New on the virtual newsstand...

First spotted here, and subsequently here.

This one is for all you foodies out there!!
Great photography, fantastic colors and yummy recipes.



































So while you ponder what to make for dinner or dessert, check out this new Summer Issue.

Happy cooking,
Natasha

Images via Mowiekay Magazine

Dinner!

One of my great passions apart from makeup is food. I love to cook, bake, and, most importantly, eat! While eating healthy is important to me, I'm also a huge fan of indulgence! Tonight's dinner, Tuscan Pumpkin White Bean Soup, combines the best of both worlds. It's packed with antioxidants and protein, is low in fat and calories, yet tastes creamy and delicious. Pureeing the beans gives the soup the texture of a hearty, cream based soup with none of the guilt and tons of flavor. Homemade crostini don't hurt either!
(The bubbles are from the immersion blender!)

Tuscan Pumpkin White Bean Soup:

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 1 15 ounce can of packed pumpkin puree (I find that the organic has much more flavor)
• 3 1/2 cups chicken stock (I use low sodium and add my own salt later)
• 1 15 1/2 ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/3 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (optional)
  
• Salt and Pepper to taste

• Saute onion in olive oil until tender and translucent, about 5 minutes
• Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about another minute or so. Be careful not to burn the garlic!
• Add pumpkin, broth, beans, salt and pepper, and pumpkin pie spice. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer 10 minutes.
• Puree soup with an immersion blender until smooth and creamy. Add more seasoning if necessary
• Serve with homemade crostini (I slice a baguette, coat with olive oil, salt and garlic and bake until browned)

Yum! What are you having for dinner?

Who inspires you?

…What inspires you? I have asked that question so many times, I get a different answer each time! Some people are inspired by travel, some by books, and others by simply taking a walk. Recently I have come across quite a few people answering that question with; Cooking!

Perhaps a sign of the times (we cook more at home), perhaps the holiday season (cooking for friends and family), perhaps……

Just to clarify…. I am not the cook at home! I leave that to the professionals, but recently I too have been inspired by food. – No, I did not yet see the Julie & Julia movie, but I hear it is good.

A few Sundays ago, I came across Ina Garten on TV. She was going “back to basics” and I watched her cook chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese, sun dried tomato and fresh basil….. I attempted this without a recipe, after all, how hard could “basic” be? Surprise! It turned out wonderful and I am inspired to try something different!

Today I picked up “Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics” by Ina Garten and I am so looking forward to leaning more from her! Mustard-roasted fish anyone?



(I know this book has been blogged about 117 times, but I was just so happy and inspired!!!)



By the way...
Don't you just love her kitchen? I am in the beginning stages of redesigning our small kitchen, but that will be part of another blog entry, perhaps even a few entries!

Have fun cooking!
Natasha