Half Baked Harvest advice: How to host the holidays

We're entering the festive season — which means it's time for holiday get-togethers.

What to know: In an interview, Axios Denver caught up with Colorado's renowned food blogger and cookbook author Tieghan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest to discuss how to host a flawless feast.

Why she matters: Gerard is a resident of Silverthorne and a New York Times best-selling author with millions of cult followers (including me).

• She's also the sister of 2018 Winter Olympics gold medalist snowboarder Red Gerard.

What she's saying: "When it comes to holidays, I actually love traditional so much," Tieghan tells me. "But I love to be traditional with a little bit of a twist."

• "I like to do things that people are familiar with, but make them a little bit more exciting or different in a way — and still super delicious so that they'll be really excited to enjoy."

Her pro tips:

• "Keep your menu simple," she suggests. "People will really enjoy your dinner more if you are present and not stressed. So just do what you can to delegate — and if you can't delegate, try to do as much prep as you can ahead of time."
• It's also important to have appetizers when guests arrive, she says, recalling her history of hosting a family of nearly a dozen. "They love coming over and seeing a big cheese board or a plate of warm brie — they just get so excited."

Of note: "You gotta have the cocktails flowing," she adds. "It automatically makes them feel excited, welcome in, and just ready for the night."

Dig into Tieghan's favorite Thanksgiving recipes