26 September, 2011

5 Years of Blogging Celebration, a Huge Thank you & a Giveaway!


“Fly free and happy beyond birthdays and across forever, and we'll meet now and then when we wish, in the midst of the one celebration that never can end.”
~Richard Bach
5 years! 5 years of food, spice and life! 5 years of love, laughter and celebration!
Yes, today Monsoon Spice completes 5 long years of blogging. It has come a long way from being amateur cooking blog to much confident and passionate cooking blog of today! It’s been a wonderful, adventurous and beautiful journey with many ups and few lows. Who would have imagined that the blog born out of boredom and necessity would complete 5 enjoyable years! Not me!!! Never in zillion years! 

It was early autumn of 2006 when days started to become shorter and sun started playing peek-a-boo for most part of the day and the new bride in an unknown city, new country and different continent had nothing worthwhile happening in her life. She was away from her family, friends and loved ones except for her ‘much’ better half who tried to cheer her in spite of his busy work load! After spending long hours on phone calls to back home, spending some time reading books and then some more hours flipping the channels on idiot box, she was still left with many more hours of solitude and boredom! She decided to cook some new recipe that her mother narrated few hours back. The recipe was written diligently but in a hurry on a piece of paper. She remembered putting it on a coffee table or was it left on a bedside cabinet?! 

‘Never mind’, she thought. ‘I still remember the ingredients and recipe and how difficult it can be’, she wondered! Little did she know what was about to happen in few minutes!!! 

What happened next was so embarrassing that she wished she could dig up a deep hole right there and bury herself, instead of facing her concerned neighbours! When she forgot the recipe and just when she needed that little piece of paper where the recipe was jotted down, she found herself running around the house like some headless chicken, checking all the drawers and every nook and corner, while our smoke alarm made enough noise to wake half the neighbourhood! That was when she decided to catalogue all the recipes online and the rest, as we say, is history!!!




This is the real story of embarrassing and painful birth story of Monsoon Spice (previously known as Spice Corner). But the journey so far has been full of joy, lot of happiness, extremely adventurous and drenched with so much of love and support from the readers! Thank you my dear reader friends, who have made this virtual space a happy place. A place not just to share recipes and food pictures, but also to share our common interest and passion for food, spice and life!!! It’s you, my dear readers, and your love and support that has helped to shape this food/recipe blog and made me come back again and share little snippets of my life and also the food that comes out from my little kitchen. All these years of active blogging, I’ve met immeasurable number of foodies, fellow bloggers and made many good friends. Without your comments, feedback, suggestions and encouraging words, this blog would not have survived all these years!

So this thank you comes deep from my heart and I am humbled to receive this kind of love and support. As someone quoted “I would love to thank you from bottom of my heart but for you my heart has no bottom”. Thank you, once again! 

A humble request to special people: I have made many friends here and I would really appreciate the silent and anonymous readers of Monsoon Spice to break their silence, at least today, and leave their trails… Trust me, I pretty harlmelss ;)

To show my appreciation and love for you all, I have decided to host second GIVEAWAY of this month. Once lucky winner will receive a copy of Helene Dujardin’s Plate to Pixel, food photography bible for amateur or for even experienced food photographers! I just ordered my copy few days back and I loved reading Helen’s excellent write-up with easy to understand and follow instructions. You just have to google to read all the wonderful reviews of this excellent and beautiful book. Don’t worry if you don’t have a food blog as this book is for all who are foodies, and have interest in learning to capture beautiful photographs of the food. This book is for you and all who share passion for food and photography. 




This giveaway is closed! The winner is announced here.

102 comments :

  1. Congratulations on reaching this milestone. You have a great blog with lovely recipes. All the best for more milestones!!

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  2. Congrats Sia...wishing you many more wonderful years of blogging ahead

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  3. Congratulations on completing five amazing years! Although I am new to your blog, I love the photographs and our little chats on Twitter :) I do hope you come to Dilli soon.

    I shall now leave separate comments for all the channels I follow you on. First step done.

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  4. I follow you on Twitter @TwoMPfood :)

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  5. Liked your Facebook page, told friends to like it as well.

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  6. Have subscribed to your blog feed via Google reader!

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  7. Congragulations Sia and wishing you and you lovely and Delicious blog manymany more happy years together. And now tham lil dumbling will soon asking mama bake cookies you will do cookies and bakes too more often.
    Not joining here in the giveway, i have the book so i would much prefer that someone else get the chance to win.

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  8. hearty congratulations Sia- 5 years is a whopping mile stone and indeed deserves loads of applause. I love your blog with all the funky narrative, explosive pictures and soulful read not to mention the tasty recipes. ROCK ON Gal ! wishing u many more such heart warming moments in all your endeavours !

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  9. Hey ur recipes & adventures spice up my mailbox and the giveaway is awesome ! Thanks for your efforts in lighting up one lucky soul !

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  10. I am already following ur tweets and this giveaway has been duly tweeted by me to all ! cheers

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  11. Congratulations Sia... Wish you cross many more years of food blogging :)

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  12. I already follow you on FB :)

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  13. And on Google reader too :)

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  14. :) congoo sia ... was glad to read it... and just wanted to mention that i do these from long back... monsoon spice is an integral part of my blog world... even tough i have myself stopped writing... :) lots of love and many more yrs of making ppl happy wid ur blog... :)

    Dont want the giveaway :) ... wud have loved to have it... but a good regular blogger deserves it more... i can understand d fun and excitement of getting a giveaway.:) tatas...

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  15. hey sia...congrats on ur achievement..may u blog for many many more years :)
    i would love 2 win the book :)

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  16. oh and i already follow you on twitter

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  17. I am a subscriber of monsoonspice feeds

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  18. Congrats Sia..it's been a pleasure knowing you..:)..Wishes for many such milestones coming your way..

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  19. Hi Sia, firstly many many congratulations!! 5 yrs is no mean feat. Simply superb!!

    I stumbled upon your blog a couple of mths back and ever since i keep coming back every day to visit ur space. Apart from ur recipies, pics & snippets, wat touched me most is ur refernce to Ajji. Even though am born and raised in chennai, we used to address our grandmom - 'Ajji'. Thankx to my sister who had a brief stay at mysore and as a child she picked up the word..and me dutifully frm my sis.

    I can't tell you hw wonderful i felt seeing ur refernce to Ajji. Somehow, in all these yrs I havent heard anybody say it...and it brought me back fond memories of my childhood with my Ajji.

    You are doing a fab job....Love ur recipies and tried many of them as well. Like u said, am one of those silent readers of ur blog...been wanting to write in...and wat better time to do it :)

    Am currently a stay at home mom of a 3yr old, based in the middle east...

    Wishing u many,many happpy coooking adventures and recipies to share in the yrs to come...

    Cheers
    Vidhya :)

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  20. Congrats best wishes. Hope I win the book. I am already following and fan on FB.

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  21. Shared the link both on my personal facebook page and my facebook blog page.

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  22. btw, congratulations on five years of blogging!

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  23. Congrats for ur hard work. it is not easy to achieve this milestone, it shows ur hardwork and passion.

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  24. Wow....many many happy and warm wishes to monsoon spice......Wish MS many more yum years to come......I am happy to be part of this yummy journey......Good luck.....

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  25. Congratulations. I just found you site.
    What a great site and prize.
    @mumoffunkids

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  26. Following on Twitter as @mumoffunkids, and I tweeted
    https://twitter.com/#!/mumoffunkids/status/117218746266943488

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  27. I shared on facebook and liked the page

    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1430286983

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  28. Congrats Sia..5 years is a big milestone.Wishing you many many more years of blogging. Your blog has been very inspiring to me and I would love to enter this giveaway.

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  29. Congratulations! Sia. It has been a pleasure knowing you for all of your blogging years. Wishing you many more delicious years to come.

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  30. Following you on twitter as @vegtastebuds. Tweeted this post.

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  31. Subscribed to your feeds via google.

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  32. Congratulations for this milestone and for keeping this blog so beautiful and interesting! Looking forward to the next five years ;-)

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  33. I am now following on FB :-)

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  34. Congratulations dear Sia and Monsoon Spice!
    May u have many more:)

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  35. Congratulations on your milestone! Indeed it is quite a feat to be regularly blogging for 5 years!

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  36. Hi Sia,

    Heartiest Congratulations!!!! I have been a silent reader and dont even remember when and how I stumbled upon ur blog, I guess it was the misal recipe. I really appreciate all ur efforts and wish you the best for years to come. I am not on facebook & twitter so can't follow or like you there but I check your blog everyday and really love it!

    - Priti

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  37. Congrats Sia. Amazing place u have and love it. Wish you many more anniversaries.
    Do check out my event and send me your entries.

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  38. Hi Sia,

    That really is a milestone. Many many congragulations and wishes for many more years of blogging!
    I'm following Monsoon spice on FB and I'm a subscriber of the feeds. I have a twitter account but dont use it and have no idea about how it works ;)
    So, I hope I'm the lucky winner of that book!! May be that book will bring me back to the blogging world!

    Cheers!
    Keerthana

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  39. wow, 5 years is a long time!! congrats!!

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  40. Congrats!! I have been reading your blog for 3-4 years now! I still remember seeing your blog for the first time! I remmeber seeing a Tambli recipe and thinking it must be somebody from Mangalore area and finding out that it's you!! My neighbour from puttur!! I was a fan of your blog LONG before I started my blog and I still think your is one of the blogs i enjoy reading the most!
    Great blog... great work and I hope you continue to blog for many more wonderful years :) :)

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  41. Many cooking blogs around have allowed me to learn the different cuisines of India and perfect my technique. Hence I am making it a point to thank each one of those bloggers - this was an opportune moment to thank you :). So Thank you so much for writing and sharing your recipes with everyone. I have enjoyed your thai dishes a lot. I hope you have 5 times more years of happy blogging :)

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  42. Amazing !!! Whoa !!! 5 years, that is very impressive. Love your blog, writing, pictures everything. I so want the recipe of your cake in the pictures :)

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  43. Congratulations on completing 5 years in the blogging world ! Looking forward to many more such anniversaries .

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  44. Congratulations Sia for compleing 5 years of blogging. I have cooked many recipes from your blog and its been a hit with my family everytime. I am looking forward to many more such winning recipes. wishing you many more years of 'yummy' blogging.

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  45. 5 years!!!! That is Impressive.. .Congratulations on your 5th year anniversary of blogging.
    Krithi's Kitchen
    Event: Serve It - Steamed

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  46. I follow you on Twitter.. my handle is @KrithisKitchen..

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  47. Congratulations Sia! Monsoon Spice is an excellent Blog and your recipes Rock!
    I would love to win this Giveaway for my daughter, a budding amateur photographer.

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  48. I subscribe to your Newsletters too!

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  49. Congratulations Sia! Great food and beautiful photographs. Keep blogging....!

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  50. I have been subscribing to you ever since I entered into the food blogosphere...I have liked your fb page and following you in twitter ever since I had a twitter account! :)

    Congrats Sia!

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  51. Sia, you've had an amazing journey over these last 5 years. I've really enjoyed reading your posts, incredible job, so many congratulations!

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  52. I've subscribed to your feed via Google reader.

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  53. And I've just followed you on Twitter too!

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  54. Hi Sia,

    i found your blog quite by accident, but now i am enjoying browsing thru it:) I am a new bride too,who is experimenting in the kitchen.. Congratulations on your milestone!!! :)

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  55. 5yrs is a big achievement. Congratulations!

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  56. CONGRATS! and lots of love to you and your blog - a place to cherish..you space always have been a place which invited me, made me hungry and also made me feel good with your stories :) Wishing it many many more.

    The quote of Richard Bach (I LOVE HIM), took me back to my courtship period with A when I had made a small booklet for his birthday with quotes from Richard Bach:)

    I do all that i need to do.. now what do i do so I SURELY win the book? make your hubby pick this time Sia, he made me win the last time :D

    xoxo

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  57. Sia my dear! Congratulations!

    Love to you and the family.

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  58. Hi Sia,

    Had to come out of hiding today on your special day!!

    I have been visiting your blog for more than 2 years now and your Baghare Baigan is a staple at not only my place but also at my mom's.

    Though I know the recipe by heart, I love to visit that post every time I am making the recipe if only to drool over the lovely pictures in anticipation!!

    So here's wishing your lovely blog a very happy bday and you years and years of blissful blogging!!

    Hugs
    Andy

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  59. Congratulations Sia on your bloggy-anniversary and Cheers to many many more in future :D

    Siri
    XOXO

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  60. Yes, I do follow you on twitter

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  61. ..and liked your FB page! :-)

    Siri

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  62. Congratulations Sia..its been a pleasure to know you and your beautiful blog. I guess most of us own the birth of our blogs to the "new bride sitting in a new country away from family, friends & loved ones"..that is how I started too and am so glad to meet you all the way!

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  63. awesome.. congratulations on your blogoversary!

    Richa @ Hobby And More Food Blog

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  64. I already follow you on twitter!

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  65. And also on Facebook as my own blog page !

    Richa @ Hobby And More on Facebook

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  66. Your blog is amongst the first few blogs I discovered. Congrats on completing 5 years of blogging!

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  67. I follow you on twitter already

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  68. Congrats Sia on completing 5 wonderful years of blogging. It is a big big deal. It shows that you have passion and commitment for what you do. This kind of persistence is rare.

    I have liked your page on fb

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  69. subscribing your posts via email now.

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  70. Hi, Congratulations on five successful years of blogging!! wishing you many more years of happy blogging!!!

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  71. ..and I already like you on Facebook..:-)

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  72. Congrats Sia on this milestone..I am coming in lilttle late due to my work @ office..I am following you in twitter, FB, subscribed to feed everythng..

    I have following from past 4 years even when i was not blogging..great space with great receips. always wondered the way you managed ur work, family and the lil dumpling (as you call him). wish you all success ...

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  73. Congrats dear on such a huge milestone..you are an inspiration for all of us!! And yes I did all 4..now keeping my fingers crossed!!

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  74. Following on FB, twitter & subscribed though RSS

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  75. My cooking too started in a similar fashion, with the house full of smoke and food completely burnt! My roomies took it in great spirit and still allowed me to continue staying with them ;-)


    Congrats on completing 5 years of blogging! That's a huge milestone covered. Love the chocolate roses. They look gorgeous!

    Rajani

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  76. Congratulations on five years! I came here to say that those roses are beautiful. Can we hope for a tutorial? :) Today is actually the first time I've visited your page. It's lovely!

    It's very kind of you to ship worldwide! Us international people never get in on giveaways. I already have this book, so my comment can just be ignored for giveaway purposes. :)

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  77. What a wonderful milestone and a neat giveaway. Congrats dear.

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  78. Just liked your facebook page too.

    Vardhini

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  79. congrats sia...I m already following on FB

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  80. Congratulations, Your Baby is 5.. It takes a lot of patience and endurance to keep blogging inspite of many comments and glares..some good and some bad..Big HUG and a small wish for many many more 5's. God Bless
    Love Ash.

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  81. Hey Sia!!! Congratulations on the BIG milestone :) Love your blog, keep up the great work!

    www.ambikaskitchen.com

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  82. And I already like you on FB :)!! Yay!!!

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  83. Monsoon Spice was one of the firsts on my Blogroll, always a fan, love your site, recipes, pics...great job!

    Happy 5th Birthday!
    Love - whatdoimake.blogspot.com

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  84. Twitter - following
    Facebook - liked
    Feeds - subscribed
    Comment(s) - made

    Now, good luck to me :)

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  85. Hi Sia, Congratulations on the 5 year anniversary. Its impossible for me to imagine what that would be like, with my blog not even 5 months old. Came to your blog from Susan's black and white Wednesday roundup and so happy to have found your giveaway just in time :-)
    Wishing you the best for many more years of blogging.

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  86. Just subscribed to your feed via RSS to my google reader too.

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  87. I love monsoon spice...the blog the pics....everything about it!!!
    I follow you on twitter
    I like you page in facebook
    I subscribe to you thru feeds
    And I have commented on this blogpost as well...

    So I guess Im eligible by all means.....!!!! Best of Luck to me!!!!

    Rudra - Mom's Corner

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  88. Hey Sia,

    Congratulation... Wishing many more blissful years of blogging..:)

    Cheers,
    Ann.

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  89. I already like ur facebook page ...:)

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  90. Hi Sia

    As i have told u earlier as well love ur blog loadz and congrats 4 the milestone........would love to enter for the giveaway.......apart 4m twitter i am in for others.

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  91. 5 years eh? That's awesome!! Seriously Sia I admire your talent and efforts in keeping it going this long, this strong. Hearty congrats my friend! May you have plenty more milestones and happy memories to go with it. Sending lots of love your way.

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  92. CONGRATULATIONS AND WISHING U MANY MORE DEAR :)
    WONDERFUL GIVEAWAY....

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  93. Hi Sia, congratulation on your wonderful feat and best wishes for many more

    I already following u on twitter, and fb

    Cheers
    Sukanya

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  94. Congratulations Sia - I have been following your blog for quite some time now and love your chatty style and lovely pics! Not to mention some great recipes! Happy Blogging for many more years to come!

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Namaste! I am Sia and welcome to Monsoon Spice, my virtual home. Thank you for all your comments, inputs and feedback. I really appreciate the valuable time you spent browsing through my recipe repertoire.

I hope you have found what you are looking for today. Feel free to leave any questions or queries you have on the recipes posted here. If you have any recipe requests, please drop a line at Ask Sia page. I will try to respond to all your queries as soon as possible to best of my knowledge.

I welcome all your valuable inputs and constructive criticism as long as it is meant to help and improve the blog. I reserve the right to delete any comments that are rude, abusive, written with the intent to advertise, contain profanity or considered spam.

I hope that you will stop by again to read my rants, learn new recipes and share your ideas. Have a good look around and enjoy your time here. Thank you once again!