{a day in the life} Half Baked Harvest

We’re back with the a day in the life series after the summer off! I have to admit, it was nice having one less post that I had to crank out each week. And it was nice to focus more on recipes. But I did miss the feature!

I asked my fans over on Facebook (I feel so weird saying “fans,” I’m not near cool enough for that. Friends?) Regardless, I asked about the feature and people unanimously wanted me to keep doing these. Cool! I’m so glad you all like them.

We’re bring back the series with a blog that is semi-new to me but quickly became one of my favorites, Half-Baked Harvest. The author, cook and photographer behind the blog — Tieghan — is not only unbelievably (UNBELIEVABLY) talented, but she is such a sweetheart as well and became a fast friend. 

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Tell me about yourself and how you started food blogging.

I started my blog after a summer spent working in Los Angeles. I had just graduated form the local college here in Colorado and I was going go on and attend the Fashion Institute of design and. I soon realized LA was not the place for me. Sure I love being artsy and styling clothes, but all in all the LA scene did not fit for me. I loved the weather and the clothes, but hated the traffic and missed my family. I am such a family girl! So I did a total 360 and instead of going into the fashion styling business I started cooking up storm and working on starting my blog. I have always loved to cook and bake for my family, but never listened to my mom when she told I should start a blog. Finally, when a little bit lost with what my next move should be I jumped in at full speed and basically have not stopped since. I love it!

Take me through your day.

5:15-5:30 Wake up! I am a morning person and always have been, but I still hate getting out of bed. Sometimes I can get out right away and sometimes it takes a good 15 minutes.  Waking up is the worst.

5:30 The blogging begins! I immediately hop on my computer and start checking on my post for day.  Posting on facebook, tweeting the days post and checking emails.

6:00-7:30 Grab some breakfast and get right back in front of the computer. This is generally when I read others blog post for the day, respond to morning comments and fix any “mistakes” on the days post the commenter’s tell me about. This is also the time when I plan out my day and the task that need to be completed.

7:30ish-9:30ish This block of time is almost always craved out for a morning hike. I love being outside and some day this is my only chance and it is one of my favorite parts of my day. This is also when my brain does its best work. I swear that I come up with my favorite recipe while hiking.

9:30 Back home I normally check my emails and blog comments to make sure there is nothing important I need to respond to.

9:45-5:00ish Five to six days out of the week this is when I am in the kitchen making a GIANT mess and I mean giant. All the counters are covered in flour, chocolate, cheese, avocado and probably a gazillion other things. This is also the hours I am taking my photos since I need the daylight.  I normally grab some kind of snack in the morning and then anywhere from noon to two people start pouring in for food. The brothers get out of school anywhere from 10:50 to 1:00. Yes, I am serious. I’ll normally take a few minutes and grab their “orders” since I am in the kitchen and since I am a huge people pleaser I act like a waitress and get everyone their food. Plus, I am a control freak and it’s just easier if I grab them some food. This way no messes up my “projects”.  Plus, the kitchen is normally such a mess that people do not even know where to set a plate down. I am telling you, it’s not pretty.

If it is a grocery-shopping day, which I try and normally do on Monday I spend a couple hours in the morning at the store. This is a big trip guys, so it take at about an hour and half. Two hours if I am getting the stockpile of bagels from Einstein’s that we always have in the freezer. I have a big family full of hungry highly active boys. They also eat a lot of bagels and since they are the pickiest eaters ever they will on only eat Einstein’s bagels. I order 3 dozen almost every week and keep the in the freezer. It’s insane.

Also, sometimes at 3:50 I will go and pick up my little sister Asher from school to get a little break from the cooking, baking, cleaning, washing and drying. Plus, I love picking her up from school. It’s the greatest!

5:00-6:00 CLEAN. Every single day. You think if I would be okay with making a huge mess that messes would not bother me, but they do and I hate them. So this is normally the time when I am scrubbing the counters, covering up the days food, putting all my boards away that I use for shooting and vacuuming the whole kitchen since the flour probably has, cookie crumbs, sprinkles, chopped up herbs and who knows what else.

6:00 -7:30ish this is when I take a pretty fast shower and get all the chocolate and tomato sauce out of my hair. Then it back to the computer to start editing photos and writing my recipe for the next days post.

7:45- 8:45 Dinner! Most times we do not sit down to eat to 8:30, but normally dinner is almost always a pile of roasted veggies and whatever savory things I made that day. Also, if that said savory dish has any “weird” foods that means the boys are eating steak, pizza, chicken, tacos or burgers. Yeah, we are one of those families that normally have two dinners. One for the picky eaters and one for not.

9:00-10:30 Finish up working on my post for the next day and start responding to the days comments.

10:30 Bed! Sometimes a little earlier, sometimes later it just depends how behind or ahead I am that day.

What is your one must-have kitchen tool or gadget?

My food processor, my skillet, my mixer and my knife. I can’t choose. I use them all pretty much every single day.

What is the most important part of your day? Why?

My morning hike, without out it I think would go insane. For one, I love being active and getting outside. Also, it is basically the only time in my day that I have to myself. It’s a great workout and most importantly it is quiet! My house is insane and I do a million and ones things during my day, so this is my thinking and recharging time. I love it

What is your LEAST favorite part of the day? Why?

Cleaning the kitchen. Ugh. I really hate this. I actually use to not mind cleaning the kitchen, but that was before I started destroying it and making it look like a tornado tore through it. It’s just no fun.

If you could choose one room in your house to remodel (on an unlimited budget!) which room would it be and why?

The kitchen for sure! I have always dreamed of designing my own kitchen and making every last detail the way I want. It would be awesome!

What is your favorite day of the week? Why?

This is so typical, but Friday. It’s always been my favorite day, but for different reason over the years. When I was in school it meant that had had two whole days and two whole nights ahead that I did not even have to think about school. Which for me was awesome.  Now I love Friday because I use it as my catch up day. I do not normally do a recipe post on Saturday, so I typically have Friday night off. This means I cook and photograph till the sunsets and then get on my computer and get caught up on any emails, freelance project or start writing up recipes, editing photos and or planning out new recipes. It’s a good day and it normally a little less rushed than the others and always ends with some much-needed TV time. I such a fun nineteen year old, huh?!?

What is your favorite cookbook?

Seriously, I have to choose? I actually do not have a ton of cookbooks and am trying to build up my collection. I just got the smitten kitchen cookbook and Heather Christo’s A Generous Table and love them!! But I am taking suggestions?

What recipe on your blog are you most proud of? 

I really liked these Avocado and Gouda BLT Corn Fritter Stacks with Chipotle Bourbon Dressing.

What recipe on your blog do your readers seem to love most?

Oh geez, I post some many and everybody has their own favorites, but I am constantly getting comments on these spinach and artichoke melts I posted back in January. People go crazy for them.

What have you learned since you began blogging?

Blogging never, ever, ever ends. There is always something to be working on. You have to love it in order to stick with it.

What have you found to be the most challenging part of blogging?

Time management and giving myself a break. I am always thinking about my blog and always working. I have no idea how to stop, slow down or relax for a second.

Do you have any advice for someone who is interested in cooking or food blogging?

Don’t be scared, especially if you are young. I always thought since I was younger that no one would care what a sixteen year old had to say, but they do! I wish I had started my site at 16 when the thought first popped into my head, but I was scared, nervous and anxious. So just do it!  Jump in and do it! I always say you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Who would you like to see featured here in the future?

Jackie from The Beeroness and Domestic Fits.

Ashley from Edible Perspective.

Megan from Takeamegabite.

Cindy from Hungry Girl Por Vida.

 

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 Thanks Tieghan! Heather Christo’s book is one of my favorites as well! I loved getting to know more about you and I love how dedicated you are to your blog and what you do. Keep up the great work! 

You can find more of Tieghan on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

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