Announcing Microwave Easy Cooking Event ~ Let's Party!

Five years ago, when I was just couple of months into Blogging, starting a Food event was really so exciting and I remember spending so much time, coming up with a theme that might interest and benefit so many others. As I remember writing that I was planning on to take a theme on Lunch box or something quick, I had my readers asking for an event on Microwave cooking. I took it on and you see it's been five years since.

I have cooked many dishes, sometimes complete menu from a microwave. It's been exciting, a learning experience on the whole. I know many quote cooking in microwave is harmful. If that was so, why are the microwaves still being sold. Anyway that's a topic for a different discussion. Coming to the event, it has seen so many seasons. Sometimes with so many entries, sometimes with just handful in the round up. Whatever I know this event has greatly helped some, for which I am happy.

Though the Melas have been more successful, I will always cherish this event. And this month five years ago, it was first announced. Most probably I may give this event a break after the two hostess who have agreed to guest host for me. Until then, you will see this happening. After that, maybe a break will do this event some time to pick up again.

So for now, let's have a party!

Details to participate in this Event:

1. Cook for the party, you can bring in any dish you want.

2. Add a link back to this event announcement, and feel free to use this logo.

3. Please send me an e-mail to cooking4allseasons@gmail.com with the following info.

* Subject Line: MEC : Party 2012
* Your name
* Your post link
* A picture of the dish.

4. Non bloggers can e-mail me the recipe and the picture and I will include it in the round up.

5. Deadline is 31st Aug.

6. Both Veg and Non Veg is accepted

Please note that the entire cooking has to be done in microwave mode and not in convection mode. You can use food processor or others for grinding stuffs, but stove top should not be used for any step in the entire cooking.

Looking forward to all the delicious entries.

Blast from the past!

Anniversary 2008
Anniversary 2009
Anniversary 2010
Anniversary 2011


Previous roundups

5 Years of Blogging, Celebration with Indian Thali Mela & a Giveaway!

Yes it's been 5 years since starting this wonderful space, that has become an integral part of my life! A heart felt thanks to all my readers and friends for all the support I have had for these five years of  blogging. What started as something as a way to something that's been a dream, has become an integral part of my life. Not just me, my entire family has come to love this space.

This blog has given me so much, so many wonderful friends and readers. I have learnt so much through the process and I hope it has helped some in the way.

To celebrate the occasion, I decided to have two interesting events. 

Indian Thali Mela:

No celebration is complete without a Mela. My first blog anniversary was Dosa Mela, and what followed has been such exciting Melas all around.  This time I decided to do the big thing, the Indian Thali. The Indian Cuisine is so well represented by the Thali.

I am so excited to say that I would be creating an eBook with the entries that come for the Mela. I will be selecting the entries on different criteria, like the picture quality, the entries that are included. The entries that make to the eBook will be based on selection criteria. Will either be putting up a polling or have judges do the selection. The judges decision will be final.

PS: By default all entries will be considered for the eBook. If you don't want your entries to be part of this wonderful eBook, please send me an email on the same.

The guidelines for the Indian Thali Mela are as below:

Photo Credit


From now till May 20th, post an Indian Thali on your blog.

• Link back to this announcement is mandatory
• Usage of the logo is appreciated as it helps spread the word.
• Both Veg and Non Veg entries are accepted.
• Multiple entries are accepted. 
• Mandatory picture of the entire thali is a must. 
• Atleast one dish in the featured thali has to be a new dish, you can link to your other dishes on your blog.
• If you are including many new dishes, if you wish you need not post all the recipes in the same post, but post later and link back with the same Thali picture.
• If you want to submit entries from archive, the entries should at least be posted during 2012. If you are posting an archive the post should be updated with a link back to this event along with the Logo.

The Thalis can be of two types:

Festival Thalis that has more dishes and that which is normally cooked during a festival or special occasion. Minimum dishes can be about 7 or more. (though need not stick to 7)

Everyday Thalis: Thalis having 3 - 4 dishes,

Thalis can be breakfast, brunch or meals. It can be of North Indian or South Indian or mix also.

Example

Traditional South Indian Breakfast - 1 - Idli, Sambar, Chutney, spice powder
Traditional South Indian Breakfast - 2 - Ven ponga, Sambar, Chutney, Vada and Kesari, -
Rajathani Thali - Rotis, Dal, one subzi, salad, yogurt w/o Sweet (N Indian)
South Indian Thali - Poriyal, Sambar, Rice, Rasam Curd, papad, w/o sweet (S Indian)
Non Veg South Indian Thali - Chicken Pakoda, Chicken Kura, Mutton Pulusu, Rice, Dal and Curds
Kerala Thali - 

The thalis can be of any state, or mixed also. No restriction on this.

You got to post a mandatory picture of the thali in the traditional method or in modern setup.

Should publish at least one dish per post. Other new posts can also be linked to the linky tool.

Any questions, please send them to cooking4allseasons@gmail.com.

The cookbook Giveaway!

Apart from the Mela, I will be giving away a book The Cake Doctor! I have been so much into baking lately, I thought this book will be a great help.

All you have to do is comment on this post. You are welcome to share your thoughts, what you enjoyed from this blog. I will be choosing the winner on April 15th, 10 PM (IST). So start commenting.

Please do share and promote however you wish..:)

The Giveaway is closed, check out the Winner

Check out the Indian Thali Mela Round up

Announcing Mithai Mela ~ Celebrating 2 years!

Time for sure flies! While I was flying to my office, something clocked in my mind and I remembered that 16th April, marks the 2nd year completion of my blog. Though technically I posted my first post much later, for all reasons, starting point matters right. And in the same breath I remembered its been a while since I had any of my Mela Series. So this definitely calls in for an occasion to have a Mela!

For almost a year and half, I managed to post daily. But it had to exhaust at some point right. Life now seem so much more hectic, that I have convinced myself to do a two post a week. I am trying hard to squeeze in the many things that are running parallel. Since I am not a person who can sit idle for a min, this chance seem so perfect with the MM just getting completed. I have a perfect reason to host another event.

So friends, here comes the "Mithai Mela". Do indulge me by participating in this edition of Mela, which marks the 2nd year completion of this blog. I feel nostalgic remembering the fantastic Dosa Mela that got started this way. And I hope this edition will be a success too.

Here’s how it works:

1. From now till May 20th 2009, cook any sweet and post on your blog with a link back to this announcement and use the logo.

2. The entry can be any type of sweet. Only condition being it got to be sweet of course!

3. You can send in your entries from Archive, provided they are re posted specially for this event and not clubbed together.

4. Entries sent to Mithai Mela can be entered to other events.

5. Once done, you can send in your entries to cooking4allseasons@gmail.com with the following details
Sub: Mithai Mela
Blogger name
Post URL
Recipe name
Picture

7. Non bloggers can send their entry with the recipe details and pic, if any to my email acct.

I hope you won't disappointed me in over indulging me with a dose of sweets!