I want to give a big welcome to Jo-Anna Rooney today. She is a creative spirit in the kitchen, home, and craft room, and I know you will love getting to know her. If you are a foodie you will like the mouthwatering photos she shared today as well as her easy pumpkin soup recipe. 

Hello, I’m so pleased to be here to share a bit about myself and my work!  I met Deb a few years ago at a photography retreat and immediately loved her style and down to earth personality.  So I was really honoured when Deb asked me to participate in her artist feature series!  I never used to think of myself as an artist, or even as a creative person, yet somehow over time I found myself on this wonderful and creative journey of blogging.  And since then I have realized that I am more creative that I even knew, and it’s been a nice realization.

I started my blog as a hobby, as a way to share tried and true family recipes, and the occasional wreath I made, and somehow over time it has become so much more. I found a passion — A passion for creating and sharing.  And that passion has become a career, and my blog has grown into something I am quite proud of and am so happy to be able to share.

When readers come to my site I want them to feel the creativity and become inspired in their own lives, in the most simple of ways.  Whether it be through a recipe that they make for their family, or through a craft made to decorate their home…I want my reader family to feel inspired to add some creativity and deliciousness into their homes and lives.

If someone leaves my online space feeling inspired (and hungry!), that makes me truly happy.

Deb asked me to share a recipe with you, so today I made this Easy Pumpkin Soup.  I used some of the linens from Made On 23rd in the photos…aren’t they perfect with this soup?

Easy Pumpkin Soup

Instructions

• 1 small onion, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• dash cinnamon
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• pepper
• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• 1 cup broth chicken or vegetable
• 1 cup cream — half and half is best!

 Instructions

• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• 1 cup broth (chicken or vegetable)
• 1 cup cream (half and half is best!)
• In a saucepan sauté the onion, garlic and fresh ginger until soft.
• Stir in the cumin, dash of cinnamon, brown sugar, salt and pepper.
• Stir in the pumpkin puree and broth and simmer for about 20 minutes or more, over low-medium heat.
• After this time, stir in the cream and cook for about 5-10 minutes more.
• Once the soup is done cooking, I like to puree it using a hand blender.  It makes the soup nice and creamy!  Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

• If the soup seems too thick, feel free to add more cream.
• If you want you can make this soup in the slow cooker on low, for about 2 - 3 hours.  I like this option when I'm at home because I don't have to babysit it on the stove.  But if you wish, you can easily just make it on the stove in half the time.

See more of Jo-Anna's work with these links:

Instagram: @aprettylife Facebook: APrettyLifeInTheSuburbs Web: aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com