Happy 3rd Birthday Cook With Manali + A Giveaway!
Jun 20, 2016
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Hey guys! It’s the 3rd birthday of my blog and I am so excited! This amazing journey started 3 years back, wow hard to believe that. Time sure does fly. I would have never in my dreams thought of doing food blogging and actually doing it full time. I guess that is why they say, life is super unpredictable and it surprises you in ways you could never imagine.
Out of everything that I have done in life, I have to say that blogging has given me the most happiness and creative satisfaction. It’s not only about the recipes, it’s about the whole process and the learning. Sure I have become a better cook and baker thanks to my food blog but it has also taught me a lot of things. My blog taught me that nothing comes easy. If you want to succeed at anything in life, you have to bloody work hard for it. It also taught me to never give up. Yes there will be days when you will feel down and feel like no one likes what you do but keep your chin up and move forward, sooner or later success will be yours. It has taught me to work hard and remain focused even when life throws challenges.
And all this has been possible because of YOU, my readers! I am so eternally grateful to all of you who read my blog and support me in this journey. I really really appreciate it. As a token of thank you, I am giving away 3 of my favorite things for summer to 3 lucky readers!
1. Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker: it’s summers and what better than homemade ice cream! This one makes sorbet, frozen yogurt and of course ice cream!
2. Lodge Cast-Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle: grilling season is not complete without this amazing cast iron griddle.
3. Hamilton Beach 8-Cup Food Processor: this is my favorite food processor, I use it all the time and it makes all the prep work so easy.
Please note than none of these companies have sponsored this post. This post is exclusively sponsored by me for my readers 🙂 . To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is tell me which recipe from Cook With Manali is your favorite? The one which you love to cook or bake often?
You must be 18 years old and above to participate. Giveaway open to US residents only. Giveaway will run from 20th June to 4th July and at the end of it, 3 winners will be announced. Follow the instructions on the widget below to enter. Good luck!
PS: I really wish I could open the giveaway worldwide. Unfortunately as I live in the US, I only know how to ship these products within the country. Next time, I will surely figure out a way to open it to everyone! Thank you so much for understanding guys!
I love the lemon laminations. I think I spelt that wrong haha. Love lemon and love that I can make it in my cast-iron!
I just realized that I’m not sure if the lamingtons were your recipe so I want to make sure I post one of your recipes. I loved your chocolate cupcakes!!!
Happy 3 ☆☆☆☆ I love your Indian recipes & the Valentine’s Day Chocolate Bark.
Wishing many more!
I’m new to your site and have checked out your wonderful recipe profile. The Whole Wheat Banana Caramel Pancakes and Carrot Cake Oatmeal are on my lists of recipes to make! Your Oatmeal Raisin Cookies look divine!
The snickers ice cream! I’m so addicted! Happy Blogiversary!!
Congratulations Manali on 3rd birthday of your blog. Wish many more to come. Love your photography dear 🙂
Spinach Dal! I’ve had it many times at our local Indian restaurant and love it!
Thank you my friend!! 🙂
Thank you Jen! I am so glad to have met you! <3
I made the Peppermint Macarons for our cookie exchange at work last year. And i love the Aloo Gobi recipe, delicious
Thank you Denise, I am glad you like these recipes 🙂
Hi… wishes for your 3 year celebration….I like your egg less carrot cake…I have done often and never went wrong…. whenever I make my family and friends love it.
Thank you Lathiya, so glad to hear you like the carrot cake!
Hi Manali,
Congratulations!!
I have baked your cumin cookies. I was the perfect recipe. I didnt beat butter till i saw your post. And only then the biscuits were so crispy and delicious.Love the recipe of the Karachi biscuits too.Have made cumin cookies about 8-9 times so far and Karachi biscuits twice. Glad to find loads of veggies recipes.Way to GO!!!!
Thank you Priya, I am so happy to hear that you enjoy my recipes! I really appreciate the support!
Oh gosh, and yes oh yes, love ur macaroon recipes..I made it twice, I still need practice for perfect macaroons, taste was yumm! thank you so much for that recipe..it was very uncomplicated
Ahh macarons need some practice, I am sure you will be making the perfect batch very soon!
Hi Manali,
My favorite from your blog is Karachi biscuits and I have made it 3 times so far, every time with lovely results. Love your blog and your pics. Happy 3! Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you Archana! 🙂 I love Karachi biscuits too!
Happy third and many more to come! I really like your space, especially your pictures.
I have a sweet tooth and a never ending love for chocolates. So my favorite recipe is the Eggless Whole Wheat Chocolate Muffin! 🙂
Thanks Divyangi for the support! Yay for chocolate love, there’s nothing like it right?
Strawberry pancakes–yum!
Glad to know Michelle!
Thank you Dannii!
Happy 3rd Blog Birthday Manali. Hearty congratulations and many many more to come. There is not one but three dishes And recipes that I absolutely love of yours and try to replicate. I haven’t achieved the same look as yours but hopefully some day I will get there and get to taste yours too.
1. Beetroot Kofta
2. Methi Matar Malai
3. Bagare Baingan.
Methi matar malai and Bagare Baingan is a regular at my place.
Thank you for such amazing receipes and I wish you success always.
Cheers!!
Thank you so much for the support Uma! Happy to hear that you enjoy the mentioned recipes, they are my favorite too!
Thank you Cheyanne!!
Thanks Angie! <3
Thanks Mir! Blogging is challenging but lots of fun!
Thank you Danielle!
Thank you Mira!! I love you & your blog! <3
Thank you Marcie, you inspire me!
Aww thanks Kelly!! I can’t wait for your book!!
Thanks Anu for the support 🙂
Thanks Rachelle! 🙂
Congratulations, Happy 3rd anniversary! Great going and keep it up!
One recipe that I make often is: Masala Chai and my wife loves it, well most of the times. For other times, she is able to fix it 🙂 Thanks for sharing all these amazing recipes, my wife has made all of your recipes including those which never made it to the blog and I can’t begin to tell how good they always turn out to be! Keep sharing these awesome recipes. Happy anniversary again, I’m one lucky husband 🙂
Congratulations !well done & keep up the hard work. All your recipes are are very descriptive. Photographs make them all the more attractive.
God bless you.
Thank you mummy 🙂
Way to go girl..Keep the delicious recipes coming 🙂
Thank you so much Kanu! 🙂
Congrats, Manali, on your blog birthday!
I’ve only found you very recently, but I’ve already found several recipes that I will make again and again. The Sweet Potato Burrito Bowl is SOOO good! and I think the Watermelon Jalepeno Limeade is both DELICIOUS and unusual, so I like to offer it to friends when they come over. Same goes for the Mango Ginger Lemonade…YUMMY! 🙂
Thank you Thia, I really appreciate the support 🙂
Happy blog birthday Manali!!! Your blog is amazing and so inspiring – love it!
Thank you Jessica! <3
I just found your site, but I definitely want to try the Spinach Corn Curry.
Thank you Kristen! I hope you do give it a try!
Congratulations on your 3rd blogversary, Manali! Your recipes and your effort is worth a million. It is always a pleasure reading your recipes and the pictures are gorgeous.
Thank you Rahul! Appreciate the support!
I bake zucchini corn patties often.
Thank you, I am so glad you like them!
Happy 3rd Blogversary (if that is a word!)
Your blog, detailed recipes and of course, superb pictures is my daily getaway to a world of great food. It was quite difficult to make this selection since I have one too many favorites bookmarked.
But my favoritest one is Patterned Swiss Roll Cake. This is a tough one, yet very special.
Back home, Brittania (biscuit company) used to sell something similar, in small packets. This recipe takes me back home, on a nostalgic trip to my childhood where I shared the cake with my sister. One of our shared love!
Your pictures have set a very high goal for me. I really cannot get it as pretty as yours, but I keep trying.
Thank you for the recipe and the memory refresh, Manali!
Keep the blog growing!
Thanks a lot Avanti for such encouraging words 🙂 I adore the swiss roll cake too, actually it’s my husband’s favorite so I make it often! As far as the food photography, just keep trying and very soon you will be better than me! (I am sure you are already very good!)
Trying 🙂
Coincidentally both of my favoritest ( wish this was an actual word!) desserts are your milestone blog posts! Realized this after I put my comment yesterday. 100th – Swiss Roll cake and 200th – butterscotch ice cream!
Both the recipes have so much in common from my perspective – both difficult, both little tedious, both my absolute fav from childhood!
And finding the right recipe for both, was a task! Since now I have the right ones bookmarked (from your blog) – part of it becomes easy 🙂
Cheers again,
Avanti
We absolutely love your Chocolate Cut Outs! My husband was so thrilled to have a chocolate alternative to sugar cookies, since he really loves chocolate:) Congratulations on blogging for 3 years now! I really admire your perseverance and your cheerful attitude and am so glad to have met you through your blog☺️
I appreciate your support so much Heather! You are such a sweetheart, thank you so much for always being so encouraging! 🙂 and yay to more chocolates!
Happy 3rd blogversary! Hands down one of my fave sites for easy and delicious recipes. Not fair that I only have to choose one recipe. But if I must, it’s your Mango Chocolate Bites! The Ritz crackers with the chocolate and mango are the perfect combo. Best wishes to you for continued success!
Thank you Monali for the support! I am glad you like the Mango Chocolate bites, it’s one of my favorites too! I love your name by the way! 🙂
So happy for you and have really enjoyed seeing the blog grow everyday. I love so so many recipes – the lemon cupcakes, the ras malai, coconut ladoos, dal tadka, cake rusk.. So so many. My absolute favourite is the triple layer chocolate cake. I love making it for multiple reasons – every time I learn something new about baking better when I make it, it’s a sure shot way of getting amazing compliments from everyone who eats it and my favourite that my husband and I make it together and it’s a great great bonding experience for the both of us. Thank you for being an inspiration <3!
Thank you Upasna for always being so encouraging and supportive, it means a lot!! <3 I love the chocolate cake too!!
Happy 3rd anniversary! I would love to make your Rajasthani Dal Bati. My hubby and mother in law love Dal. In fact my hubby does try and make Dal.
Thanks Janice, I hope you do try the dal recipes!
Happy 3!! I love to make your Coconut Orange Crepes. I have made them several times – My family loves them! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
Thank you Erin for the support!! YUM, I love those crepes!
Happy & Many Many more Birthdays to come
Thank you Kokila!
I fell in love with your blog just a week or two ago and have already tried several of your recipes! I think you do an awesome job here and look forward to each tweet, FB post and newsletter! Looking forward to a long relationship! Happiest of Anniversaries to you!
Thank you so much Diana for the support, I really really appreciate it! 🙂
Happy Thied blog Anniversary . The recipe , from your collections , which I often cook is Kashmiri Dum aloo which is so sumptuous .
Thank you Praveen! I am glad you like dum aloo, it’s one of my favorites!!
Pesto Pasta
I love pesto pasta! easy and yum!
Happy Third Birthday! How exciting! I love your Peppermint Bark recipe. My daughter and I make it all the time!
Thank you Julie! Nothing like homemade treats right? I am glad you enjoy the bark!
The Aloo Govi is dynamite too ???❤️❗️
Happy 3 Manali! Every recipe I’ve tried I absolutely love but I cook the humus and butterscotch ice cream the most often! The first recipe I tried was the ice cream. I have a friend from India and he would always talk about how good the butter scotch ice cream is back home so for his birthday I decided to give it a shot. I spent quite a bit of time searching before finding your site. He absolutely loved it! Thank you;)
Thank you so much Claire for the support! I am so glad to hear that you like the butterscotch ice cream, my husband it nuts about it so I make it often!
The recipe from Cook With Manali that I bake often is for White Chocolate Macadamia Nut & Nutella Blondies – such a fabulous treat recipe.
Thank you Liz! I am glad you like that recipe!
Happy 3’rd Birthday! I love the chocolate chip cookies
Thanks Kesha! One can never go wrong with chocolate chip, isn’t it?
I like the Almond Flour Bars – Gluten Free recipe: we are gluten free in this house and love having a sweet treat now and then, and this recipe is ideal. Thanks for the chance 🙂
Welcome Lisa! 🙂 Glad to hear you like the almond flour bars!