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Grew up in a small town in Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore. Spend majority of my years there, with little exposure to cuisines around the world. Was brought in a household who loves to eat as well as cook. My mother was especially fond of cooking a variety of dishes and would always without fail try out anything new she tasted anywhere. She collected tons of recipe clippings and tried them all. Yes she loved to make variety food for a very food addicted family.
Now she did not stop there. My brother and me had compusalry days of cooking and working in the kitchen. My baking days started as ealry as 9 years and then it moved on to chopping vegetables and then cooking basic food. Did i tell it you it was compulsary? Yes you got it right!
Life moved on and so did I to many cities and countries. My repertoire on variety of cuisines, cooking skills, and smell for secret ingredients was growing and it still is. Work life stopped, Motherhood began, which started giving me time to idle away. This idle time gave me a brilliant idea, that I start writing a recipe book, but then soon after this idea struck, Blooking (Blog Cooking) had started taking over books and recipes were all over the intenet. I took this opportunity and decided I share my skills, my recipes and cuisines to you in the easiet possible language.
Ever since I started this blog, I have been trying to perfect my recipes every time I cook, so I can provide "You" better and better food for you to look at, drool, and hopefully get you to start cooking if you have not already. I expect and respect every critical comment on any recipe tried, this surely improves the recipes over time. The comments over time improves the recipe and will help me understand "Your" need and "Your" taste.
So looking forward to seeing you more often and would love to have your contributions as well.
"Enjoy your cooking, Never cook for the sake of doing it. Take a deep breath and let all those positive energies flow into your food and make you fit, healthy and stress free".
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I am really proud of you. With two little children you find the time for writing receipes. Amazing! May God fulfill all your wishes.
Love,
Mummy
Manni
Amazing that you could write so many recipes and make it simple enuf for beginners like me.
i am surely going to try all of them...keep writing in...
Preeti
Your recipes looks great.... Have to try them.... Always needed some good veg receipes.
Regards,
Wilma
Love to all
Bhagya akka
Regards to all at home ,
Love, Sylvia.
This will definitely become our top recipe lookup site.
Looking forward to any
- Gujarati/South Indian recipes (daal/sambhar at the top) Any chance of recipe of home made sambhar powder :-) I know every south indian family has a secret recipe.
- more snacks(especially 'street food' like Daabeli,etc. ) That's what I miss the most.
- Breakfast items
poha, upma, etc ..
Alternate preparations
Some recipes have long preparation times. It would be good to have alternate preparations which use off the shelf items. It would also help if there could be a section on cutting down preparation time, any short cuts which experienced cooks take(like telling Rutvik to do all the preparations). I love to cook from scratch but sometimes everybody gets lazy and needs that moong daal chilla in half an hour.
ArchanasKitchen YouTube Channel
If you have the time to put together cooking videos that would be great to have a link to a archanaskitchen channel on youtube. Lot more work than putting together a blog but some things in cooking are easier learnt by watching the cook in action. For example I just started grilling on a coal barbecue this last summer and even though it is a simple way to cook I became comfortable only after watching some videos online.
Will be waiting for more recipes. Keep blogging.
-Adi
I am excited about this web site because I know you are a great cook.
I do look forward to some gujarati recipes in the near future.
Chithi
This is really great. Nice to see your creativity secrets being shared.......Everything looks yummy........ I still remember your cooking..........I will definitely try your recipes sometime..........Good luck to you !
Love,
Aneetha
Great recipies,, Will definetly try them and let you know. It looks yummy..
very good site..
Good luck to you!!!!
great site.......
i would love to see more baking recipies tho- i just never seem to bake right:)
Love from Suresh Kaka, Kuwait.
It is an excellent site. Not only are you an amazing cook but also an amazing IT person. I still remember the south indian food I had at your place...yummy....now i will pick up those recipes from your site :)
cheers
pooja
It was really exciting to share your recipes. I have tried out some of them and found to be excellent. I will certainly try some of them in coming days. Now I expect more of such from you. Keep it up.
Kumkum
This is Arti(Sapan's wife fonty) here...Really pleased with all the efforts u have taken to share ur knowledge with everyone..keep it up will definitely try ur receipes n let u know...
Arti.
I am so amazed looking at your web site. Its awesome that you have complied a lot of dishes with nice instructions. I will surely try the mutter paneer. My son loves Paneer :-).
Keep updating this site. Good Job!
Love,
Pavithra
I can get the recipe down, the picture will come only after i have made it.
Enjoy and I am glad you liked my recipes
Super great effort!! Very impressed with how far you've progressed with this. Seems like just yesterday when Archana's Kitchen was just an idea you were toying with. Like the flow of the recipes, they seem quite simple and precise to follow through really. Also I like the fact that the pictures are originals and not picked off the www!! At least one can know what their food should really look like!!
Though it would be nice to see these pictures as part of the top banner, sort of to represent the variety available on the site for first time visitors. Would be nice to see more on the continental and dessert sections as well eventually. About Archana...talk a little about your personal favs or your specialties or maybe the recipe of the week in your musings? Its good to know the chefs recommendations ;0)
All in all I think its going fantastically well.
Wish I had the courage to follow my passion through...
All the best.
I love this site - it's really cool. I can't wait to try the recipes, especially the International section and the gujarati daal.
Love,
Vini
Just to let you know other INSEAD partners and I were discussing your website today - we all thought it looks great and we will definitely be trying the recipes. Good luck with it all.
Do drop by my blog too...would like to have your feedback!
-Mansi
http://funnfud.blogspot.com
It is good to visit your excellent website, read its contents and all the great recipes. Photographs look professional. Very good effort. I am poroud of you. I am asking Daksha to try many of your recipes.
Good luck to you.
Suresh Kaka, Kuwait
What to say... IMPRESSED. Add two more to your evidently sizeable and growing fan club.
Kanishka & Ranjita.
Even my picky daughters polished off your pudding:) That says it all:) Good luck in your endeavours:)
nice site. hope that you become india's answer to Martha Stewart / Paula Dean :P
mohaps
stuff looks delicious.. will try out a few recipes and let you know.
--m
"Dahi Papdi Chaat" was selected by JoyfulBelly as one of our "Creative Dishes" for February. Your entry will be posted on February 3rd.
When we visited your website we were pleasantly surprised to find a new, incredible chef reporting Indian cuisine. We appreciate what you're creating for the world!
Please nominate other great chefs creating the new food revolution. We rely on our readers for suggestions!
I hope you love our ayurvedic recipe website. We would be very happy if you post a link from your website to ours and write to us with your feedback. We tried to contact you on your old email address but couldn't reach you.
Take Care,
Sincerely,
Joseph
ph. 617-869-8326
Nice recipes, great effort. I am gonna try some myself as I toil through school again :-)
cheers,
Kandarp
i wanted to email you, but could not locate your email address on the blog.
blogsjam is a new web-based blog reader, organized by channels.
pl. check it out, and contact me at ashishbaldua@gmail.com, if you have any questions.
we also have a cool widget, that will not only help get more
distribution for your blog,
but it can also be used to feature fresh and contextual posts on your blog.
Thx- Ashish
I live myself last 4 & half yrs,so...i hv to cook my food,i know a bit cooking but ur recipes help me a lot for good food......Thx a lot...Meelan
Whenever I think of doing chapati I am worried about making side dishes.
As I make chapati every altenate days I am really struggling to think of a sidedish. And most of my side dish items includes cinnamon,cloves and all the usual spices which almost gives the same kind of taste with diferent veggies :-(
Just my humble request, why dont you introduce a column for side dish alone that goes well with chapatis.
Also as we are making side dishes very often I would really love HEALTHY side dishes. I mostly try to avoid paneer dishes or deep fried koftas etc.
Thanks a lot.
Cheers
Rohit
Awesome site...and great recipes . Although i am not big on vegetarian food ...your recipes looks delicious . I would however like to see more desserts...am always on the look out for desserts. I am half way constructing my own website -but its mostly non-veg..so wish me good luck and wish you the same too.
once again gr8 work.... reminds me of those days when we used tobe together in kitchen :)
I love your site! I know exactly what you mean about cooking as meditation...it is my way to relax as well. There is just something about chopping vegetables and stirring bubbling things that soothes my soul! :)
Your recipes look amazing...I might be brave enough to try them out! :)
Got your website accidentally as I was checking out Tarla Dalal's recipe contest. Must say it is very informative and your receipes are good. Keep up the good work, please provide us with some of "Grandma's home made stuff" and of course the street food of Mumbai.
Culinary regards
Sucorrina
I absolutely loved and adored your food.
Thank u so much!
From,
Bhupendra P.
I also wanted to see some marahti resipies, my wifer is mharati.
Thanks
Love
Sanjay & Shailaja
Invited few guests over. Tried Paneer Makhani and Aloo Parval sabzi. It was a big hit. The guests enjoyed it and thanx to u, didn't had to worry about storing the left overs. I talk about u often. Especially, about u'r keerai Sadam and Bhel puri. It was fun.
Regardz,
Sandhya.
Frankly speaking, when I clicked on the About Archana tab, I was half-expecting a middle-aged lady with gray hair.
Amazing! You are a mom of two and still you find time to follow your passion.
Today is my first visit to your site and I am going to add this in my favorites now. I have already taken 3 recipes that I am going to try this weekend and give a surprise to my husband who is coming back home on Sunday. :)
I will definitely keep you updated how your recipes came out!
All the best!!!!!
Chandrika
very interesting blog. i love ur recipes, ur style of presenting and the pics.
I would just like to know about the measurements, now when making cake 2 cups flour means how much ? what is the size of the cup
I havent prepared cake anytime and would love to make one.
So please help me.
Regards
Maria
What a wonderful web site! Great idea. I'm so happy for you and wish you much success.
Kathi Casey
Keep adding them
i wolud like to hv recipe for chinese vegetable sabzi with littel gravy
Thank you
Best to Rutvik and the kids!
i am also found of cooking and eating....i found some nice and simple dish which wont take much time to cook and it teats as good as well....... give some more dish which wont take more time..........
Regards,
Archana
Today I have tried to know about what is blog and how one can start a blog because I am also thinking to write a blog. I Have gone through your blog . Being a Gujarati, I have proud after seeing a such nice blog written by a Gujarati.. Its really very good.
I appreciate your work. Keep it up.
Sanjay
Finally i read all your recipes n feel like cookin n gear up. Great job, i miss France n our long talks.
Niki
Saw ur website just today. Looks interesting and so good. I have a question in few curries u have added curd so would like to know whether it will work great. becoz i have the bad experience in making one dish. letme know. thanks
Hi
please send me the link to your pics on picasa .. will do the needful
Radhika
Your chocolate cake is an absolute delight ! Thanks a pile for the recipe -lovely pictures ! Great site!
yourr receipe loving human,
y m sidaamaiah,
mail ymsramaiah@gmil.com.
eagerly waitig for ur reply madam ARCHANA
I am a good friend and colleague of your uncle Sri, who also forwarded me to your website. I find your recipes delicious, and am tempted to attempt some of them myself. If you could add a video to each of your recipes, it would be a great help for the novice wanna-be chefs, like myself.
Good luck,
Thanks
Pramodh
This is truly an amazing site...ever thought of putting it altogether in a cookbook? It you do, please get in touch:)
Have a wonderful 2009!
Mala
Website is excellent. Everyone says what is special about it. From my perspective what is important is its easier for us men to do the things and especially weekend cookings. Prepared Rajma Chawal today and everyone appriciated. It is really a a mantra to find solace in serving and seeing your dear ones enjoying it with happiness.
Thanks,
Prasad
i was just browsing some dishes and saw the word coimbatore somewhere and i then had a look at ur profile photo!! are u anyway from Stanes??
i dont know if u could remember me if you are from there!! we were twins and we use to play basketball and other sports in school and my twins name is baghi.luv to hear from you
bye
bommie
I was looking for a link to email you directly but found none. I want to thank you for sharing your recipes with us, with me. I found your site in January 2008 while looking for Indian recipes to cook from for my sister's bridal shower. I made the choleh masala with great success and continued to make it through last year whenever I had a craving for Indian food.
Today, I had a yearning for aloo paneer -- I think it's called -- the one with potatoes. I looked at several but eventually came to yours. I used the Paneer Makhani recipe and again, it turned out so well. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
We have terrific Indian food here in Manila, the Philippines where I live, and so we also have well-stocked Indian groceries. It's nice to know that with recipes like yours that truly work, I can make Indian food whenever I want.
a fan,
Lori from Manila
Absolutely thrilled with your website. Prasad and I are amazed with what you have accomplised especially with two small kids in tow. I saw the recipe for the Hyderbadi biryani and am going to try it out ASAP.
Good luck and keep in touch.
Sowmya
GREAT TOSEE YOUR WEBSITE ON COOKING.WHEN ARE YOU INVITING US TO TRY YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD(PURE VEG).WILL ALSO TELL MY WIFE TO CHECK YOUR WEBSITE.
Nice recipes i will try them always looking for recipes and your website is very intresting veg recipes
i just saw ur recipes its really nice ........ great work..... thanks ur helping girls like me i just got married n never went to kitchen i was finding it very difff.... to cook.. but after seeing ur website... i am really happy to cook ..... my sweet hubby is very happy that i am learning nice n sweet recipes from u.... thanks a lot ...
can u be my friend .... if yes plz mgs me....
byeeee
i am so happy that u reply thanks a lot can u do jeera rice n ice creams (mango)..... can u give me ur email id
This is a fantastic site with great presentation and even better recipes. I am a great fan of South Indian food and I see your strength in that section as well!
Keep up the great work and good luck. My regards to the kids and hi to RD.
RP
Very glad to visit your website. Done extremely professionally and it reflects your passion for cooking.
The pics are very appealing, so much so that I am really tempted to try most of the recipes out there!
Keep up the great work and all the best.
Regards,
Avnika
your site is awesome...have been logging in everyday in the hope of seeing the pictures of our dishes ( that u judged last saturday in Adarsh Vista )..I forgot to click the picture of my own dish and really hope u will put up the picture u clicked..:-)
Am really glad to have discovered your blog..cooking suddenly feels very exciting !
I am also fond of eating and cooking (after marriage). and as I am pregnant , I crave for different-different food like gujju khana, marathi khana...south indian khana. this is the first time when I visit your site. recipes are pretty interesting. I am going to try it today.
Thanks
Madhulika
Your website is really well crafted..Its just amazing. Thanks for sharing all the yummy dishes and I am trying all these dishes and enjoying them well. Guess Viji aunty is your aunt. She is My Husband's aunt. Nice work Archana. Take care.
Now , even i am one of the member of your kitchen ..
Its great think you are doing.. let see 5 years down the line will do something like this.. its good meditation mantra...
love
Bhavisha (Kiran's sister in law)
Do you welcome recipes from your readers?
wow!! I luv ur website and the recipes here. I think firstly credit goes to your mom who thought you cooking at an early age!:)
Em 20 now, going to marry nex yr..and amazing thing is that i still dont know how to cook!:P
its high time tat i strt..will try all your recipes and let you know:)
hey, do you welcome recipes from visitors, coz my mum is a gr8 cook and i would love to share her recipes..
can u post the recipe for the paruppu urundai kulambu...i simply love it!!!
Your site will be a great resource for Ramya. I will promote it among my friends too..
As Wilma and I sat casually food and cakes, your name came up and I could not resist visiting your site and I must say..
WOW!, for the amazing list of receipes that are waiting to be tried out rather than the regular-as-clockwork and countless Pohas and Upmas that I keep enduring everyday.
Gonna make my wife go thru this site for a change if she wants to make her way to my heart... STILL!
Regards,, Raghu
I still remember the vangi bath , and bitter gourd poriyal and rasam rice you used to get when we were in stanes......very yummy...I need recipes for vangi bath and the bitter gourd poriyal..it used to be sweet...
Thanks!
Your recipes are just wonderful!
Thanks so much!
Your site is excellent,
I would like to offer my services for the site users to purchase some unique utensils needed to prepare the recipies of some kerala dishes like :
# puttu maker for puttu,
# cheratta puttu
# unni appam
#aapam kadai
#achappam instrument
#iddiappam + mini iddli cooker/ steamer
Please purchase through ebay id: kerala_stores
Thanks
PremRaj
For Keralastores
www.keralastores.in ( under construction)
Wonderful site! I will definitely be trying out your recipes.
I too love cooking, but in no way can call myself a great cook. I am just a beginner, teaching myself by trying out recipes from the net, making lots of mistakes and learning from them.
I got the link to your website from Soni's blog - Sugercraft by Soni, where you had posted a comment some time back (about 2 years back actually!) asking about classes on cake decoration.
I too very much want to learn to decorate cakes, but do not know whom to ask for help. Wanted to know whether you had attended the classes. If yes, could you please direct me where to find a good course?
Also, I have no idea where in Bangalore I can find icing tools (things other than the basic icing tips and bag), good heavy (whipping) cream etc.
Could you please help me out?
Surya
Came across your cookery blog after passing through a few others..and damn am I lucky to have found you.
Just got married a week or so ago and will be sharing cooking duties with mum-in-law and only know your basic Indian foods.. you know aloo mattar.. baigan.. chicken curry etc... so this is great!
And you have western foods which helps 'coz they're not Indian...! Great blog!
:D
Happy days ahead...
Don't drop the idea of Compiling a book. Send to me as I am a blogger who is interested in e-book selling.
Susan