PARADE

Brad Pitt is in Parade's new issue, which is out this weekend, as he gears up for Moneyball's release on Sept. 23. Brad, who also covers EW's latest edition, didn't shy away from tackling big topics during his interview with the magazine. The actor opened up on adopting with Angelina Jolie "right out of the gate" and what she's like as a mother, and he even briefly touched on one of his past relationships. Brad discussed his marriage to Jennifer Aniston and suggested that their relationship impacted his career. Here are some highlights:

• On how his marriage to Jennifer Aniston affected his work: "I spent the '90s trying to hide out, trying to duck the full celebrity cacophony . . . It started feeling pathetic. It became very clear to me that I was intent on trying to find a movie about an interesting life, but I wasn't living an interesting life myself. I think that my marriage [to actress Jennifer Aniston] had something to do with it. Trying to pretend the marriage was something that it wasn't."
• On he and Angie adopting right away: "When Angie and I first met, we came together quite quickly and we decided we were adopting. Now the rules are that because we are not married, I can't adopt. Angie adopts. We decided we were adopting a daughter. We were going to do it right out of the gate. We were not going to mess around. Angie said, 'No shopping [for kids].' I thought that was astute and beautifully put. It took the pressure off of adoption and brought a magic to it. We had set our parameters—we had room in our family if anyone needed a home. We got the call, and that's our eldest daughter, Zahara."
• On why he doesn't read about himself: "I really don't want to know . . . I mean, how many stories have you read that aren't true, stories about me and Angie being married or fighting or splitting up? And when we don't split up, there's a whole new round that we've made up and we're back together again! We'll get married when everyone can. We're not splitting up. And we don't have a seventh child yet . . . I used to go mental over it and try to fight it. But it was a futile battle, so I just gave up on it."
• On life with Angelina: "I'm satisfied with making true choices and finding the woman I love, Angie, and building a family that I love so much. A family is a risky venture, because the greater the love, the greater the loss. That's the trade-off. But I'll take it all . . . One of the greatest, smartest things I ever did was give my kids Angie as their mom. She is such a great mom. Oh, man, I'm so happy to have her."

Kristen Bell turned 30 in July, and so far it's been the best year of her life. Like many women on the other side of their 20s, Kristen feels more comfortable with herself. The actress tells Parade magazine:

"I love 30 more than I've ever loved anything. I feel like I was born on my 30th birthday. It's finally the time where I've fully accepted and loved myself, which I'm realizing more and more each day."

So far in your life, which year would you consider your best? Was it a milestone year like 30? That year you spent studying abroad? The year you reached an important career goal? Or maybe this year?

It's the middle of Summer, and chances are you've gotten into your seasonal routine. Why not shake things up a bit by planning a casual and fun party? Invite friends to join you for a movie screening (or outdoor concert) in a park! Pack a picnic, watch the film (or the stars), and enjoy a leisurely night out.

Select a versatile menu that can be made in advance and will feed everyone's dietary needs. Fill a pitcher with chunky farmstand tomato gazpacho and pour into glasses at the picnic.


A Greek-style pasta salad is hearty thanks to the addition of shrimp; pita halves stuffed with spiced avocado are perfect for those who don't eat meat. Round out the meal with oven-fried chicken — it's a nostalgic favorite that's sure to please. Want to learn how to make these dishes? Here are the recommended recipes.

Angelina Jolie is on the cover of this week's Parade as she continues promoting her movie Salt before its release later this month. She recently jetted to Cabo with Pax, Maddox, Shiloh, and Zahara for a photo call and press conference, where she spoke about Brad Pitt supporting her decision to get back to work following the 2008 birth of their twins, Vivienne and Knox. Angelina had more to say to the magazine about their family life, and she also shared about her deep bond with Brad. She said:

• On the children bringing her and Brad together: "The children certainly tie us together, but a relationship won't hold if it's only about the kids. You also must be really interested in each other and have a really, really wonderful, exciting time together. We do. Brad and I love being together. We enjoy it. We need it, and we always find that special time. We stay connected. We talk about it. It's very important. If Brad and I are strong and happy, then our kids have happy parents, and that's the best thing we can give them. Brad knows me completely, exactly as I am, every part of me. He loves me. The kids love me. They know all my flaws and all my oddities. And they accept them. And so I can feel complete."
• On balancing life and work with Brad: "He takes the kids to school; he visits me on set with the kids. I'm home for dinner, or I'm there for breakfast. We're together all the time. We plan. Brad and I take time off between films to travel, have big experiences, do things together. That's how we work it out."
• On sticking with Brad: "There's never a period when Brad and I are pulled apart. We are not separated for more than three days, ever. We stay really connected. We actually don't go out much. It's funny. We're very homebound. We're very much Mommy and Daddy in our pajamas."

To see what Angelina says about love, her crazy past, and how she and Brad protect their kids from all the attention, just read more

Yesterday, Condé Nast announced plans to introduce its first new food magazine since the collapse of Gourmet.

Dash will be a newspaper insert magazine, the result of a collaboration between Parade and Bon Appétit, which are both owned by Condé Nast's parent Advance Publications. It will launch online at dashrecipes.com in September, drop a preview print issue in November, and begin its regular monthly circulation to about eight million readers via 100 different newspapers in February.

With the proposed tagline of "Simple. Fast. Delicious." Dash is meant to appeal to a mainstream audience.

It will contain recipes from Parade and Bon Appétit, as well as content from Epicurious and the Gourmet archives. Unlike Gourmet, it's taken on an unabashedly aggressive approach toward appealing to packaged food companies such as ConAgra and Kraft.

Dash will compete directly with Relish, another food newspaper insert, as well as traditional magazines such as Family Circle. Thus, if you've been hoping for a Condé Nast equivalent of Gourmet, you won't be getting it anytime soon. Will you look out for it?

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