Somethings we take for granted. Home-cooked meals for example. Its delicious but nothing to rant about till somebody else comes visiting us and appreciates our cooking.
Back then, cooking was for people who couldn’t score good grades in school. If you are intelligent then pay attention to studies, there is no need to waste time in the kitchen. “Go beta, mamma will cook for you.” Was the common phrase used for children who showed some interest in the kitchen. If you insist that you wanted to help, you would be given few raw vegetables and asked to prepare salads. Children asked too many questions and they had no time for that. “When the time will come, you will learn cooking, right now, there is no need.” They would say. As the results, many women would learn cooking only after they got married.
Cooking is a passion, there is no age for learning. You may learn from your elders, from your friends, or just from U-Tube. But for deeper knowledge and proper techniques, you have to learn from professionals. There are many short term cooking classes and many degree catering colleges too. The more serious one will go to popular culinary schools as distant as to USA, Australia, Italy, Switzerland, London. These school prepare chefs for mental discipline necessary to perform well under extreme pressure and stress. Once you pass out from Le Corde Blue, there is no looking back
Like Tania Behl, an artisanal baker, who custom bakes the most artistic and beautiful cakes for every occasion.
Tania Behl (of TheDessertsCobyTania fame) used to be a production designer, she has styled and done the set design for several TV shows , her last media project was a feature film . After which she decided to take some time off as she had been working her entire adult life. (although she was really passionate about her work as a production designer too).
“Food for me is centre of all emotions. I packed my bags and took off to Le Cordon Bleu London to do my grand diploma in French cuisine and patisserie . After coming back I’ve settled down to starting my home bakery , which has since been developing.” She said, expressing her desire to pursue her passion for food.
The DessertsCobyTania specialises in fancy cakes and pastries, although her heart belongs to the good old fashioned pound cake, which she feels is the most versatile cake, can be eaten on its own, with tea or coffee or drizzled with some chocolate or strawberries to make it fancy. “It never fails to impress.” She confirms.
Her most beautiful memories are of the times she spent with her grandmother, Biji, and the important lessons that she learnt from her during her growing up days.
“My love affair with food started off when I pretty young, and it wasn’t any particular dish, it was with the process of cooking. I used to watch my grandmother cook food and would always wonder as to how a vegetarian person like her could make the most amazing non veg dishes . “How do you cook without tasting ??” She told me that ‘You don’t cook with only one of your senses, you use all your senses, touch your food, don’t marinate with a spoon, use your fingers, put the spices in your food with a sprinkle of love, never leave your dish unattended, watch for that moment when the masala releases its oils , it will release an aroma, you’ll smell the flavours, you’ll look at your food and know if putting dhania on it will make it more appealing, if little shreds of ginger would make a difference’ I was in awe !! Of course all of this was told to me in punjabi and it sounded even more poetic !! But it’s a good memory I live by. Many years later, these exact words were echoed to me by my training chefs at Cordon Bleu and I smiled inside and gave a thanks to my Biji, for starting me out right .”
She is happy to share the recipe of Pound Cake
1. Line a loaf tin with baking paper.
2. Pre heat oven to 180 degrees.
3. Sift 150 gms A.P. flour, 1tsp baking powder, 1/4tsp salt together in a bowl.
4. Set aside.
5. Place 3 large eggs(at room temperature), vanilla essence, 2tbsp milk in another bowl.
6. Lightly whisk with a fork to blend the eggs and milk
7. In a large mixing bowl , using a hand blender (or the bowl of your stand mixer ) add the 150 gms butter and beat for a 2 mins till a little pale.
8. Add 150 gms sugar to this and beat for 3-5 mins until its nice ad fluffy .
9. Slowly add in the egg mixture (from step 6) , in three turns , making sure to scrape down the sides and the eggs are well incorporated each time .
10. Once all batter is well blended add in the flour and beat only till incorporated (do not beat this for a long time )
11. Pour the prepared batter into the loaf tin , using your spatula smooth the top of the cake .
12. Lightly tap the tin on the table surface to remove any air bubbles
13. Place in the pre heated oven and bake for 40-50 mins or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake come out clean .
14. Remove the cake from the oven , allow it to cool for 10 mins in the tin and then turn it out on a wire rack
15. Allow it to cool completely before slicing Into it
16. The cake is best enjoyed at room temperature. (You can dress it with frosting for a special birthday)
17. You can store the cake in an airtight box for a couple day.
Follow her Instahandle at thedessertcibbytania
Call her at Watsapp 98201 44330
