Spice and Something Nice- The Goodies from Round Two!

A few weeks ago, I announced the second round of the Spice and Something Nice Swap, where you send a gift and get a gift and maybe even make a new friend. Over 90 people responded and in the end, we had swappers in 5 countries.

The swapping is certainly fun for the senders and receivers but I wanted everyone else to be part of it too, so here's a peek at all the goodies. We are traveling East to West, from Australia to India and then to the UK and Canada with a final stop in the US.

Australia

Suchi received from Anu: Chutney Powder, a novel, white chocolate mocha and a book for Suchi's baby.

Anu received from Suchi: Karnataka style rasam powder which is her mom's recipe, clutch purse, chocolate frogs and hair clips for Anu's kids.

Shruti G. received from Shruti N. Gojju masala, with recipe, red tea towel and Asian treats/sweetmeats.

Shruti N. received from Shruti G. a lovely pair of earrings, chaat masala and a card.




India

Raji received from Sneha: Kolhapuri masala and a box of acrylic colors.

Sneha received from Raji: Vaangi bhath spice mix and recipe, local snacks- Congress kadlikai (spicy peanuts), spicy roasted bean mixture, coconut poli, and a hand-painted pen.

Archana received from Charul: Rajasthani style 'khada masala' used for making bhajiyas, with the recipe for it, cute forks and spoons as food props and a little plate for Archana's son.

Charul received from Archana: Rasam powder, taco spice, chopsticks, napkin.

Anusha received from Pragati: Thai red curry paste, vadiams, granola bars, and breadsticks (all homemade), a cute apron, and a dress for Anusha's little one, and a bottle of body mist.

Pragati received from Anusha: Homemade sambar powder and gun powder along with a book, Dakshin - Vegetarian Cuisine from South India by Chandra Padmanabham. 

Aarti sent this to Harini: Homemade spice mix for Achaari arbi along with a recipe, a block printed silk scarf and a book of timeless short stories. 

Aarti received from Harini:  Homemade sambar powder, karivepallai (curry leaves) powder to mix with rice or use as chutney, recipes for using both the spices, homemade cookies. 

Ira received from Premika: Homemade chutney podi, a cute lil Japanese doll, heart shaped cookie cutters, stickers, a candle and 2 bars of dairy milk chocolate.

Premika received from Ira: Yummy homemade cereal 'Good morning Granola' and a beautiful vanilla bean.

Sreedevi received from Jayashree: Sambhar powder and falooda mix.

Jayashree received from Ritu:  Chaat masala & a green and white striped cotton towel.







United Kingdom

Abhi received from Archana: Pappula Podi and garlicky and coconutty Senaga Podi, and chocolate-flavoured bath stuff from Body Shop.

Archana received from Abhi: Achari baingan spice mix and an origami kit.






Canada

Surekha received from Anu: Podina masala and spray-on body lotions.

Anu received from Nikhila: Herbes de Provence, Friendship Garden Starter kit  and a perfumed verbana sachet.

Nikhila received from Surekha: Homemade idly chutney powder and thalipeeth bhajani flour along with a cute little Ganesha.







United States

Neha received from Sharmila: Dhansak masala, herbes de Provence, spicy apple chutney and beautiful napkin ring holders.

Sharmila received from Neha: Scotch bonnet hot pepper sauce, sofrito, Sazón seasoning, guava paste and Lindt dark chocolate w/orange.

Mandira received from Nisha: Shobhatai's masala which is shipped to her regularly by her parents and cosmetic products from her newly launched business - Kimaya Skin Care. 

Nisha received from Mandira: Panch-phoron, a bottle of mixed pickle from India, a green jute bag with applique and a Dr. Seuss book for the children.

Chaitanya received from Angela: A package of Zatar, and some recipes to use the spice, the most recent issue of Sunset magazine, and Ghirardelli milk chocolate with sea salt.

Angela received from Chaitanya: Two spice mixes- Vangi bath powder and Poriyal podi and habanero jelly.

Shilpa received from Lakshmi: Saffron and a book.

Minoti received from Priya: Homemade sambar powder, a Japanese spice mixture, handy grater to make quick salads and a beautiful needle case made by Priya herself. 

Priya received from Minoti: Knitting supplies- needles and stitch markers, 2 beautiful hand painted bookmarks, and 2 pairs of her hand made ear rings (in a cute little drawstring bag), Malwani masala and Maharashtrian Goda masala.

Pavani received from Sonali: Sambar masala, handmade organizer, Dr. Seuss book & a rattle. 

Sonali received from Pavani: Honey and oatmeal soap, rainbow peppercorns and all-purpose curry powder.









Anjali received from Jill: A thought-provoking book, a packet of Muruku and 2 spices from Pampered Chef.

Jill received from Anjali: Chat masala and garlic chutney and two bundles of Imagine yarn and knitting needles for a new scarf project.

Fatima received from Monica: A pretty necklace, boondi ladoo, homemade curry leaf powder and red chili masala.  

Monica received from Fatima: A small handbag, pani puri masala, mango pickle and tomato pickle, spicy masala powder and mangi bite candy. 

Sunitha received from Chaitali: Thai red curry sauce along with a recipe for a quick and yummy thai fried rice, fruit cake, infinity scarf, matching necklace and earrings. 

Chaitali received from Sunitha: Chocolates and shortbread cookies and organic oregano and allspice.

Isha received from Sandhiya: Homemade rasam powder and idli powder with recipes, pendant and earrings set and dark chocolate.

Sandhiya received from Isha: Sumac from Turkey, a dhokla maker and Turkish evil eye. 

Gayatri received from Snehal: Middle Eastern Za'atar Mix with recipe, homemade herb mix (to dip bread in), a scarf and a portable water bottle. 

Snehal received from Gayatri: A book, Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, body lotion and 'Paach Masala' - a smoky and hot five spice mix made in her family. 

Danni received from Bethany: Shan spice mix for Tandoori Chicken BBQ, Aveda hand relief cream, packets of Emergen-C Pink Lemonade.

Bethany received from Danni: Wild rice and mushroom soup mix, a jar candle, bookmark, a joint support supplement, a bread dip seasoning and dipping bowl, a hand made pillowcase and several recipes.

Vandana received from Gayatri: Bottle masala and Gardeners hand therapy cream.

Gayatri received from Vandana: Homemade garam masala, dhansak masala and a recipe book from Tarla Dalal, Eggless Desserts.

Snehal received from Mamta: Fish masala, sambar masala with recipe and colorful measuring spoons.

Mamta received from Snehal: Saffron, pencil colors for sketching, and a notepad.

Kelly received from Shilpa: Pav bhaji masala, mango pickle and earrings.

Shilpa received from Kelly: Kalonji seeds with a recipe, beer nuts and a mug.

Divya received from Chhaya: Home made cookies, kitchen towel, measuring spoons, bisibele bath mix, Kitchen King masala, baby spoon set and 2 potholders.

Chhaya received from Divya: Pappula podi, karvepak podi (curry leaf powder chutney), sago crisps, and fragrant talc and a letter pouch.

Ruchita received from Anupama: South Indian dry chutneys (Kandi Podi, Idli Podi and Sesame Podi), tea, lavender-oatmeal soap, dark chocolate bar with sea salt and almonds.

Anupama received from Ruchita: Maharashtrian and Goan masalas including Goan masala, Goda masala, CKP masala, dry chutney powder and red chilly powder. And a bracelet, key chain, purse and pouch.

Rukmini received from Prashanti: I got some chocolates, farsan & two spices.

Jayeeta received from Sahiti: Baking book and spice mix.

Priti received from Gajalakshmi: 'All in One' chili powder, home made Idli Milagai Podi, a Yankee 'Pineapple Cilantro' fragrance and a novel 'The School of Essential Ingredients' by Erica Bauermeister.

Gajalakshmi received from Priti: Badshah chicken masala, seed packets of zinnia, petunia & dahlia, brownie decorating kit and her homemade box of spicy chivda and her 'Indianised' baklava.

Nila received from Kim: A Japanese- Hawaiian themed package with pineapple biscuit sticks, Kona coffee biscuit sticks, chocolate, homemade salt seasoning, Maui onion Ponzu Hawaiian dressing

and Passion fruit butter.

Kim received from Nila: A bread cookbook, dosa mix, tamarind rice powder, sweet ginger spice mix, moong dal snack, salmon rub from Seattle, Indian candies.

Shriya received from Smita: Strawberry huller, a peeler and a cute onesie set, amchur, kokum and Konkani fish curry masala.

Smita received from Shriya: Sumac and Zaatar, embroidered handbag, butter spreader, tamarind candy and chocolate.

Finally, I received barbecue sauce and a set of abstract drawings from Anne.

And Anne received chana masala spice, peanut sesame curry masala, chivda, a scarf and mug rug from me.




So, what are you drooling over? Is there anything here that you wish you'd received? Don't say "everything" :) I'm getting so many ideas for adorable and tasty gifts from looking at these goodies.

Now, we are all essentially strangers on the Internet and I suppose I should be pretty shocked and excited that most of these swaps work out as well as they do. And I am amazed and happy, believe me. But I do have to say that with over a dozen people in this round, there have been prolonged delays, and failures to communicate, and worst of all, a couple of who received their swaps but have failed to send out a swap :( All of which I am trying to resolve behind the scenes, ugh. This is the entirely-not-fun part of swap hosting.

But these swaps are too much fun for those who DO follow the swap rules and timelines and who DO put together packages with love and care, so we'll have more in the future. Maybe a holiday goodies swap in October? I'm thinking of the trays of Diwali faraal we exchanged....

Perhaps my biggest take-away from these swaps is that to send a small gift, and get a little treat in the mail- these are some of life's biggest joys. We truly don't have to wait for an official swap to put a little happiness in the mailbox and make someone's day.

See you next week with regular programming. Oh, and I'll also introduce you to our new puppy in the next post!