A very happy birthday to Deliciously
Directionless! Yes, my blog turns 2 today 🙂 Oh, and this is my 100th blogpost! A big, big thank you
to all of you lovely readers who have made this possible! And boy, do I have a
‘treat’ for you!Update: This giveaway is now closed and the winner was announced on my Facebook Page on June 19th. Congratulations, Neha Borkar! And thank you all for participating 😀
Directionless! Yes, my blog turns 2 today 🙂 Oh, and this is my 100th blogpost! A big, big thank you
to all of you lovely readers who have made this possible! And boy, do I have a
‘treat’ for you!Update: This giveaway is now closed and the winner was announced on my Facebook Page on June 19th. Congratulations, Neha Borkar! And thank you all for participating 😀
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| Image courtesy Penguin India |
I recently added a delectable book to my
cookbook collection. The
Big Book of Treats by Pooja Dhingra is just that – a treat to the
senses. Not only are the images drool-worthy, the book is packed with tons of
baking advice and of course, yummy recipes. It’s especially helpful for novice
bakers, but seasoned bakers will also find inspiration in its pages. The book
begins with a Baking 101 on ingredients, equipment and techniques, as well as
some tips and tricks to help you on your baking journey. There are recipes for
cakes, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, tarts, truffles, macarons and more (gosh, I
am salivating!). Recipes have been simply presented in an easy-to-follow
manner. The book is geared towards the Indian kitchen and uses ingredients that
you’d find in your neighbourhood grocery store, supermarket (and Arife).
cookbook collection. The
Big Book of Treats by Pooja Dhingra is just that – a treat to the
senses. Not only are the images drool-worthy, the book is packed with tons of
baking advice and of course, yummy recipes. It’s especially helpful for novice
bakers, but seasoned bakers will also find inspiration in its pages. The book
begins with a Baking 101 on ingredients, equipment and techniques, as well as
some tips and tricks to help you on your baking journey. There are recipes for
cakes, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, tarts, truffles, macarons and more (gosh, I
am salivating!). Recipes have been simply presented in an easy-to-follow
manner. The book is geared towards the Indian kitchen and uses ingredients that
you’d find in your neighbourhood grocery store, supermarket (and Arife).
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| Image courtesy Pooja Dhingra |
Pooja of course needs no introduction. Owner of the
immensely popular Le 15 Patisserie, which
has three outlets in Mumbai, and Studio
Fifteen – a culinary studio where you can learn not just baking but
also salads, pizzas, party food, cocktails and more.
immensely popular Le 15 Patisserie, which
has three outlets in Mumbai, and Studio
Fifteen – a culinary studio where you can learn not just baking but
also salads, pizzas, party food, cocktails and more.
I attended one of the book launch events – at Foodhall, Palladium.
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| Image courtesy Foodhall |
Pooja was
demonstrating some recipes from the book and I confessed that I have never been able to make
good cupcakes. So I was promptly pulled to the baking station to try my hand at
them, under Pooja’s instructions.
demonstrating some recipes from the book and I confessed that I have never been able to make
good cupcakes. So I was promptly pulled to the baking station to try my hand at
them, under Pooja’s instructions.
 |
| Image courtesy Foodhall |
And voila, the cupcake gods smiled on me and
I had a tray-full of dainty cakes ready to be iced. Since then I have baked
cupcakes at home couple of times and they have turned out great!
I had a tray-full of dainty cakes ready to be iced. Since then I have baked
cupcakes at home couple of times and they have turned out great!
 |
| Image courtesy Foodhall. Cupcakes in the background! |
I did a fun rapid-fire ‘interview’ with Pooja; take a
look below.
look below.
A1. Jimmy Fallon
Q2. Favourite foodie movie?
A2. Julie & Julia
Q3. What’s inside your refrigerator right now?
A3. Fruit & Dark Chocolate
Q4. Favourite bakery/patisserie in Mumbai & Paris?
A4. Ellipsis in Mumbai & Pierre Herme in Paris
Q5. If you were a dessert, what would you be? And why?
Q5. If you were a dessert, what would you be? And why?
A5. Molten chocolate cake with a salted caramel centre. Perfect combination of tough, soft, sweet & salt 😛
Coming back to the blogiversary and my treat for you –
you must have guessed by now that it’s a giveaway! What’s up for grabs? Pooja
has generously offered one signed copy of “The Big Book of Treats” to one lucky
winner! Isn’t that fabulous?!
you must have guessed by now that it’s a giveaway! What’s up for grabs? Pooja
has generously offered one signed copy of “The Big Book of Treats” to one lucky
winner! Isn’t that fabulous?!
How
to participate:
to participate:
- All
you have to do is like Deliciously
Directionless on Facebook. - Then
leave a comment on the Facebook post with the one thing you’d like to learn to bake
(it can be anything – something that you’ve tried at a patisserie, or have seen
a picture of, or have dreamt about…)
Terms
& Conditions
& Conditions
- Giveaway
is open for Mumbai residents only - Your
entry will be eligible only if you LIKE the Facebook page AND leave a commentthere - Giveaway
is only open for TODAY – June 17th 2014; so get cracking! - The
winner will be jointly selected by Pooja and me, and will be announced on the
blog by June 20th. - If
you win, you’ll need to collect the book from Le 15’s Bandra store; stock up on
some macarons and choux while you’re there 😉
It’s
that simple! Pooja and I are eager to hear from you. Participate now and spread
the word.
that simple! Pooja and I are eager to hear from you. Participate now and spread
the word.
And
good luck!
good luck!
Congratulations on the two year (and the 100 posts) mark – here's to many more years of delicious blogging 🙂
~ Charu
Thank you, Charu 🙂