Tuesday, November 23, 2010

What I sometimes do in my spare time

is bake. The obsession started sometime earlier this year. And have been baking away. Bought a small oven and then bought a bigger one, with whatever sad contraptions that are available in the name of convection ovens (not microwave) in Chennai.
My mother was mostly complaining that I would never step into the kitchen except of course to make tea or coffee and then suddenly baking started. Coming to think of it, I don't know when and how I started off with this. Maybe a friend goaded me into it. And that was the beginning of this hobby. Yes, I think the credit goes to her and she said lets bake this weekend.  And we first tried a chocolate fudge microwave oven cake. Which came out well enough since we followed a microwave oven recipe. But figured microwave ovens, even if they have the convection mode are not designed for serious baking at all. 
And I have fallen hook, line and sinker into this hobby. Eggless baking mind you. Which meant checking out all the vegan baking books and just checking out what they do instead of eggs. And next calling friends over and asking them to try this and try that.
Breads and cakes and cookies and now icecream. Finally invested in a Kitchenaid stand mixer and its attachment when I went to Canada. And its fun. My mom however, still thinks this is a temporary obsession. And I think twice before baking cookies in this Sunflame OTG. But I figured the world really has not come to thinking of freestanding ovens for people like me. Friends of mine who have also recently taken to this dont want to get into the headache of calling their carpenter and redesigning kitchens for the sake of this. And though we want to fly high in baking wonderland, we find our wings clipped. Oh, the woes! :p

Nevertheless, to you, I'd suggest you try some sort of a food preparation except instant food, of course. I am sure doing this on a daily basis is ho-hum. But check out baking. Its quite a wonderful experience.

23 comments:

santhosh P kumar said...

hi chinn,
Keep bakeing and dont forget to sing for us.

santhosh P kumar

GAYATHRI said...

nice one chinmayi:) when i shared about your baking and how i wish i could also.. some day..my mom shouted "saadham vechu kozhambhu rasam oru curry panna kathuko modhalla!!" :(

Asha said...

yours was the first blog i read a few years back. I think i have left few comments some 4 years back. nice to read your blog again after a long time. you are quite a multitasker at your age and you now don the hat of a baker. Rock on.

Do share the eggless cake recipes.

Sridevi said...

Hi , I love to bake. like you, i bake only vegetarian deserts. I strongly recommend you to try Red velvet cupcake ( eggless) with cream cheese frosting. It's delicious and very very colorful.
Sri

Jayne said...

Since you're into baking...You might wanna try Steam Moist Chocolate Cake.

Recipe:(http://auntyyochana.blogspot.com/2006/06/steam-moist-chocolate-cake.html)

I tried it and it's very easy to make plus it taste REALLLY GOOD. Don't need oven, just use a steamer or if you don't want to buy a steamer just use a pan. Hehe... good luck :)

Vardhini said...

Hey Chinmayi! I'm also a person with obsession on baking & cake decorations. Not sure if you have come across this great site www.egglesscooking.com - Madhuram, another passionate baker has plenty of vegan recipes...I'm a big fan of hers, try it out.

SHEETAL AMBAR said...

You should try watching Rachel Allen Bake or Nigella Bites for lots of yummy baking tips.. They have the most sinful delights to bake recipes...

Anonymous said...

Don't you see a drastic reduction in the comments section. I think it's because you don't write often these days and most people who follow your blog have assumed that you stopped blogging. Please do write often and we can't wait for it:-)
Kumar

Anonymous said...

May you be bestowed with enough Corn,Sugar & Wheat for all the Breads to be Woven in the times to come...

Anonymous said...

Hi Chinmayi
I love baking...Waiting for Christmas sale to get a new oven and other bake-ware from Currimboys,Adyar.(great collection)

This blog has great eggless baking recipes. check it out.
http://www.divinetaste.com/category/categories/eggless-baking/

Happy Baking :)
Sharanya

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm!You should really be in love with your Elephant then...

aneetaa said...

Oh yeah...Baking is a bliss.I am hooked on to it ever since I tried making a cake form scratch, Chinmayi, try this egg less Vanilla apple cake. Its really good. http://veggiefoodist.blogspot.com/2008/10/dosha-cake-eggless-vanilla-apple-cake.html
There are lots of egg less/veganrecipes out in the world. Sky is the limit, when it comes to baking!

Anonymous said...

check out this website egglesscooking.com.her recipes are great.

zing said...

Hi chinmayi
i did not know you. and i can't understand tamil. but after listening the song KILLIMANJARO. i have become fan of you. i love ur voice. so rocking................

Chennai boy said...

what happened chinmayi, you were not there in sun TVin Sangeetha mahayutham. without you that shows little bit lacking in comparing, it's obivious. I thought atleast you will come in as competiter.

Before every Sat & Sun I was waiting very eagrly.

complete disappointment.

Anonymous said...

Do you have a blog feed? It would be useful to follow your updates...

Anonymous said...

Watch out for the extra pounds!

Anonymous said...

Where am I...? Where am I...? Having Lost in the Shades of Darkness. I Search for that One Ray of Light that fills my Hope to the Brim...

Sashwath said...

Well comments is nothing regarding the baking :) Happened to see Music award function kalaignar TV . As always simple superb performance . . Simple White . . Simple Singing . I was hoping you will get with VTV song you did was happy .

check this link if you have time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD15R8XMat4

amna said...

amazing hobby to pick up! how are you managing the step up in voltage with a KA from Canada? got an adapter?

Anonymous said...

Eggless baking is goood but you wont get the fluffiness of the cakes which are made with eggs. Try with Egg Replacer and share your comments next time.

irah.

Priya dharshini said...

Hi
I met u recently with my daughter on a cake workshop...Being obsessed with baking,I am sure u can bring out new dishes in ur KA....So,Enjoy baking...

Anonymous said...

Hi Chinmayi,
I am curious to know what model of sunflame OTG do you use? since i am planning one for myself.. and am really impressed and inspired to bake after looking at your baking interests.