. Everyone who follows along daily is incredibly kind and loving. I know that the hate I do receive probably doesn’t have anything to do with me anyway.

q: Favorite recipe you’ve ever made?
a: Could never pick just one, but right now I love the Thai chicken meatball Khao Soi.

q: Do you do your own social media yourself? Captions, stories, and the blog descriptions?
a: I get this question a lot. It’s always me posting + sharing my stories…it’s why you guys often catch errors in my writing. I also write the blog posts, but thankfully that gets copy edited before it goes live. We do have help managing the emails, comments, and messages that come in daily so that we don’t miss anything! No way I could do it all myself.

q: 3 things you can’t live without?
a: I found this so hard, but family is always #1 and then…

1. My family.

2. Vintners Daughter serum + Necessaire (because my skin is sooo dry).

3. Ahh good food? Does that count?

And if I’m being honest…my phone.

5. Nine favorite things – newest videos.

One Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake…French onion soup meets cheesy pasta.

Citrus Avocado Salad with Orange Tahini Vinaigrette…my go-to wintery salad.

Roasted Chicken Gyros…with all the salty, crispy feta fries.

Valentine’s Day Double Chocolate Chex Mix…sweet, salty, and heavy on the chocolate.

6. Roses for February

in my Violet Grey cart…Byredo Burning Rose Candle + RMS Beauty Rose Luminizer.

need this candle…Happy Valentine’s Day (in rose) by The Little Market.

my go-to face oil…Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil.

loving…Coco Rose Coconut Oil Body Polish.

7. a few links i am loving…

the 7 best cities to spend an extended layover…Either Finland or Switzerland for me please.

how to design a laundry room…good to know.

what I learned about success…from women who have raised $1 million+ for their businesses.

the art of the side hustle…how to start a business when you have a full-time job.

what’s the difference between a $4 and $38 olive oil…everything you need to know.

herbs for anxiety and depression…winter blues be gone.

7 cozy chalet hotels to visit this winter…France is top of my list.

why my valentine is my work wife…an inspiring story + good Sunday read.

10 ways to surprise your loved ones on valentine’s day…love the sweet cookie jar idea.

7 hydrating cleansers…that won’t dry out your skin.

Gwyneth learns how to make the best sourdough pizza…must make this pizza.

5 (practically free) ways to show your valentine some love…if you need thoughtful ideas.

4 cute and easy ways to celebrate valentine’s day…with the kids.

tour a Dallas fashion-forward home…very chic as they would say, and also just pretty.

affordable spring runway looks…from H&M.

I organized my Entire home like “The Home Edit”…if you love organizing or need tips.

is your body missing magnesium…here is what you need to know.

the secrets to decluttering you spice cabinet…taking notes.

when your closest is at capacity…a fun and cute storage idea.

what Kylie Jenner eats in a day…got sucked into watching this one.

inside Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West’s home…it’s oddly minimal and very white.

8. Cozy, casual for Valentine’s Day and beyond…

9. this week’s dinners…

Monday: Sheet Pan Korean Chicken Bowl with Sweet Potatoes and Yum Yum Sauce

Tuesday: Better Than Takeout Garlic Butter Shrimp Pad Thai

Wednesday: Skillet Baked Creamy Pesto Spinach and Artichoke Gnocchi

Thursday: 30 Minute Vietnamese Beef and Crispy Rice Bowl

Friday: brown butter lobster ravioli with tomato cream sauce

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