I’m at all times impressed by those that break free from standard paths and carve out a inventive 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 type of recipes that really feel like a heat hug—homey, comforting, and impossibly scrumptious. She wears many hats, enjoying the function of recipe developer, stylist, photographer, and storyteller, sharing new recipes virtually each day. This hands-on method has earned her a faithful viewers of thousands and thousands who flip to Half-Baked Harvest and her bestselling cookbooks for each day dinner inspo.
Simply earlier than the launch of her fourth cookbook, Fast & Cozy, Tieghan got here to Austin, the place we co-hosted a vacation banquet in my yard. The night was magic—associates gathered round a candlelit desk, sharing dishes from her upcoming ebook that felt each festive and easy.
Within the vacation difficulty of Camille Kinds 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 when you haven’t but, and skim on for all of Tieghan’s ideas for cozy vacation internet hosting.
At Dwelling in Colorado
First issues first: what informs your method to meals?
Simplicity is essential—however make it lovely 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 telephone calls whereas I’m getting hair and make-up performed for an occasion. It’s nice, it’s thrilling, it’s busy. It’s a completely completely different facet of the enterprise.
What’s your must-have cooking software and why?
That is type of humorous, however a cookie scoop is admittedly nice. I take advantage of it for lots of issues—scooping meatballs, cookies, muffin batter and cupcake batter.
Everybody additionally wants an excellent forged iron skillet. It’s straightforward to wash and it’s higher for you.
Inform us a couple of issues we’ll at all times discover in your fridge?
Goat milk, completely different cheeses, jalapeños, avocados, and plenty of contemporary 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 like for the desk?
Candles. Each single desk is made higher with candles—they create such a comforting setting. In case you’re doing tall taper candles, use only a few of them, and when you’re doing low candles, you should use heaps.
A reasonably 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 may have 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 lovely cheese board or serving platter with meals to make it really feel considerable.
Apple Vanilla Chai Scorching Toddy
Baked Honeyed Brie
Garlic Mushroom Rooster Skillet
Winter Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts
Lemon Pesto Orzo
Basic Tiramisu
What does an incredible gathering seem like for you?
There’s a hearth 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 enjoyable and comforting—and also you gotta have candles.
The right banquet playlist contains:
Very mellow and enjoyable music. Classical is fairly. My grandma at all times 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, Fast & Cozy. The brisket recipe is unbelievable for gathering and can be excellent for a Christmas Eve dinner. Additionally, the meatballs on the quilt. In case you don’t eat crimson meat, you may swap in floor hen—I offered these substitutions within the ebook, so folks can adapt the recipes simply for his or her wants or their style buds. All the pieces within the ebook is tremendous easy, cozy, and fast.
What’s your no-stress social gathering rule to reside by?
Set the dinner desk the evening earlier than. Create a menu you could make upfront—a crock pot or gradual cooker recipe is the very best. Hold it easy.
Dream dinner visitors?
Victoria Beckham—proper now I’m simply loving her designs. After which, you would possibly as effectively invite David, proper? I additionally wish to meet their son Brooklyn—he simply launched a brand new scorching sauce model which is so fascinating. So I suppose 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 prepare dinner ought to know how you can: make a cheeseboard.
