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Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.
Hi, hi! And happy Sunday!
Only one more Sunday left before November, then it’s officially Thanksgiving time. Crazy right? It’s been chilly and so windy here all week, but very sunny. The wind has taken all the pretty fall leaves and left behind trees that are bare to the bark. The photo above is from last weekend, crazy all that can change in a week’s time.
So all that said, it’s feeling more and more like winter is on its way…and I’m just not ready. It’s obviously out of my control, so instead, I’m embracing all the coziest things these days, which I really can’t complain about. You all know how much I love anything “cozy”. I’ve been creating and brainstorming the coziest recipes for the next couple of months and ordering a lot of new sweaters (just ordered this for my mom too…she is going to love it).
In other news, I recorded the Just A Taste podcast last week and it recently went live. I talked about growing Half Baked Harvest, what’s coming up, and more. If you need a Sunday podcast to listen to, you can listen here.
And guys? That pretty much sums things up for right now. Not much to report! It was a cold week, filled with a whole lot of cooking and photographing, and as usual, packed to the brim. We’ve all been working around the clock this week attempting to get one too many projects done. But with no travel the last few months, the days can begin to blend together. Looking at it in another way, we’re very fortunate to be busy!
Oh. Well, wait! ! I did just finalize a quick trip to LA this November. I’ll be taping a couple segments of Home & Family on Hallmark, right before Thanksgiving. I’m excited to travel for work again and spend a day in LA. A quick trip out and back…any hotel recommendations? Pretty much every time I’m in LA, I stay at the La Peer Hotel, which I love. But maybe I should switch it up. For all of you LA readers or frequent visitors, any recommendations?
So how about you guys? Are you enjoying fall? What things are you looking forward to? Any Halloween plans? What are you thinking about the upcoming holiday season? What’s new? I always love to hear what’s going on with you guys!
Coming up this week on HBH, I am starting Monday off with a hearty, but healthy soup! Tuesday is all about sweet, but this time, it’s something for breakfast. For Wednesday I’m excited to share a new comfort food classic that I hope you’ll make all season long. For Thursday it’s a toss-up between a game day snack or an easy dinner, not sure yet. And for Friday, it’s also a bit of a wild card. Actually, I’ve not a clue what it’s going to be, but I know it’s going to be something sweet. Taking your requests!
In addition, 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. If you’re meal planning today, don’t forget to check out my menu below (it’s # 9 on the favorite’s list). You can grab the full grocery list for this week’s menu in our special Sunday newsletter.
1. Things i’m loving, wanting, and excited to try…
watching…Dream Home Makeover, on Netflix. If you follow the McGee family and their business, you have to watch this. So happy for them and the release of their first Netflix series!
loving…our Etsy collection Linen Towels and Oven Mitts. We have two color options forest green and a pretty grey oatmeal. I love the forest green oven mitts and then the pretty oatmeal towels!
listening to…the Second Life Podcast with Karlie Kloss. I loved learning more about Karlie, she is a supermodel, and Kode with Klossy Founder. She has done so much at such a young age and she honestly seems like the kindest person.
baking up…these Milk Chocolate stuffed Jack-o-Lantern Cookies. An oldie recipe that I make every October. I love these cookies!
wanting…this Cashmere Knit Blanket. I might need to order this. So cozy.
loving…all my cozy Sèzane sweaters. This one is my current favorite, I have it in sage, but it’s sold out. The Ecru is also so pretty! And then, I love this jumper (such a pretty autumn shade), and this cozy knit, and this lightweight option too. Honestly, they have the best sweaters.
ordering…this soft hoodie for my mom. She’s going to LOVE it.
shopping…at Zara. Affordable, but cute. Love this faux leather skirt, these leather boots, and this velvet mini dress (will be so cute for the holidays).
ordered…this Clock for my bedroom. Been having trouble hearing my phone’s alarm, so trying something new. I’ll let you know how it is.
thinking about ordering…the Full Focus Planner. Have any of you guys used this? I’ve read really good things, but I am hesitating…will I use it?
loving…this Halloween candy quiz that will tell you what Halloween movie to watch. My results were spot on, see below.
Question: what’s your favorite Halloween candy?
2. Spooky Halloween Recipes.
Milk Chocolate Stuffed Jack-O’-Lantern Cookies
The Half Blood Prince Cocktail
BOO! Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Monster Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Hocus Pocus Spellbook Brownies
Glazed Brown Sugar Maple Cookies
3. It’s 25% off Everything on Anthropologie…
Here are my kitchen and home picks. Shop the sale through tonight!
4. Favorite question of the week…
q: Do you take photos of the food when it is cold? Or does the steam not affect the pictures?
a: It’s always my goal to try and capture the food while it’s still warm. My biggest pet peeve is when food that is meant to be served warm looks as though it’s cold. If you angle the camera right, the steam doesn’t affect the photo. It only makes it better!
q: What are your plans for Halloween? Family plans?
a: Asher just informed me she is having a themed Halloween party and we’ve all got to dress like someone who’s dead ?♀️
q: What’s your go-to recipe to impress guests?
a: During the fall/winter you can never go wrong with classic Coq au Vin. I LOVE making either my Coq au Vin Chicken Meatballs (with browned butter mashed potatoes or my healthier Instant Pot Coq au Vin.
5. The cookbook you need this fall.
Eating Out Loud by Eden Grinshpan.
You guys, the truth is I don’t actually own a lot of cookbooks nor do I read a lot of cookbooks. When it comes to finding recipe inspiration and seeking out new ideas I tend to look at sources outside the cookbook world. I’m always trying to create my own unique recipes, so I shy away from viewing others.
That said, I of course have books from friends in the cooking space that I’d love to share with you guys. One of those books is Eating Out Loud. This book is honestly my favorite right now. It’s full of Middle Eastern recipes from Eden and her family. Each recipe looks so good and there’s even an entire chapter on sauces and dips. Eden always has the BEST recipes, so I can’t wait to really dive into her first cookbook. So far everything has been amazing.
If you guys don’t have a copy, you can order yours here! PS. this would make a really great holiday gift.
6. Thanksgiving Tips and Homemade Holidays?
We’ve entered into the latter half of October, which means I’ve started thinking ahead to the upcoming holiday season. So, two things…
Thing One:
Some of you may recall my series on Instagram called, “Thanksgiving Tips”, where I simply share one new Thanksgiving tip every day leading up to Thanksgiving. Everyone seemed to really enjoy this series the last couple of years, so I’m bringing it back again this November. Starting on November 1st I’ll be sharing new tips and tricks, I cannot wait. I LOVE talking all things holiday, so this has me excited.
So with that…what Thanksgiving questions do you have? It’s going to be a different holiday season for many of us this year with plans shifting to smaller gatherings. So let me know what you need help with, and hopefully, I can answer all your questions!
Also, how do you plan to celebrate the holidays this year?
In addition to my tips, I also like to share an HBH reader tip every day as well. So, I’d love to know…
What are your BEST Thanksgiving tips and tricks? I’ll feature all my favorites throughout the month!
Thing Two:
Several November/Decembers ago I had a series called Homemade Holidays. It was a fun series of posts with holiday crafts, DIY projects, tablescapes, my annual cookie box, and homemade gifts. I always have so much fun with these types of posts, but they are time-consuming. With the release of the Half Baked Harvest Super Simple cookbook last fall, I really wasn’t able to share any new Homemade Holiday posts. It’s still going to be crazy this year, but I’m not traveling at all, so I would love to bring it back again this season. My question to you all is…what do you want to see?
Let me know what is needed, what would be exciting, and what all would be helpful for you guys!
PS. this potpourri is my favorite Homemade Holidays post. It’s also the ninth most popular post on all of HBH…beating out well over 2500 other recipes!
And with that, leaving you with a few fall photos…
7. favorite links i’m loving…
Chip & Joanna’s Gains Holiday Collection for Target Launched This Weekend…ordering this mug, this mug too, then this cozy sweater knit throw, and this vintage Dutch pot.
28 Trader Joe’s Products That Happen To Be Vegan…if you love shopping Trader Joe’s.
The Best Sales to Shop This Weekend…loving 50% off at Nordstrom.
How To Control Your Stress From the Inside Out…good to know.
8 Idyllic Hotels Featured on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette…so many pretty hotels! Would love to visit some of these.
A Guide to Feeling the Halloween Spirit this Year…if you need fun Halloween ideas, read this.
20 Genius Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Dinner…so many good tips from parents!
From Mean Girls to Emily in Paris, Ashley Park Is Living Our Fashion Fantasy…a fun Sunday read if you’ve watched Emily in Paris.
5 Ingredients a Dermatologist Is Begging You To Keep Off Your Skin From October to January…taking notes.
Matching Knit Loungewear Sets…eyeing this cozy set and this one from Zara too.
Explore the Layered Wonderland of John Derian’s Home…such a pretty home with a fairytale meets vintage vibe.
Signs of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety You Shouldn’t Ignore…and what to do when you notice them.
Inside Ashley Stark’s Upper East Side Abode…certainly hard to believe this home is in the middle of NYC. So much space.
10 Ways to Get Back Into a Healthy Routine for the Colder Seasons…really love these simple tips and ideas.
A Victorian London Apartment…that dining room table is so unique and gorgeous.
8. Affordable Fall pieces from Mango.
9. this week’s dinners…
Monday: Slow Cooker Saucy Sunday Bolognese Pasta
Tuesday: Gingery Sweet Potato and Rice Stew
Wednesday: Better Than Takeout Dan Dan Noodles
Thursday: Super Simple Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala
Friday: Oven Toasted Garlic Herb Cheese Ravioli
Saturday: Nightmare on Bourbon Street
Sunday: Vanilla Chai Pumpkin Latte Cupcakes with Cinnamon Brown Sugar Frosting
Finally, check out all the past Nine Favorite Things posts here.
Your posts are literally a one stop shop for all things fun and inspirational!
Thank you so much Kortney! xTieghan
For homemade holidays, I am planning on doing an old-fashioned/homemade tree this year. Think popcorn strands, homemade ornaments, white lights. I want it to be simple, rustic, and beautiful! And we’ll be getting a real tree this year (or at least that’s the plan), we alternate every other year with real and artificial.
For Thanksgiving, we’re planning on getting together with my parents and some of my siblings. We will definitely keep things on the smaller side. I haven’t seen any of my since Christmas (they’re all out of state) so it will be great to see them.
Christmas will be here in Ohio with my husband’s family.
I love your horses! How many do you have?
Aw I love that you are doing a real tree this year! Are you going to cut one down yourself? Also, I am so glad you are going to get to see your family!! I could not imagine going that long without seeing mine! I hope you have an amazing weekend, Megan! Oh and we do not have any horses.. yet haha! xTieghan
I’m a newer follower of HBH (about 10 months) so I’m very excited about Thanksgiving Tips and Homemade Holidays. Especially since you haven’t done it in a year, you could repost/revisit past posts. We see so much content every day that even something you showed 2 years ago would seem fresh and new to many people, even those who have previously seen it. Can you link to your older Thanksgiving Tips and Homemade Holiday articles so we can see them?
Hi Jenna! Yes, I will leave links to them below! I hoe you are loving my recipes! xTieghan
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/our-2019-thanksgiving-menu-and-guide/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/my-2017-thanksgiving-menu-and-guide/
I cannot find the fall latte recipe
Hi Annette! I have linked them below! I hope you enjoy! xTieghan
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/spiced-pumpkin-maple-latte/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/pumpkin-spice-oatmeal-latte/
I’m from LA you should check out The Proper Hotel in Santa Monica (a bit of a trek to H&F but they pay for your car right?!) or The Edition is brand new and super cool. Walforf Astoria Beverly Hills has the best rooftop views of the city! Hope this helps and enjoy LA!
Thank you so much Morgan! xTieghan
My friends cousin owns The Farmer’s Daughter, a boutique hotel in L.A. it will not dissapoint!! Cute area, cute hotel!
I will go check it out!! Thank you for sharing, Andrea!! xTieghan
My biggest thanksgiving tip is to focus on simplifying where possible. You can’t possibly do everything day of so pick a few recipes where you can do most of the work ahead of time and not EVERYTHING has to be from scratch. That way, you’re really pouring your heart and soul into 1-3 dishes but giving yourself a break on the others. Also, definitely outsource and have others pitch in! I’ve hosted some thanksgivings that I hardly remember bc I was working so much on the perfect dishes and it’s so much more memorable when I get to sit back, drink wine, and check on the turkey every hour 🙂
Love all of these tips!! Thank you for sharing, Cristina! xTieghan
Nom nom.. drooling over all that food.
I just bought my first sweater of the season and I need to buy more.
We have also been making lots of soup.. always looking for new recipes to try.
I am so glad you are loving this post! Also, yes to more sweaters! I am so into them right now! Thank you Hena! xTieghan
Due to a knee ligament injury, I decided to have a more home based weekend with Saturday being a HBH cooking and baking day. I made your brown sugar maple cookies, the cinnamon, pumpkin and chocolate chip bread and the creamy tortellini vegetable soup, all of which went down very well in our household, so thank you for the inspiration and the recipes of course. As for a hotel in California, I like in the UK, so I cannot help on that side, however all I will say is that as long as where you decide to stay has all the necessary covid guidance, social distancing and safety measures in place, then I’m sure that your trip will be fine. Safe travels and have a good week.
Wow I love that you made all of those recipes this past weekend, Colleen! Thank you for trying them all! Also, I hope you are doing okay and recovering quickly!! xTieghan
I’d love to see you do your “homemade holiday” series on homemade gifts we can give people–this year is going to be so hard. It would be so nice to see some ideas for homemade treats we can make and share!
Yes! Thank you so much Claudia! xTieghan
Love the idea of the Homemade Holidays. I participate in Ali Edwards December Daily project each year, and was super stressed on how to make this year feel the most magical with just our family of 5. I live with my husband, two children (13 year old daughter and 12 year old son), and my Dad. We are being very diligent about staying socially distant, and have no plans to do things with others during the season. This is my kids, husband, and my favorite time of year and we want to do it up! So things to do on weeknights, during the season when there is still school (distance learning fun) and work (I teach a small class of 2 year olds), would be awesome! Crafts, baking, and other things to have a festive season that we can make and capture memories with are what we are so excited for!
Aw that sounds amazing! Thank you Jenn! xTieghan
Love your work, and I’m so excited for what you have in store for this holiday season! Thanksgiving is going to look at a lot smaller this year for my family, which is a little bitter sweet. Instead of cooking a bunch of different sides to please everyone, we were hoping to cook a smaller spread with just one or two dishes but that were maybe more “involved” or a bigger project. We love to cook and love fun, unique flavors! We want to keep it cozy and simple, also keep it veggie forward! We were thinking maybe trying homemade crescents? Would love a recipe for that! We also don’t want a lot of leftovers that we’ll end up tossing especially with the dessert. Do you have any ideas for a dessert for just a few people without a lot or any leftovers?
I love crafts and DIYs, especially around the holidays. I also LOVE gift giving and making homemade treats. It would be nice if you had DIYs or homemade gifts keeping budget in mind. How to keep the price manageable and realistic. Maybe bread baking kits for gifts?
Hi Steph! I love that you are deciding to do fewer dishes this year.. I feel like the staples that everyone enjoys is enough! Also, you’re in luck! I already have a crescent roll recipe and I will link it below for you! As for smaller desserts… maybe something like mini pies for each person? Or bars. Even a nice dessert cocktail could fo over well, without any leftovers! xTieghan
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/easier-homemade-extra-flaky-homemade-crescent-rolls/
I visit your site daily and Sunday’s posts are a must read for me!
Aw I am so happy to hear that, Ruthy! Thank you! xTieghan
Every year I make a Christmas gift for my local girlfriends. Last year I gave each friend a pizza dough ball using your No-Knead Pizza Dough recipe (two balls each recipe) to which I added my dried herb blend (made each year when I harvest herbs in October). I wrapped each ball in plastic wrap and froze them. I then placed them in sandwich bags and tied a bow around them using holiday ribbon. A huge hit! The previous year I gave each friend a jar of your Maple Apple Butter and shared with them several of your recipes using the Maple Apple Butter. A huge hit!
Clearly for Christmas gift ideas, you can showcase an ingredient recipe that can then be used in a number of your meal recipes. Your devoted HBH followers would love to share you with friends and this is a way to do that and give friends a thoughtful, homemade Christmas gift.
On a different subject, your recipe for One Pot Lemon Rosemary Dijon Chicken and Butter Toasted Rice Pilaf (posted September 10, 2020) has not yet been revised to include two omissions (when to add the chopped apple and the lemon juice) and two suggestions (“2 cups apple cider (not apple cider vinegar)” and consider adding the chicken later in the baking process since the rice appears to need more time to cook). Unfortunately HBH fans are still submitting these questions and comments.
Wow I love that as a Christmas present! Homemade, but they can use it… YES! Thank you so much! xTieghan