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 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.

Recap: Yvette with Mrs. Obama and Mamiverse Contributors

The conversation between the First Lady with these Mamiverse contributors and Latina moms, moderated by CNN analyst Maria Cardona, delved into diverse issues including nutrition and the Let's Move initiative, education, healthcare, and passing on traditions and values. The round table held in Miami went by very quickly, but each woman was able to share her own story and ask questions. 


Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack, one of the authors of MUY BUENO (available October 1st) and mother of two, brought up the growing problem of childhood obesity and diabetes. Mrs. Obama suggested using  family dinner time to connect and foster healthy eating habits, saying "at 6:30, whenever [the President's] not traveling and we're all together, we have family dinner. You do much more than just eat together."


Watch the video and share your comments. What are your favorite recipes to get the family to the table?