This lovely quote by Leo Buscaglia rings so true for me.  The food blogging community is really a wonderful place to exist.  As those of you who also blog know, it’s fun, but not as easy as it seems.  And I have this feeling that I struggle more than most!  I’m technically challenged, am often baffled by all the forms of social media, and always seem to be a beat behind as I strive to do what I really enjoy despite my full time job in health care.

I was recently given some blogging awards and nothing means more to me than to be recognized by my peers for what I do.  There are so many outstanding blogs out there!  And so I am always very honored when someone acknowledges mine!  But once again, I must apologize as I pull myself out of the weeds and am finally getting around to congratulating a few friends on receiving these awards and to thanking them for passing them on to me!

Ramona from Curry and Comfort received and passed on to me the Blog on Fire Award!  Ramona…please forgive me for being so late in telling you how wonderful I think you are and what an amazing blog you write!  Ramona is one of the loveliest people you will ever meet in this blogging world.  I don’t know how she manages to post her wonderful Indian and Sri Lankan recipes daily!  But she truly takes us on an exotic culinary journey.  Her recipes are fabulous (especially when she cooks with shrimp, my favorite!) and her blog truly is a comforting place to visit!

Congratulations also to Susie from Sweetlilpiggy!  Susie received the Liebster Blog award and so graciously passed it on to me!  Susie has a very eclectic blog.  And when you visit her, you will learn so much more about her than what she likes to eat.  She has a very warm writing style and shares stories of her life, her family, her travels….and some amazing recipes and beautiful photography!  She is one of the most kind and genuine people I have had the pleasure of meeting through blogging!

And most recently, I’ve had the pleasure of discovering a blog which is new, at least, to me.  It is called Go Bake Yourself, and is written by a young lady who calls herself Choc Chip Uru in the blogging world and describes herself as “…just a teenager.  An Indian kid born and bred in Australia.”  Her blog is AMAZING!  I can absolutely see how she was awarded The Versatile Blogger Award.  She writes extremely well, and definitely from her heart.  But you will be knocked over by the beauty of her baking and her photography!  And so I am particularly delighted to receive this award from an amazing fellow baker and dessert lover!  And I really look forward to following her, hopefully for a long time to come!

So congratulations ladies, on your beautiful blogs and your well deserved awards! And thank you from the bottom of my heart for thinking of me.  Your recognition and kind words mean all the world to me.  I hope everyone will take the time to visit these diverse, creative and amazing women and their equally outstanding blogs.  I’m hooked and I know you will be as well!

       I feel as though I have been trying to play catch up for the last 2 weeks!  And so it is that I am now giving a HUGE thanks to Purabi from Cosmopolitan Currymania for passing these two awards on to me.  I am always so flattered to be recognized by those I admire greatly in the blogging world.  Purabi is no exception here!  She writes a wonderful and VERY popular blog.  When you visit her, you will understand why.

Visiting Cosmopolitan Currymania is such a pleasurable adventure!  You will find wonderful recipes such as Murgh Kasuri Methi (Chicken with dry Fenugreek Leaves), Indian Mixed Vegetable with Tamarind, Dimer Dalna (Indian Egg Curry), Liquid Passion, and….hold on…..Fresh-Mango-Berry-Yogurt Popsicles!!!  (You really must see these beautiful popsicles!)

But more than the recipes, you will get step by step instruction, with wonderful photographs!  And you will have the opportunity to learn more about Purabi’s culture….the food, the history, and the SPICES!  If you have not yet visited Purabi’s site….you must!  She is such a warm and lovely person, with so much more to offer, than just amazing recipes!

Purabi…..thank you so much for thinking about me and for passing these awards to me.  And congratulations to you on your own very beautiful and amazing blog.  May you have much continued success….especially that we may all enjoy it for many years to come!

Hi Everyone!!!

Well this is a really GREAT day as I have received this lovely award from Ann at COOKING HEALTHY FOR ME.  Thank you Ann……so much!  I am truly honored and grateful.  Nothing means more to me than to have another cook, baker, blogger, and foodie that I respect and admire, acknowledge the effort and work I’ve put into my blog.  I have really enjoyed it.  But what I am enjoying the most about this process, are the friendships I am making along the way.  Which leads me to tell you a funny story about how Ann and I ‘met’.

Ann and I must have the same great taste in friends and blogs!  Because one day I realized that every time I visited one of your blogs and commented on it…..Ann was the comment right ahead of me!  And after seeing this for about a dozen times, I had the strange sensation that Ann and I were two guests attending the same parties!  I wasn’t sure if she had noticed this since she was the first one to comment and leave.  But I thought if she had…..she was going to begin to think I was stalking her!!!  And so I decided to introduce myself.  And I am so glad I did!  For as different as our blogs may be….we have just as much in common!

I really love Ann’s blog.  At COOKING HEALTHY FOR ME, you will find many wonderful recipes like Tandoori Chicken, Grilled Flank Steak with Molasses Barbecue Glaze, Eggplant Manicotti with Creamy Pesto Filling, Apricot Upside Down Cake, and Coconut Cupcakes!  Ann puts a wonderfully healthy twist on everything she makes without ever compromising flavor and eye appeal. She writes her blog with grace and style.   And she is one of the kindest, most genuine people I have met so far. I think many of you who may be reading this already know her and agree.  But if not…..please visit her….and often!  You will come away from her blog with so much more in your head and heart than a great recipe for a healthy meal!

Thank you …thank you Ann…..from the bottom of my sweet heart! 

And……..

I would be so happy to pass this award on to my wonderful fellow bloggers….

Curry and Comfort

Sweet Sensations

Eating Deliciously

East of Eden Cooking

Flour Dusted

Pearl and Pine

Cooking with Chrissy

Inside Nana Bread’s Head

Sweet Lil Piggy

Sunshine and Smile