Celebrating 10 years of IFR with a Giveaway

You know you're lucky when you look out at your driveway in the middle of a snowstorm to see your neighbor's kid shoveling the snow that you were doing your best to ignore.

Shoveling snow
a welcome sight

You know you're lucky when a package arrives all the way from the upper mid-west with home-made nocino, Indian pickles and Kashmiri veri masala.

Grateful for good friends
Hot and boozy gifts

You know you're lucky when Shilpa sends you fragrant organic tirphal, along with mace, nutmeg, kokum from her father's property near Bangalore and two very special pickles made by her mother: kochle nonche and ambli pickle.

Fragrant Tirphal
Fragrant and relatively rare spice: tirphal

You know you're lucky when Aparna sends you flavors of your childhood with more kokum and tirphal, dagadphool, dried red chiles, vanilla pods and famous Goan cured pork sausages.

A gift from Aparna
Gifts that remind me of my childhood

You know you're lucky when there are so many things to be grateful for, on a daily basis. I know I am.
From the magnificent beauty of where we live to the supportive neighborhood where we make our home to the friends and family in our lives.

I also know I'm incredibly lucky when I look back at the ten years that I have been blogging and realize that I have met some of my best friends through my blog. My very first post was on March 12, 2003. It was as clueless as I was about blogging, but I was also very clearly testing the Blogger platform, then owned by Pyra Labs. I was never a prolific blogger nor do I intend to be. I blog at my own pace, on my own terms and without succumbing to the pressures of the blogosphere, especially the food blogging community.

Speaking of pressure, I have to say that I was blown away by the response to my post on pressure cooking.  Most of the feedback was on the post itself, whereas more came in through social media and by email. Thank you for reading and engaging in the conversation, which is leisurely and not fast-paced like the conversations on Twitter or Facebook. I learn a great deal through my interactions with each one of you! It has been a very enriching journey.

To celebrate ten years of Indian Food Rocks and how much I value your readership, I have for one of you a 4qt Presto stainless steel pressure cooker. A pressure cooker does not need to be super-fancy, and an affordable basic model is an efficient tool when used according to the manufacturer's instructions.

A Pressure Cooker Giveaway
A Giveaway: Presto 4qt Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker

This pressure cooker giveaway is not sponsored or paid for by anyone other than Indian Food Rocks and me. Because of this, I can only ship within continental USA. Everyone is welcome to enter the giveaway but, if you win, you must provide a shipping address within continental USA.

To enter this giveaway,
  • you do not need to Tweet this post or follow me on Twitter.
  • you do not need to share this post on Facebook or Like my IFR page on Facebook.
  • you do not need to share this post on Google+.
  • you do not need to sign up for my posts by email but it would be nice if you did, considering that Google Reader is going away in a few months.
  • you do not need to tell me how a pressure cooker will change your life (I already know it will!)
  • you do not need to feed my ego and tell me how wonderful I am (I might want to rethink this one!)
  • you do, however, need to comment on this post so that I know you're interested in winning this pressure cooker. 
    •     If you have not commented on my blog before, please delurk and tell me something about yourself. 
    •     If you are a regular commenter, please tell me something about yourself that I do not already know. 

That's it!

The giveaway will be open until midnight April 1, 2013, Mountain Daylight Time. I will randomly pick a winner and post an announcement within a couple of days of the deadline. I will give the winner a few days to get in touch with me, failing which I will find another winner.

For my friends and readers outside the US who are feeling left out of this giveaway, please consider entering for a friend or relative who lives in the US. Also, I'll have something else for you in a couple of months. It's the tenth anniversary of IFR, after all!

80 comments:

parvati said...

You have become a real vetern

What is Curry? said...

I am so glad you blog. We love you guys and yes I need a new pressure cooker.

Evilisa said...

OOOH OOOH! I need one of these. You know I love your blog. Thanks for this chance whether I win or not.

Manasi said...

Happy Birthday, IFR! Rock on!

Thank you for the wonderful giveaway, all the best to everyone who comments :)

Julia said...

I'm feeling the love just reading your post. As a new friend, I know there's a lot that we don't know about each other (the joys of new friends!), but how about this: I used to be an avid gardener and still appreciate gardening. I love all forms of artistic expression.

You are fully apprised of the food and cooking obsessions.

Neha said...

Congratulation on the decennial celebration!
The picture with the Goan sausages caught my eye ~ how did that ever enter the country?? Needless to say, I am jealous of your goodies! :)

cybergabi said...

Amazing. Ten years, eh? Congratulations, Manisha! Always an inspiration, and a real institution among the food blogging community.
And hey - I'll be in the US soon (hint-hint). Although I'm not sure how I would carry a pressure cooker home- but hey, luxury problems are best solved when they actually arrive, so I guess I'll put my name down for it! :-) Keep on rocking the blogosphere!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on ten years... love your blog and love the cooker. Thanks for the giveaway and happy blogaversary!

Pooja said...

Idk if you remember me by my blog Manisha ;) I lurk more here and leave more comments on your FB posts hahaha... The thing that you might not know about me is I am a food blogger ( that is if you forgot it). If you remember it the next thing "I think" you do not know is I am also a Masters Business student :). Phew so glad I do not need to twit for this I attractive cooker raffle, I do not even have my twitter account yet ! :wacko:

Panfusine said...

Congratulations on the big '10' Manisha, Its been an honor to know you thru your recipes and thank you for being a wonderful blog mentor!

indosungod said...

10 years is a long time Manisha. We have enjoyed your wit and enthusiasm as a food blogger. Wishing you the very best for the future.

Mary Oxendale Spensley said...

I live in Canada, but have friends near Spokane, Washington, and we drive back and forth. Ohhhh, I would love a pressure cooker, even though I'd have to steel my nerves to use it. When I was a child, most North Americans used them, but so many explosions took place that people grew frightened of them. I vow to be careful if I win. Love your blog, by the way!

My Kitchen Antics said...

what a welcome change from the usual millions of like, tweet, etc etc to enter a contest. As much as i love winning things, i now refuse to enter giveaways because of all this drama involved.
Congrats on the 10 year bench mark...I just wanted to say that. :) :) (blogs from London, so count me out of the giveaway)
people like you inspire us newbies in the blogging world.
my blog is in the crawling stage compared to yours.. keep "rocking"

Prajusha said...

A big congrats to IFR for completing 10 yrs of blogging.
Wonderful Giveaway.

Anonymous said...

I came upon your blog as a result of the Smitten Kitten blog reference. I enjoy your blog posts and the opportunity to cook authentic Indian food.

Thanks for the opportunity to win the prize. However, the best prize is your sharing your heritage and food!!!

Anjali Koli said...

Wow! a decade of blogging! Cheers and keep celebrating and posting thru the year and more!

Geneva said...

Your timing is excellent. I'm using an old pressure cooker my neighbor bought at a yard sale years ago. He painted it black, so he could use the sun and some stainless steel sheets to create an outdoor pressure cooker. That experiment failed ;-) Now I'm madly loving the recipe and guidance on how to use it. Stay safe with yours.

Dorothy said...

10 years...wow! I'm so glad I found you. I've never used a pressure cooker, but have been intrigued through your posts. So...I'm throwing my entry into the hat! ;)

JoAn's Blog said...

Congratulations on your 10th year! Perhaps I will learn how to pressure cook if I win one. Much continued success!

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Congratulations on a decade of blogging. That's one thing I didn't know about you! :)
And here's wishing a lot more than 10 more years of blogging.

I think what I like most about your giveaway are thos "you don't have to" rules! :D

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Congratulations on completeing a decade of blogging (didn't know you've been blogging this long!) and wishes for more than another 10 years of blogging.
Blog On! :D

What I do like most about your giveaway are the "you don't have to" rules. :-)

Pelicano said...

I definitely need to work on making nicer-looking labels! Still, you managed to make me blush- and I don't do that easily (there- that's something you didn't know about me!) Happy 10 years to IFR- I am SO glad that you started this venture: for the friendship which I treasure, and for the dishes that have become staples at my own table. Cheers!

SADHANA said...

Lovely post Manisha! Hearty & well-deserved congrats to IFR! So proud of you, you make the www a better place :-) All the best!

Vanaja said...

I just visited your blog for the first time today, and I must say Your Website Rocks. You not only covered the recipes, which most cooking blogs do, but what distinguishes 'Indian Food Rocks' from the others is the various aspects of cooking, ingredients, methods of cooking, history, very nostalgic. I felt like I was reading my favorite book. I am glad I came across your site thru Facebook, when a friend of mine shared the giveaway article.

Vanaja said...

And Hearty Congratulations on the 10th Anniversary of IFR. I hope IFR will celebrate many such decade anniversaries and does dhamaka giveaways.

Divya Shivaraman said...

Toast for IFO'S 10 years completion...cheers for more :)

Faye said...

Greetings from the green hills of Tennessee. I love Indian food, but don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. How I would love to have a pressure cooker! I'm an animal rescuer and less time in the kitchen means more time outside with the little ones! Love your blog; it emboldens me to try new things!

sra said...

Congratulations and keep going, veteran blogger! (Not here for the giveaway, count me out, please.)

radha said...

I love the fact that you do not want any link, any logo to be pasted, nothing whatsoever. I also like the giveaway. I do not live in the US, but would love my brother in Mpls to have it. He is a good cook and can do with this. It is easier than lugging it from India. Wish there were more like you in blogosphere. Will subscribe by mail. Only because I want to.

Reshmi said...

Congratulations Manisha.. Hitting 10 is itself worth celebrating.. I have always admired the way you blog..
And who will say no to a new pressure cooker - every cook's perfect partner.. I am in for the giveaway!!

Unknown said...

Congratulations! Thats so exciting... Im a lurker, so here goes my first comment here. Thank you. Thank you for making Indian food so accessible. Not only am I vegetarian, but also allergic to dairy, so i spend a lot of time making curries as well as other foods that arent American. My Huband and i have Indian for every anniversary-- even on the night he proposed!

மதி கந்தசாமி (Mathy Kandasamy) said...

hi manisha,

i'm mathy & i used to blog before. but, nowadays follow blogs in google reader. need to find an alternative.

it is god to see something from peliciano. i really miss his postings.. :(

I started reading your blog after your famous pickle recipe post captured my attention. :)

Sumi said...

I love your blog and am a reader from the moment you started the blog. I was attracted to your blog when you posted some beautiful pictures of colorado(long back), the place which I love:)

Wish you all the best and keep blogging.

Katie said...

I've been a reader since seeing your spicy lamb curry on the Kitchn a few years ago. And now I'm a neighbor, just down the road in Longmont, so I enjoy seeing your Colorado updates as well. As a new mom, I'd love a pressure cooker to speed up some healthy dinner prep, especially for cooking beans and other items with a long simmer time. Enjoy your next 10 years of blogging!

Birdsong said...

Thanks for being vigilant and keeping up with ur blog. Though I've never posted before I read and use ur recipes often. U give me inspiration to begging andaintain my own blog one day. Namaste.

dassana said...

congrats manisha. don't know how i missed the pressure cooker post. loved the you don't have to rules.

Shobana said...

10 years is such a big event and it requires celebration! Congrats.

Siri said...

You know what is best part of this post, the section where you said, one doesn't need to do anything to enter this giveaway except for a comment. I believe that is what 10 yrs of blogging does to you. Food Blogging has become a rat race now with constant worry about number of comments, views, pins, re-tweets etc etc. Loved the way you paved your way all through these years and didn't succumb to the unnecessary pressure. :-) Hearty Congratulations on your 10th blo-o-anniversary and Cheers to many many more of such lively conversations and making new friends.

Cheers,
Siri

allegra wolff said...

I love indian cooking and reading your blog about the food and spices!!!

allegra wolff said...

Keep this blog up, I love Indian food and cooking and all your posts!

Unknown said...

Manisha, you spice up my life! Thanks for all the great flavors!

Gio said...

Delurking reader here. Congratulations on your tenth year of blogging. That's quite a milestone!

When I opened your page today and read all that you were grateful for, then saw the teen shoveling I wondered if he was your shoveling angel because we experienced the very same neighborly gift a few weeks ago. In our case it was a husband and his wife, our "across the street neighbors." It's a really special thing to know that the people one lives near care enough about others to help those who might need it.

Best wishes for another ten years, Manisha, and thank you for all the inspiration you've given us (me) through the years.

Creativecook said...

Here you go Manisha, a lurker with a comment for you. Love your observations on things.

KatieQ said...

I love visiting your blog. When my daughter was in college she met her best friend who is Indian. It opened a whole new world of food for our family. We love your mother's recipe for red lentil curry.

Sue said...

What a lovely idea for a giveaway. Congratulations on turning ten. My own blog alos turns ten this year and I'm making Plans. :)

AA_Mom said...

Congratulations Manisha! 10 years is a long time and you have such gems on this blog. Heres to many more of these happy occasions. I esp enjoy reading the friendly banter between you, Anita and Pel.

p.s: Do not enter me in the giveaway

Unknown said...

Love Indian food and so does my son!

Katie said...

I've been following your blog for at least 5 of those 10 years and had yet to comment. Congratulations! I love your blog & photos. :)

Anonymous said...

You made me delurk with your don't have tos! I love how your posts are always honest and laced with humour, and I wouldn't care a whit if you didn't have a recipe at the end. I love and enjoy your writing regardless.

I'll never forget the Sharabi Narangi, which was the first post I read on your blog. It still is the first thing I associate with IFR. Allow me to clink my glass (of some very ordinary Zinfandel, I'm afraid) and raise a toast, to you, IFR, and more reading pleasure (for me)! Cheers!

E. Able said...

I like your blog because your directions are clear and I often learn something new. I found you through your sig link at Cre8asiteforums a very long time ago. It wasn't ten years, but it could have been eight or nine!

Unknown said...

Congratulations Manisha on 10 years of blogging. It's been fun reading and cooking from your blog. Your pickle is legend here! Just one of many. May you keep blogging! Raising my glass of masala chai to you and IFR.

Dee said...

Wonderful blog..great post...keep going!
;-)
(Please do not count me in the giveaway)

Cheers,
d
www.dayeetasworld.blogspot.com

Anita said...

I cannot not leave a comment on your anniv post! Keep rocking, Manisha! Food brings people close and food blogging gives you some good friends you never knew you were going to find!
Count me in for the giveaway - what the heck - if I win I will pass it on to family. I don't think there is anything like too many pressure cookers!
Cheers!

SMM said...

I am interested in winning this pot! I have never used a presser cooker but am willing to try. I love indian food and own several cookbooks. When my husband was alive, I cooked indian style food for several months until he said he wanted an american cheeseburger!!!

Sahasra Recipes said...

Hi Manisha, your blog is totally awesome. Congrats for 10th year. This is wonderful givewaway. I need this.
Visit my space in your free time.

d said...

Manisha - My name is D, and I live in Bangalore. I enjoy reading your blog and am glad bloggers like you find it in themselves to spend time, research and write all these interesting and insightful posts. In so many times of need I have turned to the net and always found someone who has gone through the same thing and taken the trouble to document their experiences. Even though i am not a blogger, I am an avid blog reader and many bloggers are now among my closest friends.
If i win this giveaway, I want you to give the cooker to my brother who lives alone in Michigan and craves Indian home food.
Thank you for blogging - your blog has at some point made a difference to my life.
PS - The thing that finally made me enter this giveaway versus all the others I have not entered was your explicitly listing all the things I need not do :)

d bernard said...

Happy 10 Years AFR! I am so grateful for your presence in the blogosphere and my tummy agrees! All the best!

Bong Mom said...

Dear Manisha
Just back from flu-land to this beautiful post. While in the 10 years you have been gifted with triphal and sausage may I say we have benefited more from your presence :-D
May IFR rock to be a 100 and may my grandkids visit it for more such gems

BTW, though I love p.cookers, I have enough so let it go to the deserving

Mints! said...

Happy tenth Manisha! Here is to many more to come.

(please do not add me the giveaway)

Nupur said...

Ten years- bravo bravo and wishing you many MANY more! Thank you for paving the way for the rest of us.

Hmm- now what don't you know about me? I hate shopping for clothes. HATE. I am in my 30s and my mother still shops for clothes for me :)

Nothing like food gifts, and the ones you got look amazing.

Shilpa Kamath said...

Congratulations on a successful decade. Hoping to read your wonderful blog posts for many more to come. This is a wonderful giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity to participate.

Hetal said...

I didn't know about your blog. I am vegetarian and Indian. Yes, can't live without pressure cooker:). Great prize choice!

CS said...

Hello Manisha,
I enjoy reading your blog and have tried a few recipes from your blog. I love the lemon pickle recipe you posted and use the tip that you posted for keeping ginger in the refrigerator. Happy 10th year in blogging. Nice giveaway-a pressure cooker is must in Indian cooking.

Unknown said...

I've been a lurker for over a year and you have a wonderful blog.
I'm based in California and make Gujrati dishes most of the time but blogs like yours have introduced me to the rich culinary diversity of India!
I've been looking for a simple recipe for Maharashtrian Goda Masala for a long time so do let me know if I can find it on your blog somewhere:)

Jim Longs Garden said...

I want to comment but not to enter. Why? I'm still using my late mother's pressure cooker. She bought it in 1952 and passed it on to me late in life. I believe I could not cook without my pressure cooker! I hope whoever wins your wonderful gift, will love their cooker as much as I love mine!

Unknown said...

Congratulations on your ten years of blogging! Since I haven't commented before, I'll just say that I love Indian food, and adore a site that gives me insight on how to make it correctly, as I have trouble getting it right! Here's to trying some Indian recipes in a pressure cooker xD

m. said...

congrats on 10 years, Manisha! I love your blog, it's such a great resource for me!

and, um, OH, OH, pick me! I know you said random, but I'm living in TZ so I'm allowed to assume all random things can be swayed into certain directions.

here are the reasons my life would be so much better with a pressure cooker:

1. beans and lentils are my only protein here. meat is available about once a week, and it's pretty gross.

2. I have a propane stove, and replacing the propane involves calling someone who calls a motorcycle for me. we attach the 30kg tank to the back of the motorcycle, i sit between it and the driver, and get to the store and back via a series of footpaths that crisscross the mountain. it's terrifying.

3. in order to save gas, I usually cook beans on a 3-rock fire. so, firewood, matches, etc... including kerosene when it's pouring -- such as when the rains last for an extra month and then start a month early. p.s. kerosene = walking a mile to the store. sounds fine, but not in the rain. also, there are a lot of drunks on the path to the store.

4. also re: fire = must choose between cooking and hot shower that day. this actually means much choose between cooking and shower.

5. water! a lot of the time, the piped water doesn't work, so I have to import via a bucket on my head. not joking. even piped water has to be stored in buckets. so much work!

6. there is no electricity, so I dont have a fridge, and I have to cook every day or every other day. so much work!

7. I do soak my beans, but sometimes it fails. altitude, salt, hot vs. cold water, etc... when it fails, it means I don't get a nutritious dinner after spending the whole day doing fieldwork in the hot African sun. I usually don't eat lunch when I'm in the field.

is this list satisfactory in pointing out how much better my life would be if I had a pressure cooker?

just in case the pity has induced any weeping, the trees in my yard are avocado, mango, papaya, guava, and banana. not quite roughing it!

thanks again for your blog, it's so great!

love,
mimi

Samantha Webster said...

Hi Manisha!

It's Sam Webster, decided to enter your contest! Your blog looks fabulous, by the way! I might ask you for some pointers next year, haha. It was nice to see you at Easter brunch today!

See you,
Sam

AMISHI SHAH MERCHANT said...

Congratulations on your blog's 10th Anniversary! It is no easy feat. My name is Amishi and have been visiting your blog for a little over a year. I look forward to new posts from you as apart from having dependable recipes, they are so informative. One of the first things I tried from your post was pithla. Have since, tried others too :-)
Would love to be included in the pressure cooker giveaway. Congratulations again!

JR Moreau said...

I've never commented here before, so thanks for offering this opportunity to win such an awesome prize.

I consider myself a fairly skilled cook, but my Indian food skills are lacking. A Punjabi friend of mine back home made me the best goat curry I've ever had in my life and he swore the secret was the pressure cooker, so I am motivated to win this and give it a try myself!

As for finding actual goat to cook in my area... that could be a challenge!

Anonymous said...

10 years wow! congratulations :) Looking forward to the special post!

Lee Miller said...

Your blog is great, and I love Indian food!

Puneri said...

Hi Manisha,
I am glad I found your blog last year in time for making chakli ! Your recipe was awesome and definitely a keeper. Your picture taking skills are so awesome that it makes me jump on to the food you make! Keep up the good work. Co grats on being so consistent for the last 10 years! I am from Pune and now in the US, definitely miss my Puneri snacks here. So will be around for more of your recipes. Thanks for the pressure cooker giveaway. As I am born and brought up in Pune I avidly use my pressure cooker for everything from making biryani to cake! I also have a recipe for making' kharwas' in my cooker. I was thinking of buying a slow cooker, but undecided till now. Alright, take care.

Manjusha Nimbalkar said...

10 years woohooo! congratulations :)
Always Looking forward to the post!

Namitha said...

Wow! 10 years, I didn't know that you have been blogging for so long. Congratulations and wish you many more decades of wonderful blogging :)
I liked "what you don't need to " part the most :)

ACYC said...

Randomly pick me! Randomly pick me! My trusty Indian pressure cooker died last year, and I decided to get a fancy European one. Months have gone by, and it's still in its box…True story.
But really, this is just the perfect opportunity for a big time lurker to emerge and wish IFR a very Happy 10th anniversary!! Thank you for leading the way, Manisha, and here's wishing you many, many more years of sharing your amazing talent with the world. :-)
Oh, and if I am randomly picked, I promise to pass on it. And open that box.;-)
Shalini

Desisoccermom said...

Phew! Made it just in time to wish you a very happy 10th anniversary and hearty congratulations on the awesome milestone. I am so glad you started IFR because I found a kindred spirit and a good friend in you

Indian Food Rocks said...

You folks are the best! Truly! You made March very special for me! Thank you! I hope to reply to each of you but first, I must get down to business and announce the winner of the giveaway.

The giveaway is now closed

Indian Food Rocks said...

Did you win? Find out!

Unknown said...

Lovely post…so nice to know that you don't wish to be promoted in any way to win the giveaway :)…the giveaway is now closed and also, I do not live in the U.S of A…Looking forward to the next event :) Congratulations for the 10th anniversary and may you have many more :)