We Love your Blog – Veg Recipes of India

I don’t know what attracted me to Dassana’s blog Veg Recipes of India – her drool worthy food photographs, her innocent smile, her down to earth writing or her easy to follow recipes. Everything about her is awesome and I just had to introduce her to all of you. Do check out her blog. You’d be left very hungry, I warn ya! 😉

1: When and how did you start blogging ? Any difficulties that you faced?

I started to blog in 2009. It was my husband who was constantly suggesting me to put my energies in the creative direction as he liked what I cooked. I too enjoy cooking. I have been cooking since I was ten. So he suggested that I start a food blog to give a creative impetus to my energies.

Yes, I faced some difficulties which are there in every profession. But since I enjoyed my work and also this passion for blogging & cooking did not let the difficulties affect me. The fact that I am a web developer also helped me a lot in terms of coding and designing the blog.

Ultimately regarding the difficulties the deciding factor is whether you enjoy your work or not. If you enjoy your work, then every difficulty is a stepping stone to some new learning or self discovery. I learnt so many new things in my three years of blogging.

2. What do you cover on your blog? Any specific interest areas?

My blog is all about vegetarian & vegan food, mostly Indian. I am not a born and brought up vegetarian. I became a vegetarian by choice. I have a heart which is still pulsating with love and compassion not only for human beings but also for animals.

Frankly speaking, it’s a myth that non vegetarian food is more tastier than vegetarian food. It is not only the taste, but health, aesthetic and spiritual values that make vegetarian food far far better than non vegetarian food.

How to Make paneer cottage cheese
How to Make paneer cottage cheese

3. Where do you find inspiration to come up with new recipes every time?

Nature inspires me. Inspiration is also pulsating within me as I am a creative person. Whenever you give a creative & positive expression to your energies, the outcome awes and inspires you.

For me I just love cooking and photography. It is a more a matter of love than inspiration. If you don’t love your work than you need to look for inspiration outside.

Mango Mousse
Mango Mousse

4. How much time and money do you spend in running your blog?

On an average I spend 5 hours everyday on my blog which includes everything from cooking to styling the food, taking pics, post processing the pics, posting, social networking and submitting photos in food p*rn sites…

I spend 25 $ per month on website hosting. Also there are expenditures like props, cooking books, photography books, crockery, table wares and the list goes on and on and never ends for a food blogger . 🙂

5. What are the essential qualities one must possess to be a successful food blogger such as yourself?

One has to be very focussed and dedicated in life, be it in any work you do. I was and am very focussed and passionate about blogging & food photography.

I found my niche in blogging and it is something I enjoy thoroughly. I just blog for the sake of blogging, not because I want money or I want popularity or anything.

For me the entire process from cooking too taking photos to editing the photos and posting…. everything is a satisfying and a creative work. Always respect your own uniqueness and follow it.

To sum up success is irrelevant. What is important is that you should love your work and choose your field which you love. In the long run, if you become materialistically successful in a field which you don’t love, then in reality you are an unsuccessful person. A successful person is one who is content and loves what he/she is doing.

vegan vermicelli kheer
vegan vermicelli kheer

6. Which chefs do you look upto the most?

There are only two chefs who are not professional chefs but they make the best food and come what may… sometimes work under pressure and create the best culinary delights…. all over the world you will find such chefs and in your own home too…

my mom and my mom-in-law…. two untrained chefs but can beat any masterchef…. who are experienced cooks….. persevering, patient, hardworking, creative and nurture their families with their love as well with good nutritious food.

7. You also do a lot of great photography on your blog. Did you took up any course to learn it?

Whatever I know about food photography is all self-learned. I practiced and practiced everything from learning the camera modes, to the nuances of light, to the post processing of photographs. I am still learning and practicing.

I started initially with a mobile phone for taking pics. Then got myself a point and shoot camera. Later graduated to a DSLR and started to take photos initially in the Auto Mode. Now I take all my photos in the Manual Mode.

I have not taken any course. I have gone through some photography books to learn the techniques.

But after learning the techniques you need to have the eye to come up with beautiful shots. For that you need to be spontaneous and creative and be in the moment. No one can teach that. Each moment is new. So is each shot new. So you have to be spontaneously flowing with life to capture each shot.

My practice of meditation makes me anew each moment and that helps me in photography.

8. Quick food tips you could give to our readers.

Try to have food of every color once in a week. Don’t eat what you tongue likes. Eat what your body craves for. Listen to your body’s needs then to your mind’s desire.

Eat slowly but don’t overeat.

Don’t drink water immediately after eating food.

Eat food in a relaxed way. Don’t eat when you are tensed and hurried. Give respect to food. If you are respectful towards food, you are giving respect to your life as well the to the Creator.

Don’t waste any food. Give it to birds, animals or poor people.

IMBB RECOMMENDS

33 thoughts on “We Love your Blog – Veg Recipes of India

  1. Useful tips Dassana 🙂 I looooooove cooking, and keep looking for different recipes on the web. It really needs a lot of effort to cook food as well take their photographs. Your blog is so inviting 🙂 .. Btw, if I may ask, what are the food photographs p*rm sites ?:D 😀

  2. OMG I am so excited to find a complete blog dedicated to veg food…I am a vegetarian myself and always on the lookout for good recipes 🙂 You blog looks wonderful and the drool worthy pics and causing my tummy to rumble especially since its lunch time.

  3. So glad to have you on IMBB dassana. 🙂 totally going to follow your tip ” Try to have food of every color once in a week.” Thanks and keep up the good work. :))

  4. Dassana nice to know more about you. God bless you may your blog comes in Top Ten… way to go very proud of you :)………. your blog consists of great Indian Recipes and amazing food pics!

  5. nice to know about this superb blog..im non-veg but i love vegetarian sooooo much…. I too believe never waste food… Instead of putting in garbage..I give to birds n animals.. 🙂

  6. rati ur an evil girl grrrr, I am so much tempted to have something nice now! sitting in the office and staring at the pics!
    Being an animal lover myself, I loved ur tips. and love the fact that this wonderful blog is shared with us.
    Thanks Rati.

  7. Loved ur food blog Dassana..
    Will try iur recipes soon.. It feels so nice to see people who knw the fact tht Veg food is tasty too ..

  8. I am a foodie at heart and following this blog will increase my appetite for sure.. 🙂 Not to forget experimenting in kitchen will take a rise too.. 😉 Thanks for sharing Rati!!!!

  9. Hey Dassana…congratulations!!! I wasnt aware that you started cooking from the age of 10 🙂 …really good going, I am so happy for you. Fully agree with you on “you should love your work”. You have best vegetarian reicpes in your space that are simple and too tempting.

  10. wowwwwww dassana you have an awesome blog 😉

    and thanks a lot rati for inroducing her blog to us 🙂

  11. Petit Gateau Post for the eyes of a Foodie.. 😀 Loved your blog Dassana & espl your Professional-istic clicks..!! Am pathetic photographer & end up making anything look trash.. 😛

    Here I am feeling tempted to ask IMBBians..who all are pro in clicking suppa duppa crystal clear clicks..Wuld you all like to share sum tips for novice like me ?! Rati/Jomol..pls post my Q whenever possible..Thanx.. 🙂

  12. Dassana 🙂 really really happy to meet you here 🙂 I’m falling in love with your blog & ur photography 🙂

  13. Thanks to Rati and the IMBB team for the interview. I enjoyed the whole process 🙂

    It feels also good to see the readers of IMBB share so much positive vibes. It encourages me so much….. thanks a ton guys for all your beautiful comments 🙂

  14. Thanks Rati for doing this post and Dassana of course for her lovely blog ! I am a student and still have to learn cooking and this post inspired me to subscribe to this blog and venture in the world of cooking! 😀 😉

Leave a Reply to priyanka Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *