The taste and flavor of butternut squash is so delicate and pure that sometimes I don't want to mix it with anything else! This soup recipe which is super easy to prepare brings out that flavor, the smoothness and delicateness of butternut squash. It's a perfect first course for a meaty or strong second dish! Enjoy x

One of my favorite Italian pastas is this magnificent and simple to prepare pasta called "Pasta con i Funghi" means Pasta with mushrooms. You can use different types of mushroom for this dish. Here in Italy is very common to use porcini mushrooms, porcini is the king of the mushrooms and Italian called it "the piglets". The texture is very meaty, the flavor is earthy and nutty and is one of the most wanted mushrooms. Italy is the land of porcini. 

Iranians love turnips, "Shalgham", they're one of the most popular vegetables during autumn and winter in Iran. The most common recipe is to boil them in salted water, and eat them very simple with some salt and pepper. We also have some lovely soup recipes with turnips, one of the most famous one called "Ash-e Shalgham" which is basically turnips cooked with rice, mixed Iranian herbs for soups, lentils or mung beans, turmeric, onion and sometimes meat, Very delicious!

It's now the season of quinces and oranges, and all I was thinking of these days was an orange tart, or maybe a quince marmalade. I love pastries, cakes, and sweets, but because I am not as good in baking as I am good in cooking, I always try to steer my love for sweets to cooking recipes. So I started thinking about something sweet and a little spicy as well..

The natural sweetness of red onion with a pinch of chili and the delicate and yet rich taste of pumpkins together with Iranian advieh and nutmeg makes this risotto so rich, and creamy with a hint of sweetness and spiciness and at the end the caramelized pumpkin on top makes it all come together. A heavenly risotto made for autumn...