Checked and color-blocked

This happens with me most of the times..I get supremely creative in dressing up usually on weekdays but ironically, I don't get enough time in the morning rush to click pictures for the blog. And then most of my
winter weekends are spent at home in PJs so no photo shoots

This outfit is from one of those work-week days, when I decided to mix prints (color-block and gingham checks) with a hint of leopard print on the shoes and felt that it would a waste to not capture it for the blog. I recreated this look on the following weekend and here it is for you to browse through.

I think it's safe to say that gingham checks are as versatile as polka dots - very easy to mix prints or wear them as-is. I felt a little daring and paired the outfit with my fav leopard print kitten heels (one of my best purchases!). Red lips and a red beads completed the look and added a little bit of oomph for the Saturday excursion with hubby.

What do you think? Would you try mixing prints - color-block and gingham checks? Do tell..

What I am wearing: Gingham checks shirt - NY&Co.; Color-blocked sweater - NEU, Ireland; Corduroy pants - NY&Co.; Leopard print kitten heels - Kelly & Katie @ DSW; Bag - Linking road, Mumbai; Red beads necklace - Groopdealz; Aviators - Tory Burch; Earrings - Birthday gift from a friend; Beads bracelet - Target; Watch - Husband's Casio chronograph

P.S.: These pics are from fall season and so the yellow leaves, lovely weather and the sun! Its been long I wanted to post these pics but always got post-poned. Well, as they say, better late than never :)

Healthy & Tasty Series - Cauliflower Leek soup

I almost always have cauliflower in my fridge and well I am plain bored eating it as sabzi or in pav-bhaji. So, when I saw this recipe first time on a Cooking Channel show called as 'Bitchin Kitchen' by Nadia G., I knew I had to try it out. Also, the fact that I have seen 'Leek' like a million times in the grocery store, and the curious cook that I was, I really never knew how to put it to a good use. So in that sense, this soup helped me to marry the two interesting ingredients for me.
The recipe itself is quick and easy, and the soup makes a perfect companion on a cold winter day with a book/movie/TV show.

This flavor-packed soup recipe has been adapted from here.

Cooking time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4

Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 leek, thinly sliced
6 cups organic chicken stock (you could use hot water too)
1 cauliflower, chopped into bite sized pieces
2 potatoes, diced
1 bay leaf
3/4 cup aged cheddar cheese ( I skipped the cheese)
pinch of sea salt and freshly cracked pepper
fresh chives, minced (I used coriander)

Directions

• In a pot, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium. 
• In the oil, sauté the leeks for a few minutes until soft.
• Deglaze the pot with organic chicken stock. Add the cauliflower, potatoes, bay leaf to the stock and simmer for 15-20 minutes until veggies are fork-tender. Remove the pot from the heat. Fish out about one cup of cauliflower florets and potatoes and set them aside.
• Puree the soup using a hand blender, and then put the cauliflower and potatoes pieces back into the pot. Add the aged cheddar, sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. Turn the heat down to medium-low and whisk until the cheese is melted.
• Serve topped with fresh chives/coriander.