Order Plum Cake

 

Order Rich Plum Cake

Every year around December, my house fills with the aroma of a special cake which brings to mind the memories of Christmas. It's the time of the year when dry fruits, rum and caramelizing of sugar takes priority. It's the time when I get into the plum cake. 

This year too I have baked Plum Cakes - a part of which is for the cake orders from other places and from nearby areas. 

The plum cakes are available in 1/2 kg and 1 kg. I have so far send cakes to B'lore, Kollam, Pune, Hyderabad. 

To orders rich plum cake soaked in Trivandrum, you can call or Whatsapp at Ph#9900114982 

Classroom Baking Training for Home Bakers in Trivandrum

 Hands-on Baking Class for Beginners in Trivandrum

Hands-on Baking Class

Baking Class for Beginners

It's been an unprecedented year for most of us who are going through the pandemic. In these months - from March to November, I had stopped at classroom training and have gone virtual. 

However, off-late I got many enquiries about direct classes. Initially I had said that classes will resume only in 2021, when we have a remedy for this disease. But now, I have changed my mind about resuming classes at least in a limited way. 

So, keeping the Covid Protocol and safety measures in place, I am planning to start limited number of classroom training in Trivandrum. 

This set of classes will be for a Day! Timing is from 10:AM to 4:30!

All these cakes are suitable for beginners and those looking to gain a strong foothold in baking or those planning to learn new recipes!

1 Day Baking Class - 11/12/20 ( 10:AM to 4:30 PM)

Number of students: 5 

Number of bakes you'll learn and bake in the class

6 Cakes and 6 Icing/Frosting

1. Red Velvet Cake
2. Plum Cake
3. Butterscotch Cake

4. Chocolate Truffle Cake
5. Chiffon Cake
6. Dulce de Leche

Fee for this one-day Class is Rs 6,800!

those interested in joining this class may contact me at 9379398865!

Revisiting Dundee Cake

 

Dundee Cake

Unique Cake Design

While researching and planning for new cake recipe, I chanced upon Dundee Cake. On reading and knowing more about this Scottish cake, I came across an article on Telegraph India, about it's existence in India. Interestingly, there are bakeries in West Bengal which still make dundee cake. Also, I was surprised to know that Britannia Industries in India was making and selling these cakes till 1980. This means that it was a popular cake, which fell out of taste or fashion with India people. 

This Christmas season of 2020, I made my first dundee cake. The standing out feature of this cake is the way almonds are topped on this way. Btw, it's a fruity cake made with plenty of dry fruits and I could related it to the fruit cake made during this season. 

For recipe and personal stories about Dundee Cake, pls check this post by a blogger named Debjani on her site -  https://kitchenofdebjani.com/ 

Personalized Classroom One Day Baking Class for Beginners in Trivandrum

 Learn baking from the basics to advanced bakes with hands-on baking classes in Trivandrum. 

I'm resuming limited baking classes after a long bread of 7 months. It all happened due to the pandemic and my last session was in Feb 2000. At that time I thought life would be back to normal in few months. But, few months extended beyond all our imagination. 

Now, I'm starting the class by limiting to just one student at a time. Also, the classes will taken by following the Covid protocol. 

These classes are suitable for first-time bakers and those looking to gain a strong-hold in baking.

One-day class is designed to cover the rudiments of baking to making perfect bakes. You will learn how to build professional skills, how to improvise the recipe, and tips of making perfect bakes..

Baking Class is Suitable for:  

• Beginners - Looking to learn new recipes and gain confidence in baking
• Home-bakers- Seeking a professional touch to baking
• Small Cake Biz from Home - Suitable for those looking to start selling cakes from home- Learn new recipes and popular cakes and icing

One-Day Course Content:

6 Cakes and 6 Types of Icing in One-Day

1. Vanilla Cake and Cupcake

2. Chocolate Cake

3. Red Velvet Cake

4. Marble Cake

5. Blackforest Cake

6. Plum Cake

6 Icing/Frosting 

1. Fudge

2. Ganache

3. Buttercream Icing

4. Cream Cheese Frosting

5. Royal Icing

6. Fondant Icing

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Other Cakes to Choose:

1. Butterscotch Cake
2. Banana Cake
3. Ghee Cake
4. Rasmalai Cake
5. Nutty Bubbly Cake
6. Cheese Cake

7. Caramel Cake
8. Pound Cake
9. Tres Leche Cake
10. Carrot Cake
11. Vancho Cake
12. Ice Cream Cake

13. Japanese Cotton Cake
14. Swiss Roll
15. Angel Food Cake
16. Texas Sheet Cake
17. Molten Lava Cake
18. Lamington Cake

19. Raffaello Cake
20. Chai Cake with cream cheese frosting
21. Rainbow cake 
22. Pineapple Upside Down Cake
23. Mahogany cake with Ermine Frosting
24.Do-nothing Cake

25. French Yougurt Cake
26. Cream Cheese Pound Cake
27. Dalgona Coffee Chocolate Cake
28. White Forest Pastry Cake
29. Chocolate Truffle Cake
30. Battenberg cake 

31. Tiramisu Layered Cake

The focus of the class is on personalized learning experience. All materials for the class will be provided and you can taken home the cakes made by you!

Traditional Plum Cake Making Online Class

Hello Fellow Baking Friends, 

Each weekend, I take online classes which cover variety of cakes and dishes. The duration of each session is 2 hrs, which is taken through Zoom App. 

It's an interactive LIVE class, where you can see each recipe done from scratch. This coming weekend, I have baking classes on Saturday and cake decoration demonstration on Sunday. Pls feel free to share these class information with your friends and relatives! 

Thanks

Marina
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Class Details

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28/11/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

Panettone

1. Panettone (Rich & dense sweet bread made for Christmas)

2. Fruit Pound Cake with Orange Glaze

Fee Rs 1,250

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Date: 29/11/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

Plum Cake the Traditional Way

1.Rich Plum Cake with Royal Icing

2. Carrot cake with Cream Cheese

Rs 1,250

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Date: 29/11/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

FONDANT ICING

(Ombre Wave Cake with Teddy Bear Topper)

• Make ombre strips using fondant

• Make Fondant Teddy Bear Topper

• Learn to make Chocolate Balls

Fee Rs 1,600

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Date: 29/11/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

Buttercream Stripe Cake with Rosette Design

In this class, you'll learn to:

1. Make Buttercream icing

2. Create stripe design

3. Top with rosette design

Fee Rs 1,600
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If you are unable to attend these session, you can buy the pre-recorded online of the classes with the recipe and class video for the same fee.

12 Day Class on Cakes and Decoration!

Gain solid foundation in baking with Comprehensive Beginners class for 12 days, covering 17 cakes and 5 icing/frosting. Details in this link https://bit.ly/3nuPOzt

Bread, Puffs, Donuts Class 

8 Day class on basic to advanced breads, puffs, etc. 

https://bit.ly/38839IT

Pls contact 9379398865 for class details.

Biscoff Cake Lessons and Online Class

It's just amazing to see how products and items that appeared rare and special has become commonplace. In a recent experience of this is when I saw a picture of Biscoff speculoos on the Whatsapp group of a baking shop in Trivandrum, saying that this product is now available in our shop.

Biscoff speculoos

When I first bought this sweet creamy spread from Amazon, I thought I made a big discovery. The truth is I was late to the party. And, in few months this product is available in most baking stores in the city. How fast a thing that appeared as niche becomes a common product! 

In a way, that's the way our connected economy goes. Everything is mass produced and ideas that was special becomes a trend and then looses that special appeal. 

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 In this post, I'm sharing the details of Online Classes scheduled on this weekend - Nov 21 and 22nd. .

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Class Details

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Date: 21/11/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

Biscoff Cake and Sticky Toffee Banana Cake

1.Sticky Toffee Banana Cake

2.Biscoff Cake wih Biscoff Buttercream Icing

 Fee Rs 1,250

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Date: 21/11/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

 Spice Plum and Quinoa Muffin

Muffin Making

1. Spinach Cheese Muffin

2. Spice Plum and Quinoa Muffin

3. Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffin

4. Whole Wheat Carrot Muffin

Rs 950

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Date: 22/11/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

Pie and Tart

Pie and Tart

1. Fruit Mince Pie

2. Coconut tart with Passion Fruit curd 

3. Mascrapone and Pappaya Tart

4. Boston Banoffee Pie

Fee Rs 1,250

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Date: 22/11/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

Popular Desserts

Dessert Online Class

1.Tiramisu

2. Pavlova 

3. Chocolate Orange Mousse

Fee Rs 1,250

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If you are unable to attend these session, you can buy the pre-recorded online of the classes with the recipe and class video for the same fee.

12 Day Class on Cakes and Decoration!

Gain solid foundation in baking with Comprehensive Beginners class for 12 days, covering 17 cakes and 5 icing/frosting. Details in this link https://bit.ly/3nuPOzt

Bread, Puffs, Donuts Class 

8 Day class on basic to advanced breads, puffs, etc. 

https://bit.ly/38839IT

Pls contact 9379398865 for class details.

Regards, 

Marina

Bread Puffs and Pastry Online Class

 

Bread Class - Online Class

Bread Puff Online Class

Bread & Puff Pastry Specialist Course

Bake better homemade bread, with these specially focused courses on variety of breads and puff pastry classes.

In this 7 day Class, you'll learn:

1. Extensive knowledge on various types of breads
2. Brush up your skills or learn new ones
3. Gain a strong knowledge base in puffs, croissants

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Day 1 

1. Milk Bread
2.100%  Wheat Bread
3.Wheat Bun
4.Cinnamon Roll

Day 2

1. Maida Pizza

2. Wheat Pizza

3. Wheat Bun

3. Garlic Pullapart

Day 3

1. Focaccia

2. Masala Bread

3. Spinach Bread

4. Bread Sticks

Day 4

1. No Yeast Bread

2. Bagels

3. Sweet Chocolate Bread

4. Burger 

- Make Burger Buns,

 Patties, homemade Mayonnaise and Coleslaw

Day 5

1. Puffs ( Egg, Veg, & Chicken)

2. Meat Rolls

3. Cream Buns

Day 6

1. Doughnut

2. Eclair 

3. Baklava

4. Profiteroles

Day 7. 

1. Crossiant

2.Danish pastry 

3. Cream Cone

====================================

This is a new series of online courses to help students learn more about different types of popular and specialty breads. 

A baker of any skill level can take this course on breads. All you need is to spare and the willingness to get to know the process. Moreover, you can clear your doubts, ask questions during the class and after the class when you try these bakes at home.

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These easy-to-access class, which you can learn from anywhere. This class have bundled their Bread Specialist classes, and grouped them with the core lessons , so you can get the whole package!

Baking Lessons for November Week

 

Chai Cake Class

Two Special Cakes on Saturday

Here are the list of ONLINE Classes scheduled for this week.

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Class Details

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Date: 7/11/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

1.Chai Cake with cream cheese frosting

2.White Chocolate Mocha cake

( Swiss Meringue buttercream icing 

with chocolate dripping)

Fee Rs 1,250

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Date: 7/11/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

Homemade Chocolate Making 

( Learn 12 types of homemade Chocolate)

Rs 950

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Date: 8/11/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

Italian and French Macaron

- Learn to make delicate macaron shell

and three filling

Fee Rs 1,600

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Date: 8/11/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

Buttercream Icing - Succulent Theme

- Make buttercream icing

- Make cactus and succulents

- Design a succulent theme cake

Fee Rs 1,600

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Apart from short-weekend class, you can choose to learn from Comprehensive Beginners class - 12 days, covering 17 cakes and 5 icing/frosting. Details given in this link https://bit.ly/3nuPOzt


Recently, I started a 8 day online bread class for those looking to learn more about breads, puff pastry and other treats. 

Rafello Cake and Fondant Cake Lessons

 Another week, with a new set of cakes, cupcakes, cookies and fondant theme cake. The special thing about this class is the changes made in the recipe booklet. Starting from this week, I am adding shopping details of ingredients used in each recipe. This is to make things easy for students. 

This class is suitable for students who are taking their baby steps in baking. Those who are new to baking can check this page where I have given a detailed list of items required to start baking at home. 

Cake Class Calendar

Nutty Bubble Cake

Rafello Cake

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Class Details

---------------

Date: 31/10/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

1.Rafello Cake 

2.Nutty Bubble Cake

Rs 1,250

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Date: 31/10/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

1. Ice cream Chocolate Cupcake

2. Eggnog Latte Cupcakes

3. Dark Choclate with Peanut Butter frosting

4. Coconut cupcakes

Rs 950

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Date:1/11/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

Cookies 

1. Mexican Cookies

2. Italian Cornmeal cookies

3. Nutella sandwich cookies

4. Think & crispy Banana oatmeal cookies

Rs 950

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Date: 1/11/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

Fondant - Bee Theme Cake ( B'day Theme)

- Make fondant Icing

- Learn to make bees figures

- Make b'day designs

- Learn to make bee hive design

using chocolate 

Rs 1,600

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Fondant Cake Bee Hive Theme

Fondant Bee

24 Essential Baking Tools for Home Baker

If you are a first time baker, one of the question that comes to your mind is about the baking equipment and tools required for baking. What should I buy to start baking at home? Another thought that comes to mind is the cost.

Many people have a notion that baking equipment are expensive. Yes, to some extend they are. But to make a simple cake or two, you can bake a cake with things at home. So, no need to worry about big budget.

I know many students who made their first cake in a pressure cooker. They use normal household vessels to mix the batter, a hand wisk to make the batter and the a perfect cake was out of the cooker in no time. In fact, my mom used fork to whiff up the batter. 

Back in 2011, when I started taking baking class in Trivandrum, I borrowed oven from my cousin's wife. Every month when I had class, I used to borrowed it from her and returned the oven after the class. This shuttling of oven went on for months, till I bought my first oven in Trivandrum.

Another thing which I used to hire was the tables for the class. I used to call the near by Babu Decorations and they would send some 4 or 5 foldable table to my house. Again, I used to depend on this hire service for more than a year, till I made wooden tables for the class. Looking back at things, I'm glad that I started taking class without waiting to buy all things. 

The wish list always keeps growing. This is true for everyone. When I started, I just wanted an oven, now after buying the basics, now I wish I had a big size Kitchen Aid for mixing. One of the item on my wish list was the grill pan, when I bought in 2020.

Basic Tools for Baking 
Coming back to the topic of basic items used in baking, the foremost item required is the electric oven. In oven, you can either buy OTG ( Oven Toaster Grill) or a Microwave with convection. I personally prefer OTG. I have Murphy Richards 62 and Bajaj Majesty OTG. I also use a Sunflame cooking range in Bangalore. This I bought as it is used as standby when power goes half way. 

Apart from the household oven, I have a single deck Berjaya baking oven ( BJY-G30-1BD – 1 Deck/ 1 Tray) which runs on gas. I would recommend this type of oven to anyone who has plans to sell cakes and pastries on a commercial basis. This was bought from Stains at Attakulangara, Trivandrum. Mr David of Stains was helpful in connecting with the agent who explained the functions, etc.  

Okay. Now, let me come to the point. Here are the list of common items used in home baking. 


1. Oven ( OTG or Microwave with Convection)
2. Hand held egg beater or whisk ( Philips or Murphy Richards or Bosh)
3. Measuring cups and spoons
4. Bowls for mixing the batter
5. Rubber spatula ( Useful to mix the batter)
6. Angled spatula for applying icing
7. Sieve
8. Butter paper ( used to line the baking tray)
9. Parchment paper ( Expensive and useful than butter paper, parchment paper is best to line the trays)
10. Oven thermometer ( Useful to check if the oven temp is matching with the dial)
11. Cooling rack ( Use this rack to cool the cakes after it comes from the oven)
12. Baking tins 
13. Toothpick or thin wooden skewers to check if the cake is baked
14. Turntable 
15. Cupcake liners or baking liners 
16. Pastry comb
17. Pastry brush
18. Scissors 
19. Serrated knife 
20. Bread scraper ( used for mixing bread dough)
21. Timer ( handy gadget in a kitchen)
22. Digital Weighing scale 
23. Oven gloves

Murphy Richards OTG 60 Ltr Capacity

Oven Inside view 

Murphy Richards Beater 

Whisk 

Measuring Cups and Spoons

Oven Gloves

Mixing Bowls ( glass or plastic)

Rubber Spatula 

Baking Tins -  buy the right size based on the recipe

Sieve for sifting flour

Turntable ( Rotating cake stand)

Pastry Comb ( Used to make designs on the sides of the cake)

Oven Thermometer 

Serrated Knife ( Used of slicing the cake )

Butter paper - used to line the baking tins 

Parchment Paper ( More expensive than butter paper and preferred) 

Apart from the itemized list, I will make another post about the list of baking ingredients used for making basic cupcake, fat-free sponge cake and a simple vanilla cake. 

The purpose of making this list is to help first-time bakers to get a rough idea of things required to start their baking adventure. 

I  hope you will find this list useful when you go for shopping to a baking store. In case you know anyone who is planning to start baking, then feel free to share this list. 

Apart from this, if you have questions or doubt about which OTG to buy from the market, then I can give my suggestion. 

One of the frequently asked question is this - which oven size should I buy? With oven sizes available from 18 liters to 60 liters, it's natural for first-time buyers to get confused about their requirement, need and functions. I guess, there must be another blog explaining in detailed about the popular OTG in the market and a simple guide to select the right oven size and brand. 

This list is not complete and I will try to add new information about baking. Also, if you're looking to set up a bakery or do large number of items from home, then you need different set of equipment. I will details the shops which sells such items in places I have been. 

Feel free to give me suggestions on this post. 

Good Luck to your Baking!

Lotus Biscotti Cupcake and other Cake Lessons

 

Cupcake Delight

Date: 24/10/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

1.Lotus Biscotti Cupcake

2.Mint Chocolate cupcake

3.Hummingbird-cupcakes

4.Vegan Beet Cupcake

Rs 950

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Christmas Cake

Date: 24/10/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

Rich Plum Cake

Carrot cake with Cream Cheese

Rs 1,250


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Date:25/10/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

Puff Pastry Class

- How to make homemade Puffs

( Egg, Veg and Chicken Filling)

Rs 950

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Date: 25/10/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

Fondant - Theme Cake ( B'day Theme)

Rs 1,600

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Murphy Richards OTG at Bake N Joy Kazhakuttom

Murphy Richards OTG at Bake N Joy

Add caption

 

Stacks of Morphy Richards OTG lined on the front this baking shop at Kazhakuttam. Bake N Joy, 099950 76948 Most of the oven I use is Murphy Richards. One of the problem I had faced was the customer service in Trivandrum. Luckily, I only had one serious issue with the temperature. If you are into regular baking, it's essential to buy an oven thermometer

Also, from your experience, which OTG would you recommend to a first time buyer?

Barbecue Grill Cooking Online Class

 I've been planing to start a barbecue grill class for a long, long time. However, I delayed it with all the set of excuses. One thing I didn't a grill. I wanted to buy a good quality one - Weber. But it never materialized as it was way too expensive for my purse. And, the plan got shelved.

Lockdown and Resurgence in Classes

The last six months, was a big transformation for me. I guess it was so for many people. One thing was the shift in the way I take classes. The change from in-person classes to complete Online Class was something I had never done.

I had lot of apprehension about going online. I didn't know which way to take class...will students come....will they be able to understand what I teach.

However, with time, I found out that Zoom was a popular platform to make, then I bought a camera stand to keep the phone, learned to use Gdrive and all the nitty-gritty stuff of file sharing.
( Btw, if anyone needs help to set-up or understand these tools, then I can share things I know)


Also, during lockdown, I was able to learn how to make Sourdough bread by joining the class conducted by Lavonee. And, start a barbecue class.

Barbecue class project took momentum with the purchase of the grill. I bought a grill from Amazon. It was bought after going through the reviews and price factor, I decided to start on a small budget portable grill which is around 3.5k. 

The item arrived in a good packing. Upon opening the layers of packing, the product appeared as I had thought. One thing I felt was that the metal frame and the inside parts looked a bit fragile. Also, there was difficulty in fixing the screws to fix the leg of the stand. It looks like there was no sufficient care given when it was packed. Apart from it, rest was okay stuff to make the grill.

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Class Details

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Date: 17/10/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

Opera Cake 

1.Opera Cake

2.Ginger Bread Cake

Rs 1,250

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Buttercream Icing Class

Date: 17/10/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

Buttercream Birthday Cake

- Learn to make buttercream 

- Make roses and borders

- How to write b'day wishes 

Rs 1,250

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Date:18/10/20 ( 10:30 to 12:PM)

French Macaron

French Macaron - Three Flavors 

- How to make macaron shells 

( Three Fillings)

- Coffee Filling

- Pista Filling

- Ganache filling

Rs 1,600

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Date: 18/10/20 ( 2:30 to 4:PM)

Barbecue - Non-Veg ( Chicken)

Chicken on grill

1.Garlic-butterfly-prawn-recipe

2.Portuguese BBQ Peri Peri Chicken

3.Rosemary Peppered Chicken

4.Minced Chicken Skewers

5.Grilled Chicken with bbq sauce

Rs 1,250

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Apart from short-weekend class, you can choose to learn from Comprehensive Beginners class - 12 days, covering 17 cakes and 5 icing/frosting. Details given in this link https://mennas-cooking.blogspot.com/2020/10/baking-certification-course-for.html

Order Cake from Home Bakers Trivandrum

 Here're the list of home bakers in Trivandrum that I personally know and who makes perfect cakes and treats. Feel free to contact them for more details. 

Thanks

Marina

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Crave Custom Cakes

Order designer, theme bakes birthday cakes, wedding cakes from one of the talented home-baker in Trivandrum. 

She can be contacted in this phone number 099467 20927
Email : customcakescrave@gmail.com

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Laya's Cake Couture

Custom Cakes by Laya's Cake Couture

Home made cakes, all customized cakes made with love and care in each bite. Cakes make with care, attention to detail and Couture class!

Ph# 097467 55618

email: vijiisakthi@gmail.com

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CloudNineCakes

B'day Theme Cake

Contact # 089437 22301

Email: cloud9delicacies@gmail.com

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ARTISAN CRUST | SWETHA PILLAI

Baker ◾Content creator ◾workshops

Freshly baked on pre orders 🥨🥧

HOME DELIVERY in Trivandrum, Kerala.

For orders and enquiries 📞+919567944468

Artisan Crust by Swetha Pillai 

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The Cake Fairy Trivandrum

Cake Shop in Alathara, Akkulam

website - https://cake-fairy-trivandrum.business.site/

Millionaire Short bread cookies, which she had gifted to me https://mennas-cooking.blogspot.com/2021/03/million-thanks-to-devis-millionaire.html

Address:

14 G

Heera Towers

Alathara, Akkulam, Kerala 695017

Contact - Ph# 094460 85250

082814 00550

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Jus' Bake by rameesa

Jus' Bake is my home based venture bringing you cakes and other desserts.

Theme cakes, Dessert Tables, hampers and much more.

rameesaarshad52@gmail.com

To place orders call / whatsapp

9048359140

View cakes on gallery - https://www.facebook.com/jusbakebyrameesa/