Last update: 31st Aug, 2010.
Hi Everyone! I’m Shaheen Peerbhai, a 23 year old girl from Bombay who always has food on her mind and is always thinking about what to bake next. More often than not a recipe book replaces the bedtime book.
I created this blog to chronicle my cooking and baking experiences. I’d like to share my experiments – be it the most luscious Creamy Oreo Pie or the insanely delicious Garlicky Baked Fries or the Chocolate Chip Cookies that got everyone swooning.
Although I love trying new foods, I’m not too daring about what I cook with. By this I mean that I’d happily eat a lobster ravioli at a restaurant but I won’t be able to stomach a lobster that I’ve cleaned myself (that’s why I watch Bourdain for some inspiration). A little queer, I know.
I’d love, love, love to hear from you! Say hello to me in the comments section below, or if you’re shy then email me on shaheen(at)purplefoodie.com
By day I’m marketing for an IT company and in my free time I bake. I love that I have flexi working hours to help me cultivate my hobby. After 2.5 years, I’m finally out of my cubicle and into the kitchen. Not just any kitchen, a pastry kitchen! Currently, I’m having fun baking for catering business, writing about food, and helping local companies with recipe development amongst other things. As you can probably see from the look of my blog, I also enjoy food styling and photography.. Drop me an e-mail if you’d like to work with me. The Purple Foodie’s been in the news, local as well as international, from time to time. For details, please visit the media page.
FAQs
When I started the blog, I used my cybershot camera phone only because I thought I’d never miss an opportunity to photography since it would always be on me. Not a very wise decision. Since June 2008, I’ve been using a Canon A570IS Powershot and I’ve been working towards improving my photography. I’ve learnt that the easiest way to get photos right is by getting the lighting right. I can’t emphasise enough the importance of lighting. The amazing point and shoot stood me in good stead for over two years, and since August 2010 I’ve been using a Canon Rebel T1i / 500D. Absolutely love it!
A lot of the recipes on the blog are inspired or adapted from my ever growing collection of cookbooks. When this is the case, the recipe source is always mentioned below the recipe. Otherwise, the recipe is just something I’ve come up with on my own over time or probably for lack of foreign ingredients.
Yes you can, but there are certain conditions. The blog is licensed under Creative Commons. This means that you can share or adapt my work only when you give me due credit for it. If you chose to blog about the recipes or photos, you must link to the original post on this blog. Thank you for playing by the rules.
Yes, I am from Bombay (wouldn’t call it by any other name!). It’s not easy to find foreign ingredients here and I’ve been fortunate to travel or have family come down every so often to honour my wishlists. But of late things have gotten a lot better. Here is where you can find more about Baking in Bombay (it’s updated with an awesome map of Crawford Market)!
That’s the question I’m asked the most, but there’s no specific answer to that. Purple is just my favourite colour!
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Hey Achala,
Thank you!
I’ve seen packaged marzipan at Hypercity. Never used it though because I’m not such a big fan of it.
About the chocolate cake recipe:I have a similar recipe that cracks close to the edges. But it’s okay because the cake’s going to get covered in oodles of chocolate ganache anyway.
This chocolate cake is amazing however, I’ve only tried the cupcake version so can’t comments on the cracked tops. Givn how liquid the batter is, I doubt it would crack…
thank you so much!
Hey Shaheen, what a lovely blog you have here, love the freshness and your recipes, got to know from indibloggers…shall take it from here, way you go girl!
Thank you so much, Ananda!
HI purple foodie!!
Youre from BOMBAY!!!!!!!!!!! even better!!
Never thought id be so clanny(if you can call that a word)
Im new to cooking, blogging both!!! And im hoping this is not a passing fad but my interest develps into something substantial. Im so glad to have stumbled first into Deeba and then through her blog to you cos Its such a relief seeing blogs from people livingin India. I am sure ill be able to relate to your ingredients better!!!!!
Ill keep in touch for sure, nice stumbling into you
hey
i see you now . Shaheen , let me comment you look great , the younger version of me lol. like your recipes . I am still single and at times laziness gets me to me , so your recipes will be an advantage . I like capatis with pickles but avoid the ones with mango and lime . and i dont digest vinegar which is a basic product in most pickles . SO lets see ……
Hey stumbled on your blog recently..great work! One more question you can add to this list..” How do you stay thin surrounded by all this absolutely delicious stuff?!”
ha! I end up tasting so much while I’m making it, that in the end I don’t end up eat as much. The family is good at polishing off goodies in no time.
how about sharing recipe on suji cake?
I need to find a recipe first myself! When I do, I will pass it along.
Thanks for the heads up for vanilla beans than can be bought at `Maison Des Gourmets, Lavalle Road, Bangalore. Information like this is priceless.
Way to go.
Thanks once again
By the way ‘purple being your favourite color’ do you also like purple haze, deep purple, kala jamun and a host of purply things ?
Thanks once again
Ashok
You’re very welcome Ashok
But given that you are from TN, don’t you have access to excellent and cheap vanilla beans?
Jamun yes, I’ve dedicated a post to it! But I’m not too musically inclined. I just listen to whatever my sister loads on the mp3 player.
You should listen to Spilled Milk Podcasts, they’re a lot of fun!
Hey there!
First time here. Loved reading your “About” section. I am loving your blog. Good luck!
Stay in touch
-
V
Hiya…
I have totally loved your blog. Its neat and so very organised. Its a pleasure to the eye everytime I vist your blog. The recipes are really simple and easy…
my only doubt where the recipes are concerned is when you say one stick butter, do you mean one pack (100gms Amul butter). I purchased measuring spoons and cups from Arif. Can i use those measurements for your recipes?
cheers,
ruth
Hey there! Thank you so much for your kind words.
TO be very exact, 1 stick butter is 112g (a US 2 oz. standard), but I don’t bother with the additional 12 grams, I just almost always use 100g of Amul. I’m not sure if Arife cups will work. I have a set, I’m going to compare the volume with the standard American measuring cups that I use and get back to you on that. Best would be to invest in a weighing scale that will give you the most precise measurements. Since a cup of flour can measure anything between 120-150g.
Hope this helps.
Thanks so much for the promt revert and thanks so much for checking on the measurement bit for me
I think i shld go to irla soon and get the weighing scale, will save me from the grief of measurements
Could you please suggest a cake recipe that is without chocolate. I have my uncles birthday coming up next friday and I want to make something different for him. Also any idea from where can I buy good whipped cream?
as you can see am still surfing your website, but please take your time to reply….no rush
thanks once again…
You could either make the Pear and Ginger Cake or the Apple Cinnamon Cake. Go through the recipe list for more options.
Whipped cream is available at Arife. Buy Tropolite, it’s better than Rich’s.
Thanks so much for the promt revert and thanks so much for checking on the measurement bit for me
I think i shld go to irla soon and get the weighing scale, will save me from the grief of measurements Could you please suggest a cake recipe that is without chocolate. I have my uncles birthday coming up next friday and I want to make something different for him. Also any idea from where can I buy good whipped cream?
as you can see am still surfing your website, but please take your time to reply….no rush
thanks once again…
hey Shaheen…wow!!i cant beleive here in India i do have someone almost my age ,who shares the same passion and love for food like i do…imean in genral girls our age (most of my peer group) have no clue about the magic of cooking and baking food!..they had rather run away from it …and here came across your blog…i cant stop smiling really.so are you like formally trainned from somewea( looks like no) and if this elaborate blog and the stuff you do is purely outa passion for food.cheers to that now!though i do lot of baking cooking back home and take little orders for cakes and pies here and there but since i want to get into it like professionally iam in middle of applying for culinary schools guess thats like the first step to getting in here formally.though i have been cooking since i guess i was seven years of age ,might sound hard to beleive but yeah.like you receipe books at a very early age replaced bed time story books.i mean i read about you i felt i was reading about myself…again many congratulations to you for a lovlie blog you have!! continue the good work!!
Hi…stumbled upon your wonderful blog thru food-4tot.com…and i’ll have to say that it’s a great job done!
I’ll definately be visiting often!
Hi Shaheen, like I said earlier i just happened to stumble upon your blog, and how it has captivated me. I was looking all over the place for the author, actually wanted to see all the recipes 1st, then come to you, and when I did see it was some thin female with red streaks just out of her teens kind of look I was completely blown over!
Kudos dear, and U’ve got a regular in me now!
thanks, Pooja!
Pretty cool blog. I like good food and experimenting with my dinner. Will try some of your recipes at home(and give you due credit).
Wow, Very excited to have found your blog. I’m moving back to bombay in October and I cant wait order everything on your menu
aww thank you!
mmmmmmmmm…..
heya
u have a intresting blog about foods, but it mostly consist of cakes n stuff wat about some intresting stories of new food recipes of india or abroad, i have few surprise food stories of india , btw if u have some health food recipes , do shre with me abt non veg or veg dishes & calorie free desserts ..
tc
keep on blogging
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