COOKED: Mexican soup

It's cold outside and a hearty soup was needed. I found this recipe in Woman's Day magazine. It was filling and delicious!

I can't find the recipe on their website. So here it is:

2 tsp olive oil

1 small onion chopped

1 large sweet potato (12 oz), peeled and cut into 1/2 - in. pieces

14 1/2 oz each chicken broth

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 can (11 oz) corn niblets drained

1 cup mild or medium salsa

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1 can (15 oz) canned black beans, rinsed and drained

Garnish: sour cream and cilantro (option)

1. Heat oil in a 4-qt saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion for 3 minutes or until softened and translucent.

2. Add sweet potato, chicken broth and cumin; cover and reduce heat. Simmer 15 minutes or until sweet potato is tender. Process soup until smooth.

3. Stir in corn, salsa, tomato sauce and black beans. Simmer covered, 5 minutes to blend flavors. Serve with sour cream and cilantro if using.

Enjoy!

Sewn: Laptop case

Here is another sewing project that I attempted. I needed a new laptop case to protect my computer. I originally bought this material to make a slip cover for a pillow. I never made it! But it looks great for this project.

Sewn: Oven mitt

Last summer, I felt the need to learn a new craft so I decided to take a few sewing classes. Once again my grandmother's influence had something to do with it. Growing up my grandmother would sew our clothes, Halloween costumes and even my graduation dress. So it just seemed natural for me to learn how to sew.

I've sewn a few items, but this is the one am most proud enough to post. Maybe I'll post some other ones. We'll see...

Cocktails Anyone?

I had to take this picture of a cocktail for a magazine. After I shot the picture, I had to drink this! It was so delicious and refreshing on this very hot day. So, here it is...

1 strawberry cut into pieces

4 to 6 small pieces of cucumber

1/2 oz of agave syrup (found in specialty stores)

1/2 oz of lemon juice

1 1/2 oz of Grand Marnier

1 oz white cranberry juice

Mash the strawberries and cucumbers together with the agave syrup and the lemon juice. Pour this mixture into a shaker add Grand Marnier and 4 to 6 ice cubes. Shake it up. Pour in a martini glass and add the white cranberry juice. Drop a brochette of strawberry and cucumber in the martini before serving.

(I didn't purchase the Grand Marnier, it was too expensive, instead I used Brandy.)

Photography:Portraits

Here are some portrait photography that I've done in the last couple of months. Please do not reproduce without my permission.

All rights reserved.

Music Inspired

This small abstract painting is something that I have never done before. I felt the urge to paint, but I was not inspired by any object around me. While listening to some house music and I let myself feel the music, I came up with this little painting. It was a fun way to paint and I will do this again. It helped me get out of my comfort zone of what I would normally paint.

Thank you Modish Blog

I would like to thank Modish Blog for the beautiful sponsor spotlight she did about my Etsy Shop.

Thank you AphroChic

I'm thrilled to write that AphroChic blog by Jeanine Hays, has a post about My Etsy Shop. Visit her blog to get the latest trends in design and style.

My favorite: Canvas Bag

I fell on an Etsy shop called The Bag Shop, this Turkish seller sells colorful and monochromatic canvas bags. I think they will be great for the summer, which is right around the corner. Check it out.

Video:Year in Review 2009

Music: Camel by Flying Lotus

Photography: Flowers

I had some free time at work and decided to go to Atwater market and buy something to shoot. I had 5$ in my pocket and this is what I found, beautiful yellow flowers! The first person to leave a comment or email me the name of this flower, will receive a small print for free.