SPICES & SEASONS Blog Cookoff, Week #3

It's finally here--week #3, giveaway week! We know you've been itching for a chance to get your hands on your very own copy of SPICES & SEASONS. Now you have 7 ways to win!

See each blog for details on how to enter, and don't forget to do the extra entries! Best of luck and happy cooking.

1. Susan,  The Wimpy Vegetarian

2. Helene, La Cuisine d'Helene  

3. Joi,  Get Cooking   

4. Susan,  Create Amazing Meals

5. Laura,  The Spiced Life

6. Felice,  All That's Left Are the Crumbs

7. Trish,  In Fine Balance

You can find all the recipes in one place if you follow our Pinterest board! You can find more information about Rinku Bhattacharya on her blog cookinginwestchester.com, and see our Facebook page for her event schedule in the Hudson Valley area.

If you missed last week (week #2), each blogger picked a recipe to try. Such a great selection!


1. Well-Seasoned Potato and Mint Salad

2. Stir-fried Asparagus with Garlic and Sesame Seeds  

3. Shrimp in a Mango Basil Sauce

4. Pasta with Spice-Infused Ground Lamb and Green Peas 

5. Fresh Ginger Apple Chai Cake

6. Zucchini, Lemon Thyme and Onion Flatbreads

In week # 1, the bloggers all tried an Indian restaurant staple: Classic Green Mint Chutney. See post...

SPICES & SEASONS Blog Cook-Off, Week 2

You could win a copy!

We're continuing the SPICES & SEASONS Blog Cook-Off and for week #2, each blogger will be cooking up a recipe of their choice. Next week (week #3), each foodie will share their review of Spices & Seasons. Plus all of the participating bloggers will be doing a giveaway! See individual blogs on how to enter.

Here are the bloggers, and their dishes for this week:
(links will be updated along the way)

1. Well-Seasoned Potato and Mint Salad - Susan,  The Wimpy Vegetarian

2. * - Helene, La Cuisine d'Helene  

3. Stir-fried Asparagus with Garlic and Sesame Seeds - Joi,  Get Cooking   

4. Shrimp in a Mango Basil Sauce - Susan,  Create Amazing Meals

5. Pasta with Spice-Infused Ground Lamb and Green Peas  - Laura,  The Spiced Life

6. Fresh Ginger Apple Chai Cake - Felice,  All That's Left Are the Crumbs

7. Zucchini, Lemon Thyme and Onion Flatbreads - Trish,  In Fine Balance

You can find all the recipes in one place if you follow our Pinterest board! You can find more information about Rinku Bhattacharya on her blog cookinginwestchester.com, and her event schedule for this summer.

If you missed last week (week #1), the bloggers all tried an Indian restaurant staple: Classic Green Mint Chutney. See post...

SPICES & SEASONS Food Blog Cook-off

We're excited to share that Hippocrene Books is sponsoring a food blog cook-off for Spices & Seasons: Simple Sustainable Indian Flavors by Rinku Bhattacharya! The cookbook spotlights for Muy Bueno and The New Southwest were so much fun--we had to do another!

Mint from the author's garden.

This week, (week #1), the bloggers will all try Classic Green Mint Chutney. You've probably enjoyed it at Indian restaurants and you'll see it's simple to make. Susan at Create Amazing Meals has already posted her take with a surprising pairing--watermelon!

Week #2, each blogger has the chance to try out a recipe of their choice. In week #3, each blogger will share their review of Spices & Seasons. At the end of the cook-off, all of the participating bloggers will be doing a giveaway!

Here are the participating bloggers:

1. Susan -- The Wimpy Vegetarian

2. Helene -- La Cuisine d'Helene  

3. Joi -- Get Cooking   

4. Susan -- Create Amazing Meals

5. Laura -- The Spiced Life  

6. Felice -- All That's Left Are the Crumbs 

7. Trish -- In Fine Balance

The cook-off is already underway, so be sure to check back to find links to individual posts from each blogger, and for a chance to win your own copy of Spices & Seasons! You can find more information about Rinku Bhattacharya on her blog cookinginwestchester.com.

“The Bengali Five-Spice Chronicles” Two-by-Two Cook-Off: Week 2

Our food blogger Two-by-Two cook-off is officially underway! Until December 6, thirteen bloggers will be reviewing and cooking their favorite dishes from Rinku Bhattacharya’s The Bengali Five-Spice Chronicles, and posting two reaction pieces about their experiences. The best part (aside from working up an appetite for these tasty Bengali dishes) is that each blogger is giving away one free copy of the book at the end of the cook-off!

Amanda at MarocMama tried her hand at Lentil and Rice Risotto, Meatballs in Saffron Rice, and Crispy Potato Sticks, and is looking forward to trying out a dessert or chutney for her second post, while Elizabeth over at Frugal Mom Eh enjoyed the “restaurant quality” of the Quick and Zesty Pineapple Shrimp, and its delicious mingling of flavors and spices.

Meatballs in Saffron Rice

Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla tried out some of cookbook’s vegetarian entrees – Sweet and Spicy Curried Cabbage, and Golden Cauliflower in Orange Mustard Sauce, both served with steamed quinoa. Camilla found these two vegetarian dishes “easy to make and teeming with flavor,” plus they were a big hit with her husband and kids!

Spiced Potatoes with Cauliflower and Shrimp

Laura from The Spiced Life cooked up some “quick, healthy and delicious” Spiced Potatoes and Cauliflower with Shrimp and Saffron Rice with Meatballs for her out of town guest. In her next post, she’ll be sharing with us the dish she cooked for her kids, when she reduced the green chiles to make the spiciness kid-friendly.

Many of the bloggers agreed that Rinku’s vivid, conversational prose style made browsing The Bengali Five-Spice Chronicles extra enjoyable, as she shares her own personal stories and memories of these beloved Bengali recipes. Cynthia from What a Girl Eats described it as “half-cookbook, half autobiography,” and she was excited to try out Rinku’s Chicken in a Creamy Yogurt Sauce, a simple recipe made with easily available ingredients.

There are plenty of posts still to come from these ladies as well as the rest of the cook-off bloggers, so be sure to check back here for updates – and don’t forget, on each of the blogs you can enter to win your own copy of The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles!

"Two-by-Two" Cook-Off Bloggers

Akheela Hisham - Torviewtoronto

Alex Witte - Chow Vida

Amanda Moutakki - MarocMama

Camilla Mann- Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Cynthia McCloud Woodman - What a Girl Eats

Elizabeth Lapmann - Frugal Mom Eh!

Hindy Garfinkle - Confident Cook, Hesitant Baker

Laura Tabacca - The Spiced Life

Melanie Deland - MBA Mama

Perry Perkins - Hautz Meals

Priya Mitrawal - Mharo Rajasthan

Rashmi Primlani - Primlani Kitchen

Sarah De Diego - Journeys of the Zoo

"The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles" Two-by-Two Cook-Off: Week 1

What better way to start off the holidays than to have another food blogger cook-off ? This time we're featuring our cookbook by Rinku Bhattacharya, The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles, that is sure to get your taste buds dancing.

Thirteen bloggers will have two weeks to post two reaction pieces about their experiences. Thus the name "Two-by-Two." At the end of the cook-off, each blogger will be giving away one free copy! This delightful cookbook would be a great gift for a friend, family member or even yourself, so be sure to enter.

Rinku, the author, will be hosting the event on her blog, Cooking in Westchester. This is an event you don't want to miss so keep checking back for updates!

"Two-by-Two" Cook-Off Bloggers

Akheela Hisham - Torviewtoronto Alex Witte - Chow Vida Amanda Moutakki - Maroccmama Camilla Mann- Culinary Adventures with Camilla Cynthia McCloud Woodman - What a Girl Eats Elizabeth Lapmann - Frugal Mom Eh! Hindy Garfinkle - Confident Cook, Hesitant Baker Laura Tabacca - Spiced Life Melanie Deland - MBA Mama Perry Perkins - Hautz Meals Priya Mitrawal - Mharo Rajasthan Rashmi Primlani - Primlani Kitchen Sarah De Diego - Journeys of the Zoo

Muy Bueno Cookbook & Spotlight Cookoff: Week 3

The Cookbook Spotlight and Cook-Off has come to a close as 16 bloggers have given their final reviews of Muy Bueno. Hippocrene Books would like to thank all of the bloggers for their hard work and dedication! Each and every one of you gave thoughtful reviews and posted beautiful pictures of your creations over the past three weeks. We would especially like to thank Heather at GirliChef.com for hosting the event and putting together a wonderful group of foodies. We couldn't have done it better ourselves.

Let’s not forget that the end of this cook-off means 16 lucky individuals win a copy of the cookbook for themselves. Be sure to check their blogs to see if you've been selected. Congratulations to those winners!

Photo by Jeanine Thurston

If you didn't win a copy, don't fret. My Bueno can be purchased from your local bookstore, or online at Barnesandnoble.com or Amazon.com. What more could you want from a cookbook that's jam-packed with easy recipes, gorgeous photos, and stories of family tradition that make cooking a soulful experience? We hope you've enjoyed reading what the bloggers have said about Muy Bueno, and will pick up a copy for yourself or your loved ones.

Here's the list of all the bloggers who participated in the Muy Bueno Cookbook and Spotlight Cook-off. Make sure you check out some of their other recipes. These bloggers have a knack for making their readers hungry!

Heather - girlichef  

Danielle - Cooking for my Peace of Mind 

Gerry - Foodness Gracious  

Mark - Javelin Warrior's Cookin w/ Luv  

Lea Ann - Cooking... On the Ranch 

Kim - Stirring the Pot  

Jen - Juanita's Cocina 

Jenn - Rook no.17 

Michelle - Delectable Musings 

Karen - Savoury Table  

Cathy - Wives with Knives 

Michelle - Ms. enPlace 

Vianney - Sweet Life  

Deb - Kahakai Kitchen 

Helen - Miz Helen's Country Cottage  

Sue - The View from Great Island

Muy Bueno Cookbook Spotlight & Cookoff: Week 2

Muy Bueno’s food blogger cook-through hosted by Girlichef.com is still underway! It’s blogger's choice this week, and the recipes keep looking better and better. Take a look at what the 16 bloggers did, and be sure to check back next week for their final reviews of Muy Bueno.

Many of the bloggers had a difficult time choosing just which recipe they wanted to try. Everything looked too good! One of the most popular dishes was the Beef Brisket Tacos, and it was a favorite for many of the same reasons. The simplicity of the meal left the chefs ample room to try any or all of the toppings suggested by Veronica. Sue from The View from Great Island tested it out with the Queso Fresco and Crema Mexicana to give the dish a “creamy moistness.” Why else did they love it? Let’s face it: the slow-cooker is the most attractive kitchen item for the person with a busy schedule. It's great to whip up the night before a long day, and throw into the cooker before you leave for work. Some bloggers were ambitious enough to pair two recipes together. Karen from Savoury Table made the Brisket Tacos with the homemade flour tortillas, and has decided never to buy tortillas again! 

Photo by Sue from The View from Great Island

Photo by Karen of Savoury Table

For those of you that want to try a new dessert or a tasty drink, check out the Coconut Flan featured in Cathy’s blog, Wives with Knives, or the Pear Margarita featured in Danielle’s blog, Cooking for my Peace of Mind. There is truly something for everyone in Muy Bueno!

Photo by Cathy from Wives with Knives

Week 2 Blogroll

Juanita's Cocina - Tacos de Carne Deshebrada (Beef Brisket Tacos)
Foodness Gracious - Chilaquiles Rojas
Savoury Table - Brisket Tacos w/ Homemade Flour Tortillas
The View from Great Island - Beef Brisket Tacos
Ms. enPlace - Beef Tongue w/ Tomato (Lengua Entomada) + Jalapeños w/ Soy Sauce (Jalapeños Toredos)
Javelin Warrior's Cookin w/ Luv - Roasted Green Chiles w/ Buttermilk & Cheese
Miz Helen's Country Cottage - Green Chili w/ Beef & Potatoes + Jesusita's House Salsa (Salsa Casera)
Cooking for my Peace of Mind - Prickly Pear Margaritas
Cooking... On the Ranch - Macaroni and Cheese ala Mexicana
Kahakai Kitchen - Bruschetta topped w/ Apricot, Melted Brie, & Pomegranate Seeds
Wives with Knives - Coconut Flan
Delectable Musings - Beef Tongue w/ Tomatoes
girlichef - Tacos de Chicharrón y Salsa Casera
Stirring the Pot - Stuffed Bell Peppers w/ Ground Beef & Potatoes
Sweet Life - Chicken Tinga

Muy Bueno Cookbook Spotlight & Cookoff: Week 1

The food blogger cook-through of Muy Bueno hosted by Girlichef.com has officially kicked off! Over the next few weeks, 16 bloggers will be trying out different recipes from Muy Bueno and posting about their experiences, so be sure to check back here for updates.

For week one, Heather of Girlichef chose two recipes from Muy Bueno for the bloggers to try out in their own kitchens: Mushroom, Jalapeño and Cilantro Salsa, and Capirotada, a Mexican bread pudding. The fresh mushroom salsa is an interesting Latin-fusion spin on the traditional tomato-based variety, while the sweet capirotada is a traditional Mexican holiday dish that goes back generations. Click here to see how these bloggers fared with their first foray into Muy Bueno's delicious recipes!

Heather's Mushroom Salsa looks delicioso! This would be great on steak tacos.

Heather - girlichef  

Danielle - Cooking for my Peace of Mind 

Gerry - Foodness Gracious  

Mark - Javelin Warrior's Cookin w/ Luv  

Lea Ann - Cooking... On the Ranch 

Kim - Stirring the Pot  

Jen - Juanita's Cocina 

Jenn - Rook no.17 

Michelle - Delectable Musings 

Karen - Savoury Table  

Cathy - Wives with Knives 

Michelle - Ms. enPlace 

Vianney - Sweet Life  

Deb - Kahakai Kitchen 

Helen - Miz Helen's Country Cottage  

Sue - The View from Great Island