Sharing Food On Shivaay Delights

Today’s food blogger choice is the vegan cook from the clear, concise and full of delicious food blog “Why not vegan?”

I saw this amazing picture. Roasted brussel sprouts with a garlic spaghetti, I know I will be trying this very soon. I always seem to forget that sprouts are available during the whole year and not just at Christmas where everyone eats them for tradition, rather than actually wanting to eat them!

The Why Not Vegan Blog and Spaghetti Recipe

Check out this food blog…it will inspire you! Much love, D x

I’m So Excited!!!!

I have been up since half past three this morning and am too excited to go back to sleep!
It’s my FIRST BLOGIVERSARY! Today! I knew I had started Shivaay Delights about a year ago but wonderful WordPress sent me a message first thing this morning!

As I sit here with a cup of sweet milky tea, two hours after I found out. I am speechless! Yes SPEECHLESS! All I can think of saying with an immensely grateful heart is…

To all of you, my friends. I’m welling up here! You really don’t know how much you all mean to me and the ongoing support from you all has been unreal! I have loved creating and posting recipes and thoughts for the past year but most importantly connecting with you all!

My Aunt’s beautiful memories live on through the love we give and receive as we connect here on Shivaay Delights! Thank you friends sooo much!

To commemorate my Blogiversary. I invite you all to Join the new group on Facebook that I’ve just created “Sharing food with Shivaay Delights“. Please search that group title on Facebook and everyone come SHARE your amazing VEGETARIAN RECIPES & SWEET TREATS with us all…

Feel free to link your blog recipes to the post and please post lots of pictures.

Let’s get this party started! I will be making some coconut delights later today in celebration of today, so do look out for them

But for now…see you over @ the new Facebook Group “Sharing Food With Shivaay Delights”
Much love to you all! Your friend D x

Shivaay Delights Sharing Super Blogs

This week I have gone Egg crazy! I love to eat eggs and what better way than to showcase them off in a variety of dishes and include them in my Fab Four blogs of the week!

I start off with the super talented Karinna from “Cheesy Biscuit”, her wonderful array of recipes and dishes will have you mesmerized! Especially her love for Rhubarb! which I am yet to try in my recipes and I’m always inspired when I see many of Karinna’s gorgeous and vibrant pink coloured treats. Thank you for all your support honey! I’m putting rhubarb on my shopping list now!

Such an elegant dish, as is everything Karinna makes… http://cheesybiscuit.wordpress.com/2014/04/05/safffron-smoked-garlic-risotto-with-wilted-spinach-and-poached-egg/

One dish I have to try this weekend for Sunday Brunch is “Italian baked eggs”. Seriously Italian my favourite cuisine and you know about my love of eggs! This recipe is to die for! By “Happiness and Hominy”. A bright, clear and perfect blog with mouthwatering recipes, go by have a look, stay a while and spread the word! Enjoy!

http://happinessandhominy.wordpress.com/2014/05/10/italian-baked-eggs/

Here comes Amber @ “Om nom nom, eats and treats” don’t you just love that title! A funky foodie blog, one that cheers me up, everytime I visit. In her own words, “I am one of the horrific people still left in this world who cooks based on “ooo, that sounds tasty!” and not on calorie counts.  I think you will find that my diet is horrible, but delicious.”

Lets eat tasty food and you’ll be sure to find that at Amber’s blog! http://omnomnomtreats.wordpress.com/2014/05/10/eggchiladas/

Natalie over @ F yea, I’m a chef is a skilled baker and I totally loved the simplicity of her quick rice bowl recipe, of course with a glowing egg seated on top!
Simple, concise and lovely food and drink. Her simple caramel syrup for cold coffee is just too gooood! I can’t wait to make a whole pitcher full!

http://fyeaimachef.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/easiest-rice-bowl-updated-college-classic/

I hope you all enjoy these brilliant blogs…as I do! But for now have a gorgeous weekend and I’ll see you soon @ Shivaay Delights with more food, food ,food! Much love D x

Shivaay Delights…Sharing Super Blogs!

This week I am super excited, meaning I’m more excited than usual lol! I have become an aunt for the second time and saw my little bundle of joy yesterday! You can really forget how small newborn babies are. All other things that seem to matter don’t matter anymore when you’re cuddling this new seedling. Congratulations to my brother and wife. Thank you for another cutie pie!

Now to even more celebration…My Fabulous 4 of the week!

Miss Marzipan…a beautiful and extremely talented cook. She describes herself as “A curious soul + a dash of inspiration, sweetened to taste = the satisfaction of creative DIY!”
“….a sweet-toothed girl (who also loves her veggies!), a grateful mother to a gorgeous toddler and a baby Cupcake (my nickname for her) and a quiet explorer who seeks the creative satisfaction of ‘doing it herself’.

Miss M also not only creates stunning dishes but also touches upon important questions that we would love to understand. A light and balloon feel like blog that just lifts your spirit as soon as you connect! Just brilliant…Enjoy…I know you will!

SUGAR-FREE EASTER TREATS & BEETROOT RED VELVET CUPCAKES (for an IQS-inspired celebration)

Pizza Rossa…a simple yet extremely effective and original blog. The cooking and baking is beyond creative. The recipes are absolutely to my liking and out of this world! Rachael has been a vegetarian since her teenage years and now lives in Switzerland. She loves all types of cuisine especially Italian, just like me! There are so many recipes that I wish to post of hers but I will just give you a little feel of what you’re about to enter and see. I know you will return again and again! http://pizzarossa.me/2014/04/21/pina-colada-macarons/

My dear Melissa over @ the enchanting “Glen House”. A blog set up and centered around her stunning home in Ireland. Not only do we get a chance to be invited into her home but we also get to go to her holiday home in Goa, India. Melissa is a gifted baker and cook and I adore her kitchen actually no! I am in love with the whole house! So quaint and picturesque you’ll never want to leave. Thank you Melissa for your ever loving support!

Brownies

This week I came across an inspiring article by the amazing Heather Blynn! An article about women being their own kind of beautiful. Allowing yourself to be yourself and not comparing to anyone else. Written so well..it truly lifted my spirit that I had to go on to explore the blog even more so, for myself. What I found was a revelation…and has touched my soul! I am yet to read up on more of her enticing posts, come join me! As I start this journey…

http://heatherblynn.com/2014/04/28/women-be-your-own-kind-of-beautiful/

I hope you are enjoying finding new blogs and beautiful new bloggers! I’ve already got my next four lined up! See you next week…have a great one! Much love D x

Shivaay Delights..Sharing Super Blogs

I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my Fab four blogs with you last week and here I introduce you all my friends, to four more wonderful bloggers…
I’ve found it so difficult to share only four blogs a week, as I just want to share so many! However in time I know I will get round to you, as I appreciate you all. I’m also loving the fact that I am able to explore new blogs too by doing this post. So I am having way too much fun!

☆ I start off with Afra Cooking…Afra started her blog in March 2012 after her kitchen had been newly renovated. What a fantastic way to start! Her first post was one of my most favourite foods in the whole wide world..the perfect boiled egg. This is what I love about Afra, she cooks what makes her happy and in turn that joyful energy comes through to the reader. A lovely person and one who has supported me and Shivaay Delights, both here on WordPress and on Facebook. Thank you honey…

http://afracooking.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/tarte-tatin/

This is an absolute stunning tarte tatin and the picture…simply splendid!

☆ Jhuls…Jhuls..Jhuls! A dear friend who comments on my posts daily, who is a kind and loving soul. Who is also very generous when it comes to giving away awards. So here I repay her love and kindness. The blog she has titled “The not so creative cook”, but that is so far from the truth! Jhuls cooks everything and its extremely creative, I especially love her baking. In particular these

http://thenotsocreativecook.wordpress.com/2014/04/11/fiesta-friday-11-bars-of-gooey-ness-and-blissfulness/

The narrative is fantastic and funny and she is like a ray of sunshine in my life. Thank you Jhuls!

☆ I have recently come across Aneela’s blog “The odd pantry” , The way she writes is very entertaining. She has a way with words and the food is fantastic…Her own about description of herself wil keep you hooked. It did me!
“I am an Indian transplant in San Francisco who loves to cook. I love to cook because I love to eat; I get bored easily, and I need constant experiments to keep my palate from snoozing.”

A lovely bright layout, so welcoming and warm, just like Aneela’s personality

http://theoddpantry.com/2013/10/26/solid-citizen-channa-dal/

☆ On to the lovely Serena @ The rustic plate..a blog that had me at rustic. Fresh ingredients prepared in a simple way, and boy does Serena do that! Stunning compilation of dishes and recipes to comfort your inner child. Just wow! From breads and biscuits to salads and sweet treats. You will find everything you want at the rustic plate. Go roam around and have a look for yourself….

http://rusticplate.com/2014/04/15/some-cream-of-tomato-soup-please-but-hold-the-cream/

Shivaay Delights…Sharing Super Blogs!

I want to show my appreciation to my fellow foodie blogger friends,  for all the support and love they give to me on a regular basis.  Awards are lovely but I really wanted to show off individual creations from these wonderful cooks.  So today starts the first of many Sharing Super Blogs posts and fantastic food creations…

I start off with Prudy from Butter, Basil and Breadcrumbs…a beautiful person and an amazing cook.  She has a variety of foods that she posts and her skills are endless.  A beautiful lay out of her blog, especially the characterized cook busy in the kitchen entices you to come back and see what more Prudy has been cooking and baking away.  I particularly love this recipe that I saw this week from Prudy…

Looks so delish…I posted it on my Facebook page and so many people have loved it too…Strawberry Banana & Cheesecake Splits…Thanks for always being there Prudy…x

The pretty Lillian over @ Sugar and Cinnamon is a very talented pattisier who not only tries to make healthy versions of her favorite desserts but tries her hand at Vegan recipes plus she herself is lactose intolerant.  This doesn’t stop her.  Lillian never fails to amaze me with the range and variety of desserts she creates and posts.  I like Sugar and Cinnamon and you can see that in my recipes but I love Lillian’s “Sugar and Cinnamon” blog!

A stunning picture showcasing Lillian’s Chocolate & Coconut Tarts.  How can you resist them???

Next is amazing Amruta..who is over @ Minty Chai…love the blog name, as I love mint and can’t do without my chai! In her own words “Cooking and baking is my favorite way to unwind and photography is a hobby I developed as I travelled around and wanted to capture the world from my perspective.” And boy does she capture it well. You must see her outstanding photography…here is just a snippet

This extremely elegant Fig And Mascarpone Tart had me at the fact that the figs are homegrown! Wow…How I would love to grow such exquisite fruit…The flavour combination is superb and I for one can’t wait to make it!

I have recently started following the lovely Farianti over @ Simple Delights..I absolutely adore her simple style of cooking and the delights she creates are too good not to be shared. You all know my love for Nutella, so when I saw this Nutella Filled French Toast recipe…my mouth was watering just by looking at the pictures

Follow Farianti and you will be introduced to delightful recipes and such a kind person. Thank you for your support for Shivaay Delights!

So here you have my Fab Four for the week and I will be back next week with some more incredible fellow blogger friends that I wish to show off and thank!
Have yourselves an exciting Easter break, much love D x

The Sunshine Award & My Lunch Yesterday!

I was nominated by sweet Steph @ Steph and Penny and joyful Jhuls @ The not so creative cook earlier this month.  It was for the Sunshine award, which is so special to me! As to bring some warmth and light into someones life, I feel is one of my blogging purposes!

My heartfelt thanks to both Steph and Jhuls, they very much bring a ray of sunshine to my day! You both have such amazing blogs and I absolutely adore being in touch with you both.  Much love and thanks once again x

The questions set for me to answer ~

1. Why did you start blogging?
I was cooking for along time before I started blogging and I would post my pictures up on my Facebook account.  I had many friends and family requesting recipes and with the encouragement of my husband, Shivaay Delights came about last year

2. Sweet or Savoury?
Can please say both? Please? 😉 Savoury more when I was little and now I have very much of a sweet tooth!

If you were to go on any reality TV programme, what would it be and why?
Britain’s got Talent, but I don’t know what I would do?

4. What was the last thing you Googled? 
Asparagus quiche

5. Night In or Night Out?
Night in! Snuggled up on the sofa with my boys!

6. What has been your favourite blog post to write?
My swirly fruit and nut chocolate bark recipe

7. What’s the one thing you never leave home without?
My phone

8. Where would you most like to travel to?
Thailand

9. If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Power to spread love everywhere, bit like cupid but not just in the romantic sense.  More to heal all sorts of relationships and thus giving them peace

10. What can we expect to find from your blog in the future?
More inventive vegetarian recipes and hosting guest posts from all of you my wonderful foodie friend!

THE RULES

1. Include the Sunshine Award icon in your post and/or on your blog
2. Link to the blogger who nominated you
3. Answer 10 questions about yourself
4. Nominate 10 other bloggers to receive the award
5. Link to your nominees and let them know you nominated them
6. Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer

I am setting the same questions as above and are to be answered (if they wish to participate) Congratulations to the following nominees:

Apsara @ Eating well diary
Aruna @ aahaaram
julianna @ Chef Julianna
Lauzan @ The veggie side of me
Edge of veg @ The edge of veg
Mara @ All the small stuff and things
Micaela @ Easy Italian Cuisine
Patty @ Patty Nguyen
Sam @ Tea and sesame
The seated cook @ The seated cook

All of the above nominees are amazing bloggers and gorgeous people. Please have a look at their blogs and show them some love!

So I can’t do a post and not put up any food! So here is my yummy lunch of curried kidney beans on a soft fleshed yet crispy skin jacket potato with lashings of butter and cheese! Don’t worry both the cheese and butter was low fat 😉

My Red Kidney Bean Curry Recipe

Shine On Award ☆

My very first award of 2014 is the “Shine On” award and I am so grateful to Jhuls @ The not so creative cookfor the nomination. Just saying the word “Shine!” makes you all warm and happy from the inside! It shows how all our blogs are able to make us shine and how each of us brighten up each others lives on a daily, sometimes hourly basis!

Congratulations to you Jhuls also! I love your blog and thank you for your continued love and support. Your friendship brightens up my day!

So now I am about to reveal seven random facts about me! Ummm lets see, shall we

• I love penny sweets especially fizzy cola bottles

• To go to my happy place, I remember sitting on a stunning beach in the Algarve, Portugal. Just looking out to the sea

• My name Dimple is not named after the famous whiskey but is an Asian Indian name that was popular when I was born

• I love lighting fragranced candles everywhere

• I can’t go anywhere without my phone now, especially as I keep in touch with
everyone on WordPress and Facebook

• I have to buy a toffee apple if I see one at a stall at a funfair or theme park

• I have visited Vancouver and Whistler and fell in love with Canada

My Shining award nominees are

Prudy @ Butter, basil and breadcrumbs
Amanda @ What’s cooking?
Lidia @ Oh Lidia!
Diana @ Little bits of nice
Sam @ Tea and sesame
Lauren @ English wife, Indian life
Shruti @ Cooking with SJ

You all are such warm and beautiful people and whenever I read your blog posts I feel can feel such a bright energy which illuminates my life everyday!

If you would like to accept and forward the award on the ‘Shine On’ Award rules are :

1. Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you
2. Acknowledge that blogger on your blog, and link back
3. Share seven random, interesting things about yourself
4. Nominate up to 15 bloggers for the ‘Shine On’ Award, provide a link to their blogs in your post, and notify them on their blogs

(Pictures are all from respective Google sites)

Dragon’s Loyalty, Sunshine & WordPress Family Awards

Dragon’s Loyalty Award

I absolutely love reading and learning from all of my fellow beautiful bloggers and like commenting on their posts. Maybe thats why I have been honoured with the lovely Dragon’s Loyalty Award by five fellow foodie bloggers.
I would like to thank with a sincere heart

Shalzzz of Tale of two tomatoes
Ada of more food please
Mrs Schoux of box of recipes
Jhuls of The not so creative cook
Matchamochimoo @ Matchamochimoo

With this award I am to present 7 random facts about me…so here goes ~

• I don’t do honey

• I love keeping my feet warm in cute slippers especially around Christmas time!

• My husband and I have 1 foot height difference between us

• I love Avatar

• I am addicted to watching Grey’s Anatomy, still got a couple of seasons to go!

• I suffered from hayfever from the age of 8 and then it got better at 28?!!!

• I wrote a journal in my teenage years, when I had a lot of time lol!

I am nominating 5 fellow bloggers for this award they are ~

Jacqui from Good Food Seeking
Elaine from Foodbod
Shruti from Cooking with SJ
Anita fromslice of my life
Kim from Eat sleep bake repeat

The rules for Dragon’s Loyalty Award are:

1. Display the award certificate on your blog
2. Link back to the person who nominated you
3. Present up to 15 awards to 15 deserving bloggers
4. Inform your nominees that you have nominated them
5. Write 7 random facts about yourself

The Sunshine Award

This award really cheers me up and makes me feel all glowing and warm inside! To be told that I’m bringing sunshine into someones life really does serve my purpose of blogging and I am extremely and warmly grateful to

Elaine from Foodbod
Upasna from Life on my plate

The rules are to answer 10 questions set by the awarding blogger, so here goes ~

1. Who would play you if your life was made into a movie? Madhuri Dixit an Indian actress

2. Where in the world would you most like to travel? Thailand

3. What is the best thing about blogging? connecting with everyone around the world

4. What is your secret indulgence? Ferrero Rochers

5. If someone handed you £1000 tomorrow what would you spend it on? My two boys and husband

6. What do you never leave home without? my mobile phone

7. What’s your favourite meal of the day? Definitely Dinner

8. What makes you laugh? My husband.

9. Who would be your ideal dinner party guests? A selection of all my fellow lovely bloggers in rotation, so everyone could come for dinner!

10. What was the last thing you Googled? Baking.com website

I will ask the same questions to the fellow nominees

Laura from The Seasoned Traveler
Beerfoodie @ beerfoodie.wordpress.com
Baldeep from Inspiringevolution.wordpress.com
Neetu from Anita Kushwaha
Lidia from Oh Lidia!
Julie from Julie’s family kitchen
Yvette from Yvette’s Gourmet Kitchen

The WordPress Family Award

I have to admit all awards are precious but the family one is very close to my heart as I feel all of you are part of my family as we are so connected through our blogs and our lives entwined!
I want to thank deeply 3 fellow bloggers who I too consider to be part of my wordpress family

Sylvia from Superfoodista
Upasna from Life on my plate
Jhuls from The not so creative cook

The family award is my second round of nominations as I have posted about this award a few months back.

My nominations are ~

Kera from Om Blog
Elaine from Foodbod
Amanda from What’s Cooking
Shruti from Cooking with SJ
Karinna from Cheesy Biscuit
Bandhna from Sparkle Bubble
Anne from Tales along the way
Sun from Farbenfroh
Dinnerbank @ Dinner bank
Transplated cook @ Transplanted Cook

All of you I have nominated are such amazing people and I feel blessed to have gotten to know you! You are all part of my WordPress family xxxx

If you wish to participate then please link back to the original awarding person
Nominate up to 10 people
And inform them that you are nominating them

I want to thank everyone again!
Much love D x

Liebster Awards II

All these lovely fellow foodie bloggers nominated me for the “Liebster Award” this month and I wanted to answer all the questions set to me. You all are amazing cooks/bakers and very “Dear” to me! I just love reading your posts and am always inspired by all your gorgeous recipes!

A big thank you to
• Cheesy biscuit
• Mrs Choux
• Transplanted cook
• Short and sweet treats

Cheesy biscuit & Transplanted cooks questions were

• What’s the worse food item you’ve ever tasted?
Goats cheese…just not my thing!

• What’s your favourite book?
The Da Vinci Code

• If you could wake up tomorrow somewhere other than where you are right now, where would that be?
In Canada

• Who (or what) makes you laugh?
My husband, he just cracks me up!

• What thing do you do less, that you actually think you should do more often?
Read

• Christmas: yay or nay?
Definitely YAY!

• Favourite quote, or piece of advice?
I have many, I will share this one x

• Marmite or marmalade?
Marmalade

• Rice or couscous?
Love rice

• Favourite thing to do to relax? And, ahem, keep it clean, people…
Baking

Mrs Choux asked me

• What inspired you to start blogging?
My husband and my Aunt and her passion for cooking

• What is your signature dish?
I don’t think I really have one, I’m going to work on that lol!

• Which is the one song you could listen to forever?
Sitting at the dock of the bay, Otis Redding

• Who are the three famous people who would grace your table at a dinner party and why?
The Late Princess Diana ~ beautiful person and I adored her
Dalai Lama ~ I love his spiritual wisdom and personality
Bruce Forsythe ~ he reminds me of my grandad

• What’s your favourite dessert?
Tiramisu

• Summer or Winter? Which do you prefer?
Summer, can walk out without coats and the light outside lasts longer

• What is your pet hate?
Biting nails

• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?
Canada, British Columbia, I fell in love with it the first time I visited

• What flavours would you choose for your five tiered wedding cake?
Chocolate, hazelnut, coffee, lime, vanilla

Short and sweet treats questions were ~

• What is your favourite body part?
My eyes

• Why did you start your blog?
Just to record recipes and to connect with like minded foodie people

• What is your job?
Currently a Full time Wife and Mum

• What is your favourite takeaway food?
Pizza

• Sweet or savory and why?
Savoury, nedd salt more than sugar, always have, love crisps!

• What do you collect?
Nail polishes

• What is your favourite personal possession?
My pearl earrings

• What is your favourite colour?
Purple

• Are you left or right handed?
Right handed

• What is your party trick?
A levitation trick, using 3 other people to pick up the fourth just with your fingers

• What is your favourite chocolate, white, milk or dark?
dark

My random facts I will post later but for now “HERE ARE THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE LIEBSTER AWARD, THEY GO TO ~”

Kiwsparks
Ngan Sequitur
Amal kitchen
Food bod
Superfoodista
Sugar and Cinnamon
Selma’s Table
Good food seeking
Hansheaven
Bead yarn spatula
Nancy creative

You all have stunning blogs and I thoroughly enjoy reading them and keeping up to date with your individual food journeys. You plus all those I follow continue to inspire me and this in turn drives my passion further! So “Thank you and Congratulations xxxx”

You can answer to any of the 3 sets of questions that were set for me above
the rules are to ~
Include the award photo in your post
Answer the 11 questions you choose to answer
Share 11 other random facts about yourself
Nominate 11 other bloggers for the award (and notify them) and give them 11 questions to answer.

I hope you enjoy taking part as I do, and hope to read more about you all!

Much love D x