Where it All Began: The Inspiration Behind My Mother’s Kitchen

As Mother’s Day approaches, I want to share the story of the woman who inspired My Mother’s Kitchen — my Ammachi.

To understand why I started My Mother’s Kitchen, and why I cook and teach the way I do, you first have to understand my mother. Although she was small in stature, she was a towering presence. She raised eleven children, managed a bustling home, was my father’s trusted right hand, and somehow found time to help others, quietly and generously. A true matriarch in every sense of the word.

Her kitchen was the heart of our home and I loved being there with her. She was meticulous and uncompromising, and every dish she made was exceptional. One of her favorite sayings was, “Arayilanu mole curry” which literally translates to “the flavor of the curry is in the grinding.”

This was her way of saying that the magic of a dish lies in how you prepare its ingredients. It was also her reminder that great results come from doing things the right way, not the easy way. And she lived by that principle, not just in cooking but in life.

There’s so much I wish I had asked her — about her childhood, her family, and how she learned to cook the way she did. She didn’t share much about her younger years, so that part of her life lives only in my imagination. I often say that cooking came naturally to me but the truth is, I was trained in the best kitchen I could have ever known.

When I started My Mother’s Kitchen, it was more than just a way to share recipes. It was about passing on everything my mother gave me: her knowledge, her technique, her high standards, and her love. I wanted others to experience what I was so lucky to learn firsthand. And soon, my daughter will begin to share in this journey with me, adding her own chapter to this story.

This Mother’s Day, I honor my mother and the generations of women who have quietly shaped their families through food, faith, and unconditional love.

It began in her kitchen and now it continues here, one dish and one story at a time. In the coming weeks, this site will grow into a home for recipes, reflections, and the many memories passed down from my mother’s kitchen to mine. If you’d like to be the first to know when new content is live, I invite you to sign up below.

Thank you for being here.

With love and gratitude,

Leela

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