My baking journey
Baking has always been a part of my life, starting with my mom making my birthday cakes every year. Each one had a special theme—Frozen when I was obsessed with Elsa, Alice in Wonderland when I wanted something whimsical, and of course, the classic pink-and-purple cake phase. She made every cake with so much love, and as I got older, I started doing the same for her and my dad. It felt like a full-circle moment, being the one in the kitchen, carefully decorating their cakes just like she used to do for me.Then, during lockdown, baking became more than just a once-a-year tradition. With all that extra time at home, I started experimenting—baking fresh bread, pies, cookies, and even pretzels. What began as a way to pass the time quickly turned into something I genuinely loved.
Then, during lockdown, baking became more than just a once-a-year tradition. With so much time at home, I started experimenting—baking fresh bread, pies, cookies, and even pretzels. I got so into it that one year, I decided to take on the challenge of making an entire Thanksgiving dinner from scratch. It was exhausting, but seeing everyone enjoy the food made it all worth it. Later, when I came to India, I kept that spirit alive by organizing a potluck with family friends, making sure there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Beyond baking, I’ve also grown to love cooking more traditional dishes, especially during festivals like Diwali. Every year, I help my mom and dad make festive treats—karanji, laadu, modaks—the kind of sweets that fill the house with the warmest, most nostalgic smells. There’s something so special about learning these recipes, about carrying forward traditions that have been in my family for generations.
Now, I bake for all my friends’ birthdays, making sure each one gets a treat just as special as the cakes my mom used to make for me. I even have my own recipe book, just like she does, filled with scribbled notes and little tweaks to make each bake perfect. And of course, I have my prized possession—my top-secret brownie recipe, the one that wins everyone over. It’s the kind of recipe that people beg for, but I just smile and tell them, “Maybe one day.”
