Nine Favorite Things.

Thanks for joining me for another Nine Favorite Things post.

I must say, I am so happy to be back writing my Sunday favorite’s post. After a month plus hiatus for extra holiday content, it feels great to be back writing these posts. I love so much being able to share what’s happening in my life, my other interests, and things beyond recipe talk. Don’t get me wrong, I love talking recipes, but these posts are a nice change of pace. I truly love sitting down to write them each week…though they do take me forever to put together! It makes me feel like we’re having our Sunday morning coffee together!

Anyway, it’s crazy that we’re already almost midway through January, right? Time is flying by (as usual) and over here it’s full on winter, with snow falling, cold temperatures, and even whiter snow-capped mountains. It is beautiful, and as of right now I am fully loving it. Check back with me come mid February though, I may have changed my tune.

This week was a busy one, full of plenty of typing away on the computer. As a result, after a lot of long days and nights, I’m feeling very excited about everything we’ve been working on. At the end of this long week, we celebrated my mom’s birthday on Friday. Complete with a snow day, a Dutch Baby (from the cookbook), and a couple new cake recipes that I am SO excited to share. Twas the perfect way to end the week and head on into the weekend.

Coming up this week on HBH, we’ll be sharing another round of Healthy January recipes. Including a new sheet pan dinner, a healthy snack – that’s totally addicting, another fresh twist on cauliflower, my current favorite chicken soup, and a chocolate cake you’re going to LOVE.

Lastly, if you missed anything from this past week, be sure to sign up for our newsletter here. Hope you’re all having the best post holiday weekend, and enjoy this Sunday’s Favorites!

1. Instagram Q&A.

The last couple of Thursdays, I’ve done a Q&A on Instagram. It’s so fun for me to answer all of your questions, I’m loving them! Here are a few of my favorite questions (I answered A LOT more on IG). Let me know if you have others…maybe I’ll start doing a monthly Q&A on the blog too.

q: What are your photography tips? Also any tips for editing in Lightroom?
a: Practice! The more you shoot the better you will become. Over time you’ll develop your own personal style and aesthetic. And it is for that reason that I use natural light only!

For Lightroom, I do as little editing as possible because I always try to get the best photo, straight from the camera. I don’t do big edits. Usually I adjust the exposure, clarity, and vibrance. Nothing fancy.

q: What is your favorite part about cooking? 
a: Getting to cook for friends and family. I love pleasing people and getting to see their reactions when they love something I have made!

q: If you weren’t blogging, what do you think you’d be doing instead?
a: Probably something in the design/styling world. Growing up, the only thing I wanted to do was style clothes. I spent weekends putting outfits together. I was SO close to going to fashion school before switching lanes and starting HBH. So I guess a stylist! Because, I really just love making things pretty!

q: Do you ever feel burnt out posting so much? I SO admire your frequency!
a: The only thing that can make me feel burnt out is the fact that I almost always have to be ON. Even on holidays, when most are taking time off, I’m still checking DM’s and blog comments to respond to questions. For that reason, it can be really hard to keep up with it all. Other than that, I really do love what I do, and I love creating and sharing new recipes everyday. I get really bored and antsy when I have nothing to do…my family doesn’t think I know how to relax. When I do get burnt out though, I try switch gears to something else to refresh my brain. I’m working on taking more time off, but it’s hard! I definitely have not mastered the work/life balance thing.

q: Are all your food photos natural? Like no tricks to make them look fuller or shinier etc.?
a: Zero tricks. We actually eat the food I make, so it has got to be edible! But…I’ve definitely only frosted half of a cake and just shot it from the front because I didn’t have enough frosting. Consequently, I’ll do things like that for sure!

q: Which of your recipes would work best for meal prep?
a: meal prep: chicken shawarma and sweet potato fry bowls

q: What do you do with all the leftover fresh ingredients?
a: I try to use everything, but if something starts to get a little wilty/has seen better days, I’ll either make stir fry or soup…or if I don’t want to do that, we give all our produce scraps to our goats. They live for banana peels! Therefore, it’s nice that no produce goes to waste!

q: what do you make for dinner when you feel a cold coming on?
a: I’d start with this immune boosting smoothie, and then this coconut sweet potato lentil soup with rice.

q: How did you get into blogging?
a: I graduated a little early from high school with an associate degree. I was planing to go to school in LA for fashion. I moved to LA a few months before school started and got a job. But then, just before school was about to start, I changed my mind and came home to start HBH. Kind of a long story, but I’ve been cooking since I was 15 and always loved it. Since I was unsure of what I wanted, my mom encouraged me to start HBH. I took her advice and never looked back.

2. Favorite Winter Citrus Recipes. 

I’m currently obsessed with winter citrus and cannot get enough. There are lots of citrus happening this week. What’s your favorite wintry produce?

Winter Citrus Tequila Smash

Sheet Pan Cuban Chicken With Citrus Avocado Salsa

Vanilla Chai Lemon Ricotta Muffins

Winter Citrus Ricotta Breakfast Bowl with Honeycomb

Holly Jolly Citrus Cocktail

Coconut Honey Crepes with Whipped Mascarpone + Blood Orange Compote

Glowing Citrus, Avocado, Quinoa, and Blackened Salmon Salad

Immune Boosting Winter Citrus Smoothie

Winter Beet and Pomegranate Salad with Maple Candied Pecans + Balsamic Citrus Dressing

Red’s 3 Favorite Winter Juices and Smoothies

Chocolate Fudge Swirled Lemon Ricotta Tart

Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Bars with Candied Lemon

3. Favorite Pieces for an Office Refresh…

New year, new office space. Here is what I am dying to have.

4. Currently Binge Watching…

Heartland on Netflix. Pleaasseeee tell me what you’re watching. I need suggestions!

5. New Videos:

coconut sweet potato lentil soup with rice…the simplest and the healthiest.

better than takeout 20 minute peanut noodles…weeknight favorite.

one skillet lemon butter chicken and orzo…butter, easy, and so delicious.

6. Favorite Cookbooks. 

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about my favorite cookbooks. While I don’t really flip through a lot of cookbooks, here are my favorites from the ones I do have!

7. A Few Links I Am Loving…

answering all of your career questions…from the true girl boss, Chriselle Lim.

Lauren Conrad’s home is the definition of California cool…in love with this house.

Britney Spears blessed the catholic school uniform…do you remember the outfit?!

Reese Witherspoon Vogue cover…such a good read.

this is the exact amount of skin care product to use…good to know.

Aimee Song gets unfiltered about being a fashion blogger…favorite podcast I listened to this week.

this bohemian beach town is Colombia’s best kept secret…I want to go.

Gwyneth Paltrow shares 4 easy, clean recipes…healthy, but so good.

Shonda Rhimes takes AD Inside her LA home…love the light filled kitchen.

how not to take a shower…9 ways to get fresh fast.

Miranda Kerr’s 4 step plan to reset your complexion…sleep and celery juice.

11 essentials for your shiniest, healthiest hair…really just need them all.

8. My Favorite Jeans…

9. This Week’s Dinners:

Monday: spicy turkey taco salad with Baja dressing

Tuesday: Turkish fried eggs in herbed yogurt…breakfast for dinner!

Wednesday: 20 minute Caribbean shrimp tacos with roasted jalapeño pineapple salsa

Thursday: crockpot spicy vegetarian tortilla soup with quinoa

Friday: one skillet greek sun-dried tomato chicken and farro

Check out all the past Favorites posts here.