Pot Luck -2 with my Students

"Food, in the end, in our own tradition, is something holy. It's not about nutrients and calories. It's about sharing. It's about honesty. It's about identity."

On 9th August 2016, I conducted a Potluck - “Potluck with a Purpose!”, All the students who participated in the potluck event got a packet of lunch separately which was distributed to Regional Cancer Center(RCC), Trivandrum. We were able to give about 30 lunch packets to the needy

Around 25 Students gathered together and had a potluck were the students bought different dishes starting from fish fingers, Unnakaya, fish curry, chicken curry, chocolate cake, date and honey cake and wide range of desserts from Pink lady pie to rice payasam.

It was a platform for the students to share the doubts and queries about baking, Was amazed and surprised that I even had students who were coming from faraway places.

The Creative Hands shared the experience of the sales they had on 6th and 7th July at Women’s Club, Trivandrum. Thanks to all the volunteers who had done an amazing job Rajani Nair Tonia Lawrence Tess PradeepBincey Annamma John

It was a joyful event were we could plan bigger in the field of baking and cooking fraternity and also plan for a bigger bake and craft sale in the month of December 2016.

Thanks to everyone who had turned up for this Potluck event. A Special Thanks to Brinda Menon who had organized it in a beautiful way.

A Word From Each Person ( Knowing each other)

Caramel Delight

Dessert Session 

Special and Surprise Cake Gift 

All of Us Who Made The Show Happen

Bake and Craft Sale at Trivandrum

If you work just for money, you’ll never make it. But if you love what you are doing,and always put the customer first, success will be yours.”

A concept of selling your products was born on the potluck day which I had on 4th May 2016 at my home with my students, from there it has bloomed to a beautiful flower as "Creative Hands." We had an amazing 2 days sale on 6th and 7th August 2016.

A big thanks to Trivandrum City and also to all them who ran behind this to make it a success. Lisa Melbith Beena Enose Shinu Varghese Bindu Gs Gs Neethu Ann Mini Pradeep Anju Shibu Chithra Sreekumar Nabila Shanavas Aswani Abhiram Veena John Marietta Mathew Liji Jayalal Chittakath Rajani Nair Tess Pradeep Tonia Lawrence Bincey Annamma John

Looking forward to conduct the next event soon!!!!
Watch out this page for the next date - 

Painting on Ceramic vase

Customers at the venue!

Home treats for sale

Orchids for sale

Fresh and fast selling items!

Team of creative people!

Hand-made Jewelry on display! 

Red Velvet Cake!

My Little Brothers

I wish I could see my little brothers more.

We used to fight all the time during our childhood but now that I don't see them very often I cherish the time I have spend with them. — with Marvin Stephen Gomez and Martin Stephen Gomez.

Learn Eggless Baking

I get frequent call from individuals in Bangalore asking me for eggless cake baking classes. As most of my cakes recipes taught in the class are with egg, I keep telling then that I have very few eggless baking classes. So, with repeated class, I decided to look around for eggless bakes and cooking sessions in Bangalore.

So, this is what I found. Here are the list of popular bakers who conduct egg-less baking classes regularly in Bangalore

1) Cook and Bake with Deepali ( http://www.deepalisawant.com/)

Deepali's Cooking Class ( Sarjapur)

A treat and numerous choices for individuals looking for eggless bakes, Deepali Sawant's class covers popular baking lessons and seasonal treats. Visit her website to browse through the classes offered by her. 

2) Manju's Cooking Class ( Manju's Cooking Class)

Manju's Cooking Class ( R T Nagar)

Located at RT Nagar, Manju's Cooking class has a wide assortment of cakes, cooking and short-eats. Visit her website for the upcoming class and information on other bakes and cooking classes..

3) YummyWhipsByVaishali ( https://www.facebook.com/YummyWhipsByVaishali/)

Eggless Bakes & Fondant Creations by Vaishalii

This baker specializes in bakes, pastries and fondant cakes made without egg. She also takes orders in fondant cakes for b'days and other occasions. This place is located at Basaveshwaranagar, 8th main. Contact # 9886320404 for class details or to order fondant b'day cakes, etc.

4) Anjali Cooking School

Anjali Cooking School

Anjali cooking school(ACS), is one of the pioneering cooking school dedicated at imparting knowledge and training in vegetarian cooking lessons. It's started by Mrs. Pushpa Tated in 1987. It has a wide range of eggless bakes and vegetarian dishes are covered in the class. The courses offered here range from sizzlers to Thai cuisine.

Located at 5th Block, Near Karur Vysya Bank, Rajajinagar, Bangalore, 560010

For details, pls call 080-23405032, 9448925759
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Best Way to Learn Baking - Try New Recipes

Like any skill, baking can be learnt with practice and repeated experiments. Well, as you begin, don't get too disheartened with the failures ( sticky cake, or dry cakes). Take the imperfections as the stepping stone on the path of perfection. And, as always stick to the recipe. Don't skip any step or add a new method, which is not mentioned in the recipe. Well, you can do tweaks when you become more confident with your baking.

So, start learning by reading recipes from food blogs, watch videos on YouTube, or buy a recipe books from popular bakers.

If you're looking for an egg less recipe, here's one posted on my blog. It's a recipe of whole wheat egg less chocolate cake posted earlier.    

Bread Aroma at Cantonment Railway Station

Recently, I started travelling by Kochu Veli Express, instead of the green Garib Rath Train from Kochu Veli, Trivandrum. One reason I switched is that it reaches B'lore earlier than Garib Rath. Moreover,  Kochu Veli stops at Cantonment station, where it's easier to reach the entrance of the station. Also, hiring cabs ( Ola) or the pre-paid counter is right at the entrance.

Charming Cantonment Station 

This station has a old charm - probably it's the granite arches, the big clock, the low platform, or the easy access to the entrance. Apart from these good old feeling, I love the bakery unit running inside the station building.

Bakery World - At Cantonment Railway Station
It's one-of-the-kind bakery unit which is running in this station. If you come to this station by evening time then you can buy fresh loaf, and pastry cakes that are out from the bakery. If you're curious, then you can take a peek inside the bakery and get a glimpse of the activities going inside. Isn't great!

First thing you'll notice inside the unit is the bread baking racks, super big oven, large size mixing bowl ( big brother of kitchen aid ) and such kind.

So, far I haven't seen such a well run bakery unit inside a railway station. And it crosses my mind that it could be a good idea to have similar unit in each station. Probably, someone can prepare a detailed plan and propose a plan to setup a bakery unit in each station.

Subh Yatra!

Bakery World ( Bakery in Cantonment Station)

Peek inside the bakery 

Pic Collage  ( Bakery inside a railway station)

Cantonment Station ( People moving towards the entrance)