How Tieghan Gerard of Half-Baked Harvest Hosts a Vacation Get together
I’m all the time impressed by those that break free from typical paths and carve out a artistic journey uniquely their very own—like Tieghan Gerard, the creator of Half-Baked Harvest. I first met Tieghan in 2017, and within the years since, she’s created a model and enterprise that actually displays her passions. From her transformed barn within the Colorado mountains, Tieghan crafts the sort of recipes that really feel like a heat hug—homey, comforting, and impossibly scrumptious. She wears many hats, enjoying the position of recipe developer, stylist, photographer, and storyteller, sharing new recipes virtually every day. This hands-on strategy has earned her a loyal viewers of hundreds of thousands who flip to Half-Baked Harvest and her bestselling cookbooks for every day dinner inspo.
Simply earlier than the launch of her fourth cookbook, Quick & Cozy, Tieghan got here to Austin, the place we co-hosted a vacation feast in my yard. The night was magic—mates gathered round a candlelit desk, sharing dishes from her upcoming guide that felt each festive and easy.
Within the vacation subject of Camille Types EDIT, we shared my heartfelt dialog with Tieghan about her journey—from constructing her profession to going through social media drama. Be sure you try the total piece in the event you haven’t but, and browse on for all of Tieghan’s ideas for cozy vacation internet hosting.
At House in Colorado
First issues first: what informs your strategy to meals?
Simplicity is essential—however make it stunning and scrumptious.
What does a typical workday seem like for you?
It relies upon. Once I’m touring, I’m doing interviews, photograph shoots, and meet-and-greets. I’m multitasking, taking cellphone calls whereas I’m getting hair and make-up accomplished for an occasion. It’s nice, it’s thrilling, it’s busy. It’s a completely completely different aspect of the enterprise.
Once I’m dwelling, my day couldn’t be extra reverse. I’m within the kitchen sunup to sunset. I’m cooking, testing, photographing, and taking pictures video. I’m very targeted on creating content material, so I attempt to not guide calls throughout this time so I can keep actually targeted on the creating. At night time, I’m doing emails, writing weblog posts, and modifying photographs.
What’s your must-have cooking device and why?
That is sort of humorous, however a cookie scoop is de facto nice. I take advantage of it for lots of issues—scooping meatballs, cookies, muffin batter and cupcake batter.
Everybody additionally wants a great forged iron skillet. It’s simple to scrub and it’s higher for you.
Inform us just a few issues we’ll all the time discover in your fridge?
Goat milk, completely different cheeses, jalapeños, avocados, and many recent produce.
Your go-to weeknight meal to eat at dwelling?
I’m a crispy taco lady. Like, I simply love a taco, beef, crispy taco that’s so easy, nothing fancy with cheddar cheese. So good, you guys. It’s so good.
How Tieghan Hosts a Get together
What are three merchandise you’re keen on for the desk?
- Candles. Each single desk is made higher with candles—they create such a comforting surroundings. For those who’re doing tall taper candles, use just some of them, and in the event you’re doing low candles, you should utilize tons.
- A fairly bowl for a centerpiece. Fill it with seasonal produce, like pomegranates and persimmons within the fall, and even gather some acorns from exterior, no matter you’ve got entry to.
- A meals merchandise. I really like to make use of meals as decor—sometimes I set a desk actually minimally, however I like to set out a stupendous cheese board or serving platter with meals to make it really feel considerable.
Apple Vanilla Chai Hot Toddy
Baked Honeyed Brie
Garlic Mushroom Chicken Skillet
Winter Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts
Lemon Pesto Orzo
Classic Tiramisu
What does an ideal gathering seem like for you?
There’s a fireplace roaring and there’s mild music enjoying within the background. There are candles lit in every single place, there are flowers, and there’s the scent of actually good meals gradual cooking within the oven. Simply actually stress-free and comforting—and also you gotta have candles.
The proper feast playlist contains:
Very mellow and stress-free music. Classical is fairly. My grandma all the time used to play Frank Sinatra, and I really like turning on his music at Christmas.
Your signature dishes for gatherings?
There are many nice recipes for gathering in my new cookbook, Quick & Cozy. The brisket recipe is unimaginable for gathering and can be excellent for a Christmas Eve dinner. Additionally, the meatballs on the quilt. For those who don’t eat purple meat, you’ll be able to swap in floor rooster—I offered these substitutions within the guide, so folks can adapt the recipes simply for his or her wants or their style buds. Every little thing within the guide is tremendous easy, cozy, and fast.
What’s your no-stress occasion rule to stay by?
Set the dinner desk the night time earlier than. Create a menu which you could make upfront—a crock pot or gradual cooker recipe is one of the best. Hold it easy.
Dream dinner friends?
Victoria Beckham—proper now I’m simply loving her designs. After which, you may as nicely invite David, proper? I additionally need to meet their son Brooklyn—he simply launched a brand new sizzling sauce model which is so fascinating. So I assume I’m simply inviting the complete Beckham household!
Fill within the blanks:
An ideal meal ought to: really feel comforting to everybody.
It’s not a cocktail party with out: candles.
Each cook dinner ought to know how you can: make a cheeseboard.
