Giveaway - Supporting the fund drive for Vaidehi Ashram of destitute girls

"Love heals people-- both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it." -Karl Menninger


I was so moved when I happened to read Siri's post about her visit to the Vaidehi Ashram of Destitute Girls in Hyderabad, India.Reading the post made me realize how I take things for granted and how I fortunate I am. Vaidehi Ashram is home for about 108 girls (from 3 to 22 years of age) who have no parents or a single parent who can no longer take care of them. 


To read more about the Ashram check out Siri's posts here.

Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.

In an attempt to do a little help to these little girls, Siri has planned a fund raiser starting the 26th of January. I am helping her raise money by contributing to the list of wonderful prizes in the raffle. 

I will be giving away a Rachel Ray's Whistling Tea Kettle (available in colors - orange, blue and red) to a winner in the raffle. The item is labeled as RU11 in the list of prizes.

There are over 40 exciting prizes to win. You can check out the list of prizes here and more details on how to participate in the raffle here.

1 raffle ticket = $10 or 500 rupees

1. You can contribute your donations via PayPal or Credit Card. Each $10 donated will buy you one raffle ticket towards a raffle prize of your choice. You can donate any amount.You can click the ChipIn! button below to donate or you can do it on Siri's site. 

2. Once you have donated and receive your payment confirmation message, please forward the confirmation message to info(dot)siri(at)gmail.com, specifying which raffle prize(s) you are interested in.

3. Within 24 hours, your name and amount will be added to the 'Fund Drive Supporter List'. If you want to stay anonymous, please let Siri know.

4. A random drawing will be conducted by the children of the Ashram and the winners of each of the raffle prizes will be announced on February 27th, 2012.

If you would like to win the Rachel Ray's Whistling Tea Kettle choose RU11 in the list of raffle prizes.

I hope we could help Siri in this wonderful cause and help bring a smile in the little girls' faces.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

-William James

Celebrating 4th year blogiversary with a GIVEAWAY!

Dil Se.. turns 4!

(image source: vetragames)

I started writing this blog one day without much thought! I just wanted to record all my culinary experiments being a newbie to cooking. Blogging has introduced me to several new friends, people from all parts of the world and also to various cuisines. Blogging also introduced me to food photography and I believe I have come a long way since I started to blog! Blogging gave me the courage to venture into baking! I also had the opportunity to master traditional and authentic recipes. I was able to contribute to several events and contests. I was able to host a few events of my own as well.

Thanks to my dear husband who is always a good critic and gives feedback and also waits patiently at the dining table until I finish my food photography :) I also thank all the lovely bloggers out there who have encouraged me all the way with their valuable comments and feedback!

My very first recipe in this blog - Sweet Pongal

The first thing I ever baked - Sweet Coconut Puffs

The bread I first baked!

My first cake..

First Icecream! - Watermelon Yogurt Icecream

First Jamming - Plum Jam

My non-food blog - Divya Times!

M heartfelt gratitude to each and every reader of this blog! I would like to celebrate this milestone by hosting a little giveaway! Yes, I a giving away one lucky reader a Pure Komachi 2 series Chef Knife

For a chance to win this knife, do any one or all of the following. 

Each earns a separate entry. Leave a separate comment for each entry. I will ship worldwide.

1. Leave a comment telling what is your favorite recipe in my blog and what sort of posts would you like to see more in the future.
2. Follow Dil Se.. on Google+
3. Like Dil Se.. on Facebook!
4. Subscribe to my posts by email or reader..
5. Tweet the following - Blogiversary giveaway at Dil Se.. @athisayadivyas http://tiny.cc/bs6zc

Giveaway ends on January 25th, 2012!

Thanks again for all your support and helping me reach this milestone!

Show Me Your Muffin and the giveaway winner!

To check out the winner of the giveaway, please scroll down to the bottom!

I am here with the next edition of "Show Me Your.. " series.  After breakfasts, cakes, omelettes, lunchboxes, curries, fridges, wholegrains, cookbooks, salads, sandwiches, smoothies and soups it is MUFFINS this time! Muffins have always been our favorite be it plain ones to ones with nuts and chocolate! They are great finger foods and even make a wholesome breakfast.

So get out your aprons and baking pans and start baking your muffins. Send them across for this event. Some guidelines for the event.

• Create a blog post featuring your muffin recipe.
• Feel free to use the logo.
• Please link back to this announcement page.
• Eggs are allowed in recipes.
• Multiple entries are allowed. 
• Archived posts are allowed if you provide a link to this announcement page. 
• Email your entries to divyablogs[AT]gmail[DOT]com on or before April 30, 2011.

And the lucky winner of the CSN giveaway chosen randomly is..

Swapna of Simple vegetarian Recipes!

Thanks everyone for participating and sharing about your favorite cookware!

A giveaway!

This is a special giveaway for readers here at Dil Se...!

What is your favorite cookware? I am a big fan of pan sets which range from non-stick ones, stainless steel and copper pans. I happened to find these beautiful Tri-Copper Pan Sets in the CSN Stores Website. Don't these look beautiful?

Would you like to win this giveaway and buy your favorite cookware for your kitchen? You have the opportunity to win a gift card and choose your favorite cookware from their online stores.

All you have to do is..

Leave a comment in this post, telling what is your favorite cookware.

For extra entries,  follow my blog publicly, in a reader, subscribe by email, like the site's facebook page and leave a comment for each entry right here in this post.

I will be choosing the winner on the March 21, 2011 using a random integer generator.

3rd Blog Anniversary Giveaway Winner!

And..

The winner of my little 3rd year blog anniversary giveaway is Karunya. Thanks everyone for entering.

Karunya, please email your address and I shall ship the gift to you.

Celebrating my 3rd year blog anniversary and a little giveaway!

Today, Dil Se.. turns three!

It all started a day without much thinking inspired by all the blogs out there. I just wanted to record all my kitchen experiments being a newbie to cooking. Blogging has introduced me to several new friends, people from all parts of the world and also to various cuisines. I have acquired a few photography skills as well. Blogging gave me the courage to venture into the world of baking which has become my favorite pastime now. I also tried a few authentic and traditional recipes as well. I was able to contribute to several events and contests. I was able to host a few of my own events as well.

Thanks to my dear husband who is a good critic and gives feedback for all my cooking experiments and waits patiently to eat until I photograph all my cooking! I also thank all the bloggers out there for encouraging me with your valuable time and comments.

My very first recipe Sweet Pongal!
The first thing I ever baked! Sweet Coconut puffs.

My first baked bread!

My first baked cake! Pear Walnut Cake

First Icecream! Watermelon Yoghurt Icecream
My first Jam! Plum Jam


First event and giveaway at DilSe.. Diet Foods

Show Me Your series of events..
Show Me Your Breakfast Part I
Show Me Your Breakfast Part II
Show Me Your Sandwich
Show Me Your Omelette
Show Me Your Lunchbox
Show Me Your Cake
Show Me Your Curry
Show Me Your Refrigerator
Show Me Your Salad
Show Me Your Smoothie
Show Me Your Wholegrains
Show me Your Cookbox

My first comment by dear DK
"Hey Divya! This is so simple and delicious! The Pic makes me grab a cup of it and have it with my rice! Total bliss! Thanks for sending it my way :)"

My first non-food blog! Currently pursuing Project 365. Blogging has really helped me improve my photography skills.

My Recipe Index..
My Blog Roll
My Food Blogs Event Calendar
My Facebook Page
Thanks again everyone for supporting me!!

Image source

Now moving on to the giveaway.. I have always loved these cute little salt and pepper shakers. I am giving away a set of these to a lucky reader of Dil Se..


You have to do any one of the following and leave a separate comment for each in this post.
1. Leave a comment on this post describing what you like at Dil Se.. or what you would like to see here in my blog.
2. Follow me publicly in Google Friend Connect.
3. Follow me on Facebook.
4. Subscribe to Dil Se.. via email. You can find a "Subscribe to" box in the right column of the blog.
5. Blog about this giveaway.

Remember to leave a comment for each entry. The giveaway ends on January 25th, 12pm Pacific time.

The giveaway is open to anyone. It will be shipped worldwide.

Giveaway sponsored by me.

Giveaway winner!

Have you read about these colorful little potatoes? And the umpteen number of dishes your could make with these beauties? Check out these colorful little potatoes in your grocery aisl if you would love to try these out.

Now the winner of the previous giveaway selected using Random Integar Generator is - Radhika of Foodfor7stages who commented -

"I love those potato bondas. Love the giveaway. Following you on FB :)"

Congrats Radhika! Do email me your address and I will have the gift shipped to you.

Hope everyone had an amazing thanksgiving!

Do check out the event - Show Me Your Cookbook going on now at Dil Se.. and also check out the Food Blog Events Calendar. Do leave me a comment if you would like your event to be added in the calendar.

Free Coupons Giveaway !

I have a couple of coupons for the Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt. After using a few of them I had a couple of them left, so I thought I would give them to my blogger friends. So for a chance to win these free coupons, here is what you need to do.

Please comment here to win a chance to win these yogurt coupons. Also, tell me what is your favorite way of using the yogurt - what is your favorite yogurt based dish!
For a second entry:
You tweet about it (I am @athisayadivyas) or link back to my blog, you get an extra chance to enter! Just don’t forget to let me know in another comment that you did so!!!

I will be selecting the winner on Fri using a randomizer!

I can ship the coupons to anywhere in the US!

Good Luck!!

You must have noticed my absence in the blogosphere for a while. I was busy with my final exams for the summer quarter. Hope to catch up with all your posts soon!!