Awards # New 3 in 1 FB page # hugs

Big hai to my dear co-bloggers !
Was literally away from blogsphere for about 2 weeks or so....and am I not really glad to have received 2 awards during that time.

The VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD

 

by pretty-patty Pooja of "Being Beautiful and Pretty" blog. A place worth visiting where she writes about home remedies , product reviews, makeup tricks , latest fashion trends ..... anything and everything....and....

 

 

the AWESOME BLOG CONTENT AWARD

 

by Aara of Sweets & Spices.  Knowing her was a very pleasant surprise. Writing to her that I was her latest follower, especially after going through her perfectly white instant rava idli's , the reply what I got was of someone who was a "silent follower" of my blog, ever since she started blogging!!! That was indeed surprising.

 

 

Of course, i agree there will be many people out there, who wouldn't want to be shown out as followers, and its one's own personal approach, i truly acknowledge that. But with me, I am more than happy to know it if you like my space....atleast, it will take me to your space as well.

 

So, for Pooja and Aara,

 

 

 Thanks  a bunch, both of you !

 

 Also in here, officially, introducing to you, my new facebook page -

 

THE PICK'Y BANK.

 

The links to my 2 blogs and the rest are all now in one space under 3 different albums :

(food blog links)

 (non-food blog links)

 

(musical notes and pictures)

 

Thanks to all who pulled in their suggestions and ideas - really really appreciate it. For you all as well....

 

 

oh well  ...i'll RESTART !!! ;)

 

Back to the award..the rules...

 

The Versatile Blogger Award

 

1) If you are nominated, then you are awarded the Versatile Blogger Award

     (received with thanks)

2) Thank the person who gave you this award (done, with a hug)

3) Include the link of their blog (done)

4) Nominate 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award (below)

5) Finally, tell the person who nomiated you (done) & things about yourself.

 (about myself,well... I have written quite a bit on my previous Leibester Award post. It's in here)

The ABC Award

 

The rules are simple:

1) Add the ABC logo to your new blog post (done)

2) Write one word or a phrase about yourself that begins with A, B, C, etc.

        (  Well for me, i take "b" for being " blessed" )

3) Nominate some blogs (below)

4) Leave a comment on their blogs to let them know. (definitely !)

 

My nominees for the Awards are:

 

1. Remya Elizabeth of Remya's Baking & Cooking

2. Rafeeda of The Big Sweet Tooth

3. Amelia of Amelia's Dessert

4. Asha of Food, Fashion, Party

5. Chitra of Indulge

6. Meena Kumar of Elephants and the Coconut Trees

7. Nawal of Love from Kitchen

8. Sonali of Sonali's Kitchen

9. Tinku of Daily Chores

10. Priya of the Humpty Dumpty Kitchen

11. Manju of Manju's Eating Delights

12. Akila of Learning-to-cook

13. Vidya of Akshaypatre Recipes

14. Shibi of Flavz Corner

15. Shella of Kitchen Art

 

And, the 15 of you receive not one, but both these Awards ! PLUS...PLUS....a virtual hug too !!..

ooh..think my PC, rooter and the net connection got hanged trying to passover the "HUGie - buggie" .

 

Think this would be the only way out to reach it to you ;)

and I , get a "like" on my fb page in return ?? ( not a bad deal, yeah??)

 

Will be back soon with some "sweet" recipe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



My very first Award

Wohoo !!! 3 awards in a week.

 Am I not really glad. Chitz of Indulge, Priya of Yummy Foods and Pavithra of Potpourri has passed me over the Leibester Award.

Thanks very much ladies. All three of them are the proud writers of their lovely blog featuring some really catchy recipes and Pavithra...I really enjoy reading your posts. Almost everything under the sun is featured there!

over to the award.....

The name of this award comes from a German word “Liebster” which means 'Favorite'. Hence, this award is the "Favorite Blog Award"

There are certain rules for this award:

Write random facts about yourself.

Answer the 11 questions given by the person nominated you.

Fabricate 11 new questions.

Nominate 11 bloggers who have less than 200 followers and mention them in your post.

Tell the person who nominated you, along with the people whom you have nominated. 
 

 11 random facts about me

1. I have been anticipating to be on a diet and lose weight but end up with  a platter of biriyani and finish it full. Am a biriyani freak, got to admit.

2. The one thing that i keep telling my kids the most is to stop
shouting....keep quiet, but while all are off to school, i dread the silence and wait for them to be back.

3. I love listening to music, listen to others sing..but just cant sing one line perfect to tune.

4. Am an optimist, loves to take thing as it comes.

5. I love to go for walks pushing the pram with one of our little ones in.

6. I enjoy "ART" of any forms - be it in crafts, paintings, food...and its kind of respect that if feel towards the artist.

7. Would have loved to be an architect or interior designer but ended up as a civil engineer.

8.I always tell my husband that my dream job destination is "Bollywood" or dont mind "Hollywood" either..but...dont get me wrong..not as any actor....rather, as a part of the movie set design team..preferably working under Speilberg or James Cameron ( !!! )..well...u can dream, cant you...no limits there!

9. I cherish cooking, and making it creative and just cant keep wondering, how in the world do the other bloggers come up with such lovely setup for the clicks. I am blank zero in doing a proper presentation most of the time.

10. My worst part is the "starting trouble". Needs some real motivation to get going with something new..but once on, i will be really into it.


11. I intent to attent some professional cookery classes next time i go down to kerala for vacation...esp on fondants, gum paste . Love the edible creativeness it brings to life.

Here are the answers to the 11 questions i have been asked. But as with the 3 awards, i cant be answering all 33 questions. So, will very well stick on the the first person who awarded me - Chitz. So, off to your questions Chitz.

1. If you were allowed to change something about yourselves, what would that be?
My hair. Its curly and absolutely disobedient. My husand and our elder son has such lovely straight hair and i keep envying them.

2. Your favorite time pass other than cooking
Browsing the net for recipes and saving them for future trials...(might be a 1 in 50 will be tried)

3. According to you which is most important in a blog - presentation, recipe or pictures? 
Firstly, presentation coz at first place what catches your attention is the presentation. A beautiful picture holds the viewers who then gets interested in the recipe.

4.Your ultimate dream
Lose about 15 kilos of fat....the pen-ultimate dream !

5. Three qualities you would love to see in others
Smiling face, positive attitude and loyalty.

6.One prank that you played on someone
God! cant think of any...seriously..think i need to do something about that asap.

7.Your favorite vacation spot
Places of Buddhist architecture - Tibet, China....

8.Cooking according to you is
Passion

9.Who influences you the most? Like you would always listen to what this person says
My father-in-law. A person with soo full of positive energy.

10.Your favorite dessert
It was and still is the simple old fashioned caramel custard.

11.One habit that you cannot change for life
Am a lazy brat. Keep things off for the last moment..would want to change that, but till this moment, haven't.

 

 And the 11 nominees are -

Sumees Culinary Bites

Pepper Bowl

Great Secrets of Life

My Cooking Journey

Sweet 'n' Savoury

Food Lovers

Sahasra Recipes
Manju's Kitchen

Gheza-e-Shiriin
Good Eats to Style
Kreative Kookiez Crafts

 

And, the 11 questions for each nominees....here you go:

1. Your favourite timepass
2. Which do you prefer - reading a book or browsing the net?
3. What/who inspired you to blogging?
4. Which dream  food you have always wanted to prepare?
5. Your favourite personality
6. What dress makes you feel most comfortable in.
7. Person whom you admire the most
8. Which cuisine do you prefer - traditional or continental
9. Your preferred shopping destination
10. Coffee or tea ??
11. Are you a regular blogger and approx. how many posts do you do in a month.

Anyways..once again...thanks for the award and congrats to the Award Winners as well...

 

Hearty poke cake specially for Valentines

Heart shaped Thai Coconut Poke Cake

You need:

Eggs (white and yolk separate)  -    6 nos

Coconut milk  -    1.5 cups

Shredded coconut  -    7 tbsp

Sugar  -    1 cup

Salt  -    1/8 cup

Butter / oil  (melted)   -    1 cup

All purpose flour (maida)  -    2 cups

Baking Powder  -   4 tsp

Poking syrup

Condensed milk  -    1/2 can

Coconut milk -    1 cup

How to:
*  - Stir the shredded coconut with the coconut milk. Set aside to soak.
*  - Separate the egg whites from yolk. Place the white in small bowl. Yolks in a larger bowl.
*  - Beat egg whites with electric mixer until stiff (like whipped cream). Set aside.
*  - To the yolks add melted butter / oil, sugar and salt. Beat to smooth consistency.
*  - Stir baking powder with the flour (maida) and add this to the yolk mixture. Also add the coconut milk with the shredded coconut. Beat 1-2 minutes or till combined.
*  - Fold the beaten egg whites into the batter or use your electric mixer on low speed. (about 20 secs)
*  - Pre-heat oven to 180 deg C. Pour batter into a heart shaped pan and bake for 35 - 45 mins or till a toothpick inserted comes out clean off.
*  - Cool the cake and slice it horizontally into half.

Now thats my way to slicing a cake through the middle. Insert tooth picks all round and half height and cut right above it all thorough.

*  - Apply a layer of whipped cream and any fruit filling and top back with the cut layer.(optional)
*  - Using bamboo skewers, poke the cake at 1/2 inch distance through the entire depth.
*  - Pour the poking syrup over the cake, letting it to soak in. Leave it for few minutes.

To decorate, I have first coated the cake roughly with whipped cream and then sprinkled desicated coconut all over. Plain coconut for one half and red food coloured coconut towards one side to get a blended effect. Over it, I have places few heart shaped jelly gums and a love-teddy pair motif.

Cover the sides with ladys finger cookies and tie around with a red ribbon.

  

This was actually prepared for a cookery competition (cakes) organised by my husband's college allumini and that was my full arrangement. Did win the third prize in the category....but look what the judges have done....

Stabbed my heart right at the middles !!!! ooppssss....  :)

off it goes to Valentines day special events by Anzz Cafe

 Teena's Yummy Delights

 Srav's culinary concepts

 Zesty Palette