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Author Archives: Manasi Vaidya

Style It With Upasana! An ALL NEW Blog Series On How To Look Good In The Kitchen!

We’re back this week with an ALL NEW series that is guaranteed to knock your socks off! Almost literally 😉 and replace them with sexy stilettos or stylish suede loafers. If you’ve been following this space (like you really should be!) you’ve already read our ‘Alpana Loves’ post where we introduced you to Alpana, co-founder and creative mastermind behind Con Affetto. Well today is the BIG day where we introduce you to our other Bakerista Sister and Con Affetto co-founder! Say hello to entrepreneurial whiz and the strategic and operational powerhouse that drives Con Affetto dreams to fruition: Upasana Mansinghka!

Everything you need to know about how to look good in the kitchen while whipping up some gourmet bakes

Style it with UPASANA!

The first thing that strikes one about Upasana is her effortless style, whether it’s in the Con Affetto workshop overseeing some serious crafting and baking; or at an intense boardroom meeting. This girl can rock the look, in just about any situation. So, if YOU’ve ever found yourself wondering how to look good in the kitchen, while also effortlessly whipping up gourmet bakes, this is for you! In this blog series, Upasana brings to all you wonderful home bakers, fashion and styling tips that will make sure you rock the look…while you cook!

Rock that look…while you cook!

Over to UPASANA!

Kitchen Fashion here we come!

Hiya there people! I’m thrilled to be here hanging out with y’all and sharing what promises to be the start of an exciting new series! We meet so many home bakers and passionate home based cooks in our line of work, and when you get talking, one of the things I often get asked is how can one work in a hot and sweaty kitchen all day (those good looking edible bouquets are a LOT of hard work! ) and still not look like something the cat dragged in after a hot, sweaty day at the beach! Well, just like those gorgeous cake pop bouquets we love crafting at Con Affetto, how to look good in the kitchen, while you work is also a bit of an art! Here are five basic styling tips on how to look good in the kitchen, while also whipping up those lip smacking cake pops or cookies:

1. To make up or not to make up?

Bling it up with some tinted sunscreen for a minimalist yet stylish look! (Image Courtesy: www.coolasuncare.com)

Okay, this is one question I get ALL the time! Can one really work in a piping hot kitchen with loads of make up on? My simple answer is, yes, if you believe in quality over quantity! The trick is to not go OTT with a heavily caked up look (leave that for the cakes in the oven 😉 ), but invest in a few sensible, high quality products that will not melt all over your face in the heat. First things first, ensure your face is cleansed and use a toner if required. If you have dirt and grime clogging up your pores, you’re asking for breakouts! Then, invest in a good quality sunscreen with an SPF of 30 at least- very important when you’re gonna be doing some heavy duty cooking in a high heat kitchen. I like to go a little bling-y sometimes with a tinted sunscreen. Finish up with a long lasting, sweat proof eyeliner, loads of glossy lip balm (gotta keep those lips moisturized too!) and you’re good to bake!

2. The clothes maketh the cook…or the baker!

Keep it relaxed and chic with this mid length, cotton day dress (Image Courtesy: www.koovs.com)

So what are you gonna wear in the kitchen? The one rule of thumb I always follow is to keep things simple and relaxed. You want to be focusing on the dish you’re baking and not fussing around with fiddly bits of clothing, so pick an outfit that spells style and comfort; and one that you are at ease in. My personal favourites include graphic tees over solid denims, comfortable chinos with a fitted top or a knee length shift dress that lets me move around quickly. Watch out for things like long fussy sleeves, bottoms that don’t fit well and tops that require too much adjusting- not happening if you want to rock that kitchen fashion scene!

3. What goes on your feet…come around at the end of a long day!

I like to keep my tootsies comfy in these Dunbar loafers! (Image Courtesy: www.amazon.in)

And nobody wants tired, sore feet at the end of a long hard day, or especially when you’ve been in the kitchen slaving over a hot oven! The barefoot look doesn’t work for everyone and socks, um, get sweaty and smelly (ugh!) so what really works is investing in a pair of comfortable yet supportive shoes that’ll keep those toosies happy 😉 Think a pair of comfortable open back clogs or cushioned loafers with rubber soles that’ll help you deal with that kitchen floor…all day long!

4. That oven smells divine…but do you??

My Davidoff Cool Water Natural Spray ensures I smell as good as my cake pop bouquets 😉 (Image Courtesy: flickr.com)

Ever been in a situation where you have wonderful culinary aromas wafting all around…but the only thing that smells awful…is you! Well trust me, you don’t ever want to be there! Working in a kitchen is hot, sweaty stuff, but don’t let that translate into smelly stuff (um, YOU!) by investing in a good quality, long lasting deo or body spray. Here’s my personal favourite that ensures I smell just as good as this gorgeous cupcake bouquet we’ve been crafting today in the Con Affetto kitchen

5. No list on how to look good in the kitchen can be complete without some hairy tales!

I like to keep things fuss free with my hair; but who says you can’t get funky with braids & ponytails?

And last but not the least, the hair. Wear it up or down, leave it loose or pull it back? Well, how you wear your hair is a personal choice but one thing’s for sure. You CANNOT compromise on safety and hygiene, so keep that in mind when you’re picking out a style. Managing an elaborate hairdo or flyaway hair is so NOT happening when you plan on doing some serious cooking. My personal preference is to tie it back neatly and keep it away from my face, but I keep things fun by playing around with a variety of braids and ponytails! Watch this space for more fun hair styling tips as our kitchen fashion series progresses!

Want to look good in the kitchen? Pick up our Ready Reckoner: Quick Tips To Rock That Look While You Cook!

Easy Nutella Brownies: Con Affetto’s Dessert of the Month!

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Imagine a sea of decadent chocolate. Creamy. Sinful. Not overpoweringly sweet or chocolate-y, just right. With the perfect crunch of hazelnut. Now blend it all together into one divine combination, pop some into a jar and you have an instant happy making combination that people all over the world swear by (and even obsess over!). Yeah, we’re talking about everybody’s favourite chocolate hazelnut spread: Nutella!

Hey, did you know that February 5^th is celebrated world over as World Nutella Day? Yup, there really is a World Nutella Day and it’s official!

Italy celebrates a Nutella Fest! We approve!

We’d like one of those too, please 😉

We think February is the purr-fect month for celebrating all things Nutella anyway, what with it being the season of love and Bake for Family Month. SO, for our Dessert of The Month series this month we are bringing to you an absolutely brill, must have, must know, must try, you’ll go crazy when you eat this dessert: easy Nutella brownies!

Presenting Con Affetto’s Easy Nutella Brownies Recipe!

It’s so surprisingly easy peasy it’s almost unbelievable! Here goes:

What you’ll need:

1 1/4 cup of our star ingredient: Nutella!

TWO eggs!

Half a cup of all purpose flour

AND

That’s it! Yup. THREE. INGREDIENTS. And you’re sorted! See what we mean by easy Nutella brownies recipe? With the operating word(s) being easy peasy 😉

Get Baking!

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prep an 8X8 inch baking dish.

2. In a large bowl, bung in all the ingredients and combine until smooth. Smooth the top with a spatula.

3. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Be careful not to over bake! We want those brownies soft and chewy, not dry and crusty.

Cool, cut, serve and YENJOY!

We’ve been baking up a batch in the Con Affetto kitchen as we were typing out this post (super multi tasking, no? 😉 ) and we’ve just heard our oven timer PING…so…. Later, peeps! Um, in case you’re still around reading that is. We’re pretty sure we lost you’ll at “bake for 25-30 minutes…” and you’re probably thinking about baking your very own easy Nutella brownies already!

Can perfection get any better? Yessir! Drizzle some melted Nutella over Nutella brownies and you do just that 😉

Got a crazy chocolate craving RIGHT NOW? How about digging into one of our ‘Sinful Love’- vanilla butter sugar cookies dipped in chocolate (swoon!) bouquets? Call us!

BONUS!!! Easy Nutella Brownies: Con Affetto’s Tippy Tips!

OR you could even sprinkle over some frosting sugar!

Easy Nutella Brownies Tip #1:

These babies are kinda fudgy, just the way we like ’em. If you want yours more cake-y, bung in 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda to the ingredients.

Easy Nutella Brownies Tip #2:

For a healthier version you can replace the all purpose flour with almond flour.

Easy Nutella Brownies Tip #3:

Okay, this more like a SUPER bonus and less like a tip. You can even make these babies with TWO ingredients. Yup, you heard that right. TWO. Just swap two eggs with four eggs (make sure you whisk them super, like super, nice) and use 11/4 cup of Nutella. You’re welcome. You can go die of happiness now 😉

Get Your Whole Family In The Kitchen And Baking This ‘Bake For Family’ Month!

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Hey there guys! We’ve been kinda busy chez Con Affetto what with Valentine’s Day (Did YOU take part in our fab V Day contest? No? Worry not, watch this space for more fun contests coming your way soon!) and ‘Bake For Family’ Month’– which is currently on in full swing. Speaking of ‘Bake For Family’ month, we had the Con Affetto bake off recently at our office and it was not only the most awesome work event imaginable, it was also a trip down nostalgia lane. Everyone at work shared stories of how they had first gotten started with baking and it took us right back to a sleepy little small town in Rajasthan where two little girls had BIG gourmet dreams! Yeah, true story!

Get your whole family in the kitchen and baking this Bake For Family Month. And take a trip down nostalgia lane with us at Con Affetto!

Two little girls with big gourmet dreams Take a trip down nostalgia lane with us!

Growing up in Bhilwara in Rajasthan, we only ever had stodgy, old fashioned cakes covered with mounds of buttery cream from the only bakery in town.

Blast from the past! Remember these cream cakes from our childhood days?

Baking at home was not that common and the only delicious, gourmet cakes we tasted were few and far between. We had one such encounter with a divine tasting cake at a friend’s birthday party and were stunned to hear that her mum had baked it! We promptly trooped back home and began badgering our own mum to bake exactly the same version of deliciousness we’d had at our friend’s. Mum rose (literally!) to the occasion and learned how to bake the cake we craved for from our friend’s mum- and that was our first foray into the many delights of baking. Spurred on by our craving for all things cake-y, Mum began what would be a long standing tryst with baking. Recipes were procured from around the world, sometimes painstakingly noted down over the telephone; ingredients were sourced from willing relatives and friends travelling to the nearest big city and baking experiments were made manifold in our tiny home oven. Our baking repertoire slowly began to grow. From being required for special family occasions, the very act of baking itself became the occasion, with the entire family eagerly anticipating the ‘event’. From helping Mum with the prep; to sitting around the oven watching those delicious cupcakes or cookies begin to take form; to helping with the clean up (batter licking experts to the rescue!), baking was a family affair all right! For the two little girls with cupcake-y visions; it was a dream come true!

And this is what Con Affetto memories are made of :)

Fast forward to many years later. The little girls were all grown up now, and had moved away from home to pursue other goals. Yet the warm memories they’d created around the family oven, stayed in their hearts. It was to these memories that one of the little girls, now grown up, returned, in a bid to recreate the same magical experiences for her own children. Armed with the passion for baking she’d inherited from her mum and driven with her own exceptional talent for crafting, she began creating gourmet bakes for her kids and crafting them into gorgeous edible bouquets. Very soon, not just her kids, but friends, neighbours and relatives were swooning over her drool-worthy creations. And that’s when inspiration struck the two sisters with erstwhile cupcake dreams! What if they could recreate the magic from their childhood and translate it into something for everyone to enjoy? What if their edible bouquets could become something much more- a celebration of baking and crafting, of love?

Baking…Crafting…Creating magic with gourmet baked products @ConAffetto

The Con Affetto idea had just been born! The coming together of passion, creativity… and a generous sprinkling of magic! Inspired by the beauty of flowers and the delectable temptation of gourmet bakes, it was the birth of edible bouquets chez Con Affeto!

Funky gift ideas for her! Gorgeous edible bouquets from Con Affetto

The Con Affetto Story! A dream come true :)

And it had all begun with a charming little family baking tradition Inspired? We hope you are because there is no better time than ‘Bake For Family’ month to start creating some family baking traditions of your own! If YOU want to get your family involved in baking, here are three easy ways to get your whole family in the kitchen and baking!

1. Get them to prep with you!

Get your whole family in the kitchen and baking this Bake For Family Month

Start prepping as a family before B Day ;)

Don’t just assemble all the ingredients you need to start baking a cake and expect the fam to turn up and be all excited. Totally not happening! Build up the excitement and anticipation by getting them involved in choosing a recipe, shopping for ingredients and deciding on a day for your family bake off. That’ll get them all pumped up and looking forward to the day which has the whole family in the kitchen and baking.

2. When you have your whole family in the kitchen and baking, DON’T have unrealistic expectations

Get your inner Monica to take a chill pill, just this once! (Image Credit: theodysseyonline.com)

On the B Day ;), don’t channel your inner Monica and be all antsy about keeping things clean, organized and expecting perfection. Remember, when your whole family is in the kitchen and baking with you, your aim should be to create memories and experiences that will last a lifetime. Expect a little (or a lot of) mess- especially if there are young kids involved, some goof ups- and a whole lot of fun! You may even have some baking disasters to begin with and that’s all part of the family fun. Keep at it, and not only will you bond with each other, you will create great memories- and eventually some great bakes as well!

3. Set aside a specified day and time

Get everyone on board; set that date in stone!

If you really want to get your whole family in the kitchen and baking, you’re going to have to plan well in advance. Fix a day when all of you are available and have at least two hours on hand, pencil it into everybody’s calendars and make it clear that this is one family date nobody can miss! Even if you can do it only once in a month or two to begin with, be consistent. Eventually it will be a day everyone looks forward to and wishes would happen more often!

Do you have any family baking stories of your own that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you!

7 Sure Shot Signs That You Are In A Serious Relationship: Find Out This Valentine’s Day!

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“Is this love…is this love…is this love, Is this love that I’m feelin’? I wanna know…wanna know…wanna know now! I got to know…got to know…got to know now!”

Wondering where your new relationship is headed? Find out this Valentine's Day! Read our fun post on 7 sure shot signs that you are in a serious relationship

So, is this the REAL thing?

We don’t know about Bob Marley and the Wailers, but if those are the lines zipping around your head as Valentine’s Day looms closer, we totally get you! There comes a time in relationships when the butterflies in your tummy, that often accompany a romantic crush, start turning into a serious flutter. But how do you tell whether the person that you’re seeing is more than just a casual date? How can you be sure that your fun dates are turning into something more serious? There are the more obvious signs of a relationship getting serious of course, like meeting the parents and serious ‘relationship conversations’. But if you haven’t quite gotten to that stage yet and still need a ‘sign’ whether this is the real thing, here are 7 sure shot signs that you are in a serious relationship:

Sign #1: There’s less pressure!

When things are kinda casual, it’s a sign they’re getting serious!

You wake up next to him or her in the morning and lean in for a kiss, without worrying about what your hair looks like! If you’re stressing less about stuff like what you should wear; when he or she last texted you; if you couldn’t care less whether you have make up on or not; or if you feel comfortable to have them around even when you’re feeling really sick…it’s a sign that things aren’t that casual any more. That’s the surprising (and kinda cute!) thing about relationships…the more serious things are getting between you, the more casual your relationship gets!

Sign #2: You’re friends with each other’s friends

You’re hanging out with each other’s friends!

When you start hanging out with each other’s friends, it’s a sign that not only are you approved and liked by his or her friends, you’re also becoming more involved in each other’s lives. As a bonus, getting to know each other’s friends is a way of really getting to know the person you’re dating even better.

Sign #3: You love hanging out together, even when you’re doing your own thing

Those long, comfortable silences? They’re a good thing!

Those long silences that stretch without the least bit of awkwardness? One of the sure shot signs that you are in a serious relationship! When both of you feel relaxed and happy in each other’s company, even when you aren’t doing stuff together or even necessarily talking for that matter, you know you have a good thing going.

Sign #4: You’re included in each other’s plans…without really thinking about it!

You include each other in plans on auto pilot

You know exactly what he or she did last week; when they have the next work trip and are jointly cussing that pesky office dinner over the weekend which won’t let the two of you hang out together. You include each other when you make plans, almost subconsciously. Even your friends expect the two of you to show up to events or places together. If you were nodding as you read all of the above, this one’s for the road! Yup, just one more of those signs that you are in a SERIOUS relationship.

Sign #5: You have a bunch of your stuff at each other’s places

His stuff is in your space…and it feels right!

You don’t really have to pack a bag any more when you plan to stay the night because you know that the stuff you need will already be at their place. Toothbrush? Spare clothes? Sorted. Deo? You can share theirs! What’s more, you’re both comfortable with each other’s stuff being around (you even like it!) and don’t get bugged or think it’s messing with your space.

Sign #6: You discuss the future together

You know its serious when you’re looking at the road ahead, together

When you’re dating someone casually, you’re almost obsessive about not discussing the future together because that’s exactly how you want things to remain- casual. It’s totally the other way round when you’re getting serious- you start discussing the future more, maybe even make plans together, because you know the other person is going to be around, not just for a month or two, but for a long, long time to come.

Sign #7: You know things about each other that very few people do

You’ve let each other into your private worlds

Irrational fears. Secret phobias. The one thing that really cheeses him or her off. Most embarrassing moment ever. If you know things most casual friends don’t, not only does it show the two of are connected at a deeper, more intimate level, it also means you’re letting each other into your most private worlds, one of the most knowing signs that you are in a serious relationship.

If most or all of the signs above struck a chord, you can be sure you’re in it for the long haul! Did you get any signs when you were dating your significant other that were a dead giveaway that things were getting serious? Tell us!

Related: Funky Gift Ideas For HER, This Valentine’s Day

Bake For Family Month is upon us!

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Can you guess why February is our favourite month of the year? Hint: it has nothing to do with Valentine’s Day, though we are suckers for romance 😉 Give up? It’s because February is ‘Bake For Family Month’! And we’re celebrating ALL of this month by having the Con Affetto Bake Off Party, where each member of our team gets a traditional family bake to work, for everyone to tuck into!

We're celebrating Bake For Family Month, an annual celebration created by the Home Baking Association all of February at Con Affetto

EVERYONE in the Con Affetto team is going to be baking up a storm this Bake For Family Month!

So it’s but natural that we’re FULL ON excited about Bake For Family Month, an annual celebration created by the Home Baking Association, to encourage families to spend time together baking- and having a blast while they’re at it! Baking can be incredibly uplifting and relaxing when done in your alone time, but when done in a group it can take you to a whole different zone. And when it’s done with close family and friends, it can be almost therapeutic! Here’s a look at why baking with family should be on your must-do list this baking season:

B for….Bonding!

Bake up some great family bonding moments together too :)

All that jazz about quality time with your loved ones? If that’s what you’re looking for, it doesn’t get better than baking together! Baking requires time and patience. It’s but natural that if you’re doing it with someone, you’re investing time and effort into creating something together. In the process you nurture and strengthen your bonds with each other, in the most delicious way imaginable

There’s something in it for everyone!

Even the family dog can play a part ;)

From toddlers to grandparents, everyone can help out in baking a scrummylicious cake; or a fun and funky pizza! From measuring ingredients (grandpa, with his penchant for being precise); to mixing the cake batter (the kids get to play a role here!) baking is an all inclusive affair. Even the family dog can play a part- licking the batter off the kitchen floor! 😉

You get to learn a lifelong skill…

Learning a life long skill that may even become a lifetime’s passion!

Yup, baking ain’t just fun and games! As anyone who is clueless about cooking; we’re talking about being unable to even boil an egg- there really are peeps like that out there!- will tell you, learning how to bake is an invaluable skill. And it’s a skill that will last you a lifetime. If acquired well, it can bring you great joy (not to mention delicious bakes!). And hey, if you get really good at it, you may even make it a lifelong passion!

Baking is SUPER for kids!

Can you think of a more fabulous- or delicious!- way to spend an afternoon with the young ‘uns?

Okay, there are reams and reams of research out there which prove beyond doubt that baking is a fabulous activity for families with kids to indulge in as often as possible. Not only does it get kids interested in trying healthy foods (carrot cake, anyone?), it gets children involved in the process of meal planning and learning about healthy ingredients, makes them feel included and accomplished by contributing something to the family meal and teaches several basic math and scientific principles. So get your kids around that oven already!

You’re creating more than just baked goodies…

You’re creating memories that will last a lifetime!

You’re creating beautiful memories that will not just last you for a lifetime; they will be even handed down for generations after! Think about it; are there any family recipes which have come to you from your great-great-grandmother’s time and are guarded like precious family heirlooms? Well, not only do you relive and recreate those memories from your grand mum’s kitchen every time you and your kids get together to bake, now you’re getting to create recipes and memories of your own. Which may someday be relished and loved by your great grandkids!

Baking together gets those creative juices flowing…

Get, set…bake! Baking unleashes creativity…did you know that cake pops were the result of a creative burst of inspiration?

Baking has been likened to a work of art and a good baker is akin to an artist. So it goes without saying that when you and your family get involved in baking you bring your individual personalities and talents to the entire process and feed off each others creativity. You can take that basic cake recipe and add your own creative flair to it. Who says you have to be a text book baker? In the process, you not only unleash your imagination, you amp up the entire creative process! Many epic desserts- think cake pops, or macarons!- have been created by imaginative and innovative bakers thinking outta the (cake) box!

Bake for family month will foster some awesome teamwork!

The home team in action!

Remember that old saying about how too many bakers can ruin the cake? Just as with any other group or community project, baking requires great teamwork and organization. In any team there are people with different skill levels and competencies; some need support and guidance, some get an opportunity to develop their leadership skills. And when you’re playing for the greatest team of all-the home team- it’s a learning ground like no other, and fun too!

We hope we’ve got you all revved up about spending time with the fam around that oven, baking up loads of happiness! Don’t forget to watch this space for more fun bake for family month activities– we have LOADS of awesome stuff we plan to serve up to you this month- fresh and hot from the oven, Con Affetto style 😉

Con Affetto’s Valentine’s Day Contest!

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“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.“ Charles M. Schulz.

Valentine's Day contest at Con Affetto, enter to win a Con Affetto bouquet worth Rs 1,550!

Celebrating the season of loooove!

And what if you could have both? It’s one of our favourite times of the year again and we’re celebrating with a funky Valentine’s Day Contest here at Con Affetto! Coz what better way to celebrate the season of love than by spreading a whole lot of love (and chocolate!) around, right?!

Get closer to your Valentine with our fab contest!

So gear up and get set for the dreamiest Valentine’s Day ever, coz we are SO going to make all your Valentine dreams come true this year!

Everyone has that image of the perfect Valentine’s Day with the love of their lives. It could be a picnic under the stars or breakfast in bed; lounging around in pajamas all day and ODing on Netflix….or an all out, extravagant gift that screams ROMANCE!

Is a dreamy day at the beach your idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day?

Well, whatever it is that makes YOUR heart go boom boom boom!, all you need to do this Valentine’s Day is tell us and we’re gonna make it happen! Yes, it really is that simple. Hooked, booked and ready to rock this V Day boat? Read on for our easy as pie contest rules below:

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST! Con Affetto’s Valentine’s Day Contest! Be there or be square 😉

Step One:

Simble! ‘Like’ us on Facebook! Here we are!

Step Two:

Check out our Valentine’s Day Contest on Facebook here and tell us YOUR idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day.

Step Three:

Simbler! We will pick the top TWO most fun, funky, quirky replies and announce them on our Facebook page on 10^th February (mark that date!)

Step Four:

Now for the fun part! For the two winners, we will convey YOUR idea of the perfect Valentine’s Day to your Valentine, so that he or she can go all out to turn that dreamy Valentine Day into reality come February 14! What’s more you and your Valentine get one complimentary bouquet of Valentine’s Special, our exclusive new cake pop bouquet worth Rs 1,550!

Make it a swoon worthy Valentine with our exclusive new cake pop bouquet!

Step Five:

Bonus! Those lucky peeps will be featured on our blog as the Con Affetto Cutest Couple!

That’s it! And the contest starts….hey, wait! It’s happening already! So head over to the Con Affetto page on Facebook RIGHT NOW and join the party! It’s going to be a Valentine’s Day like no other with Con Affetto

*Contest is on in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida only *Contest will be on till February 10, 2016 *Winners will be chosen at the sole discretion of Con Affetto *The contest is not associated with Facebook in any way

Funky Gift Ideas For Her, This Valentine’s Day

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Tick tock…tick tock… Gentlemen, we hope you have your eyes on the clock! It’s 2^nd February and that day is looming on the horizon…You know which day we mean, right? The day when the love of your life would like to feel a little extra special, a little more pampered than usual and would like to be reminded of how she really IS the only one for you. You guessed right…Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and we hope you’ve got your game plan ready, guys!

Check out our funky gift ideas for the special girl in your life

The season of LOVE is back :)

And because we know just how important (and how challenging!) it is to make every Valentine’s Day memorable & meaningful for the love of your life, this Valentine’s Day we have a special V Day launch just for all you awesome guys. Yes, you heard that right! Presenting an exclusive new Con Affetto launch….wait for it….*DRUM ROLL*…

The Valentine’s Special Cake Pop Bouquet: An Exclusive, All New Con Affetto Launch!

Make it a swoon worthy Valentine with our exclusive new cake pop bouquet!

Remember, you heard it here first! Valentine’s Special: a gorgeous and absolutely swoon worthy arrangement of crimson red and sunshine-y yellow flowers playing peek-a-boo with the most scrumptious cake pops your taste buds would have the good fortune of letting melt all over ’em…sigh! So quit Googling the best online flower and cake delivery options in your city this Valentine’s Day and gift your gal this delightful little taste of spring encased in cake pop velvet, instead. And then sit back and watch all those regular, boring flower bouquets wilt in comparison (and envy 😉 ). Bonus: You get to share some of these droolsome treats with your girl, while the other guys, erm, get to watch their flowers wilt *evil laughter*

Our fabulous new Valentine’s Special bouquet will feature on our website real soon; in the meantime feel free to drool all over our other scrummylicious bouquets 😉

Check out our funky gift ideas for the special girl in your life. Edible bouquets are a great gifting option for Valentines Day!

Your special someone will be spoilt for choice with our gorgeous edible bouquets!

And while we’re talking ways to make this Valentine’s Day a memorable and meaningful day for your girl, here are some of our specially curated, funky gift ideas for her, that will make her fall in love with you- all over again! Whether your girl is the mushy sort or the ‘I care two hoots about Valentine’s Day’ cynic, our funky gift ideas for her, oozing with romance, will be sure to blow her away this V-Day. After all no girl is immune to true blue romance, especially when it’s straight from the heart and comes with a quirky twist! Read on:

1. A ‘Book of Love’….written by YOU!

Funky gift ideas for her! A personalized book of love

Write your way into her heart this Valentine’s Day… (Image Courtesy: Uncommon Goods, link below)

Want her to know how your love for her will go on for eternity? Capture those emotions in words that will last forever, by penning a book for her! Before you break out in a sweat, check out this sweet little book from Uncommon Goods that takes all your deepest sentiments and cutesy moments and translates them into words for your love…in the most effortless, fun way possible! Yup you’re on your way to best-selling author land all right and you sure will write your way into the heart of your very special reader!

2. A funky gift for her to prove your love can be priceless…

Funky gift ideas for her! A personalized wallet insert

Your love is…priceless! (Image Courtesy: www.etsy.com)

Money can’t buy love right? Yeah, but it sure can act as a reminder of your love…right in your lady love’s wallet! This quirky yet ultra romantic metal wallet insert- with your personalized image and message- will remind her of how priceless your love truly is, each time she whips out her wallet. Yup, there are some things that money can’t buy, and this gift will work as a constant reminder of that

3. Tareekh pe tareekh!

Funky gift ideas for her! A personalized wall calendar

All those dates…easy as pie 😉 (Image Courtesy: Vistaprint, link below)

Does your girl often crib about how you never remember the day you first met, or when you first kissed, or when you proposed to her, or when she first told you what you mean to her, or when…gaaah! Is your head spinning already? We don’t blame you… remembering all those dates can be CRAZY, but that’s exactly what some girls expect you to do! Now, don’t just remember all those dates, set them down in stone (um, print) with these fantabulous personalized calendars from Vistaprint. You don’t just get to customize every month of the year with cutesy pics of the two of you, you can put every goddamn date in there- from your first gift to her to the first kiss and make up after the first fight 😉 Now all you have to do is get all the info on all those dates from your girl (yup, girls remember everything) without her guessing why!

4. Put a ring on it…

Funky gift ideas for her! A personalized initial ring in sterling silver, rose filled gold or gold

Put a ring on it! (Image Courtesy: www.etsy.com)

The two of you together, forever? Sealed with a kiss, and engraved in gold? Put a ring on it, guys! This bee-yoo-tiful two initial ring in sterling silver or gold, will do just that. You can put in your girl’s birthstone and a special message from you to go with it as well. Trust us, this is one ring she won’t want to take off anytime soon!

We hope our funky gift ideas for her have you feeling inspired, gentlemen! Your love may be timeless but time, tide and..er, Valentine’s Day wait for none…the countdown to V-Day has begun so take your pick and get going already!

For more inspiration check our some of our other super cool and oh so romantic ideas here!

Con Affetto’s Dessert of the Month: Gooey Chocolate Cake

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Gooey. Sinful. Decadent. Delicious. Happiness is now just a chocolate laden slice away! Do you know what makes us ecstatically, deliriously happy? A freshly baked slice of chocolate cake, just the right amount of moist and gooey, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream nestling by its side and some sizzling warm chocolate sauce caressing them both tenderly. Sighhhh…just the thought is enough to send us into raptures of joy!

Check out our gooey chocolate cake recipes and celebrate Chocolate Cake Day in style!

A decadent slice of bliss!

We’re back this fabulous Friday with an all new series: Con Affetto’s Dessert of the Month and starring this January is- what else- but Gooey Chocolate Cake! And hey, guess what? 27^Th Jan is celebrated as Chocolate Cake Day, so if you didn’t treat yourself to some chocolate cake making happy this Wednesday, go ahead and indulge today- we can’t think of a better way to end the week!

Chocolate coated happiness is this :)

Chocolate cake is pretty ubiquitous across the dessert scene everywhere, but did you know that chocolate cake first started off as a beverage? Yup, that’s right! Until the 1830’s, chocolate was consumed mainly as a beverage and the popular notion of ‘chocolate cake’ was actually a white or yellow cake that was eaten along with a chocolate drink! Whoa, you sure have come a loooong way, baby!

And this is how it all began! The origin of chocolate cake…was as a beverage!

This National Chocolate Cake Day we’d like to, ahem, honour this all time classic dessert (and one of our personal faves, droool!) by treating you to our favourite gooey chocolate cake recipes. Try one out this weekend (or right away!) and it may even chase those Monday morning blues away!

Whip up some chocolate making happy this Chocolate Cake Day!

Presenting…our all time favourite ooey gooey….droool…okay, sorry! We got a little carried away there! Getting back…presenting our all time favourite ooey gooey chocolate cake recipes! Try one, or try ’em all. Instant bliss, guaranteed 😉

1. Gooey Chocolate Cake by Joy The Baker

Mini shots of chocolate love (Image Credit: Joy The Baker- link below)

Good things come in small packages sometimes and Joy The Baker proves just that with these little gooey chocolate cakes. These miniature gooey chocolate cakes make for a great post dinner treat, or a pre-workout snack, or a tea time accompaniment….heck, you can just scarf ’em down anytime of the day…or night!

Get the Gooey Chocolate Cake Recipe by Joy the Baker here!

Related: 10 Must Have Baking Essentials Every Home Baker Needs

2. Gordon Ramsay’s Gooey Chocolate Cake

For when you need to quell that chocolate craving with something light and still OD on chocolate 😉 (Image Credit: Good Food-link below)

This one is just right for when you want something sumptuous and chocolatey, but not over the top heavy. Hit all the right (chocolate) notes, with this easy to follow recipe over at Good Food.

3. Gooey Chocolate Cake in Seconds: A Hug in a Mug!

A hug in a mug! And it’s chocolate!

Okay, this one is our personal favourite among all the personal favourites and you’ll soon see why. It’s ready in 60 seconds flat! You heard that right. Chocolate cake. 60. SECONDS. FLAT. Perfect for those days when you need instant chocolate comfort and you need it NOW. Oh and did we mention that you need only three ingredients for this one? This is a hug in a mug, alright- and a chocolate smothered one at that!

Are you still hanging around, reading? Get the recipe at Babble already!

Related: How to Bake the Perfect Brownie!

4. Nigella’s Gooey Chocolate Cake

You can’t go wrong when it’s a Nigella chocolate cake recipe!

Um, you can’t be talking gooey chocolate cake and not talk Nigella right? Right! This one is super fudgy, moist, gooey and chocolatey and SO easy to make! No wonder it’s one of Nigella’s favorites as well! Get the recipe here.

5. Thoda Chocolate, Thoda Caramel

Awesome threesome: cake, chocolate, caramel. Ooey gooey love! (Image Credit: A Pinch of Yum- link below)

Okay now this one has a slight caramel twist as you must have guessed, but that’s exactly why it makes it to our list of must try gooey chocolate cakes! Think moist cake. Melted chocolate. Soft, melt in your mouth caramel. A match made in heaven? This is one threesome you simply gotto try! It is ooey gooey, oooh-ey gooey, it is delish and like the lady says, it WILL change your life. Get the recipe at over at A Pinch of Yum.

And we’re off for some chai and chocolate cake :)

We’d love to hang around and chat but after all those recipes, all WE can think about is chocolate cake so we just gotta rush to the Con Affetto kitchen and whip up some RIGHT NOW. Later, peeps! And wish you’ll a Very Happy Chocolate Cake Day! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate happiness Can you?

The Difference Between Macarons and Macaroons: A Short & Sweet History

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Macarons. Macaroons. Macaroni. Nope, we haven’t had too much coffee and started talking gibberish. And yeah, your eyes are working perfectly fine. We really did say macarons, macaroons and macaroni! Confusing, right? So what are macarons? And, erm, macaroons? And what exactly is the difference between macarons and macaroons? (We’re assuming you know what macaroni is all about! 😉 ) Read our short (and oh-so-sweet) post which tells you ALL you need to know about these delicate little desserts with a shared and interesting past.

Read our short and sweet post to know the difference between macarons and macaroons

Macarons? Macaroons? Macaroni!

The Difference Between Macarons & Macaroons!

First off, let’s get our pronunciations right. Yes, we can be slightly nitpicky when it comes to our desserts 😉

The difference between macarons and macaroons? Its more than just the pronunciation! (Image Credit: www.blogilates.com)

Now that that bit’s sorted, lets dig deep into the delicious past of a dessert that, back in the day, had taken all of Europe by storm and still continues to be somewhat of a star on the dessert scene!

Let’s begin with MACARONS!

Delightful, delicate French ‘macarons’ are made of almond, sugar and egg whites. The airy meringue sandwiches consist of light shells, crunchy on the outside and slightly chewy on the inside; held together by a ganache, buttercream or jam filling.

“Did you know that the macaron was originally knows as the ‘Gerbet’ or ‘Paris Macaron’?”

Macaroons on the other hand are flour-less, unleavened cookies made with egg white, sugar and unleavened coconut. If you break down the recipe of macarons and macaroons, the basic ingredients are the same: egg whites, sugar and either ground almonds or shredded coconut. In fact the word ‘macaroon’ is the English translation of the French word ‘macaron’.

The ‘Macaroon’ in all its coconutty glory!

History reveals that macaroons were originally made with almond paste too. Then some innovative bakers (much like us, ahem!) tried making macaroons with shredded coconut and this coconutty version became extremely popular with the European Jewish community.

Macaroons have their origin in Italy; the Arabs first introduced the concept of ‘almond paste candies’ in Italy; this traditional Arabic sweet later evolved into macaroons in their current form. Macarons on the other hand, were developed in France, when Catherine di Medici of Italy married the King of France.

Which Mac will it be today? (Image Credit: www.craftsy.com)

Despite their shared history and many similarities though, you can really tell the difference between macarons and macaroons when you see and taste the final baked product and realize that they couldn’t possible be any more different! Macaroons are a chewy, hearty confectionery; a mound of shredded coconut, lightly sweetened and held together by egg whites. Crunch into one today if you can! Macarons on the other hand are light, airy fairy, delicate little cream sandwich cookies. Bite into one and you’ll instantly be waltzing down the streets of Paris with a dream on your lips…sigh!

Bite into a macaron…and waltz straight into Paris!

Fun Fact: Did you know that macarons and macaroni have a shared history as well? Both have the same origin- both words mean ‘fine dough’.

The first macarons were simple, round cookies; it was only in the beginning of the 20^th century that the macaron took on its double decker form when Pierre Desfontaines had the idea to ‘stick them together’ with a chocolate ganache filling. Since then macarons have been the popular subjects of much experimentation with their shape, flavour, filling and a wide variety of colours. They’re available today in some pretty wild and wacky colours and in flavours ranging from the regular raspberry and chocolate to the exotic foie gras and matcha!

From the regular to the exotic, pick your fave macaron flave!

Even Carrie and gang in Sex & the City couldn’t resist the macaron charm! (Image Credit: pinterest.com; Macaron in Sex & the City)

Fun Fact: During the French Revolution two nuns were apparently saved from starvation by baking and selling macarons! These nuns became famous as ‘The Macaron Sisters’. A sooper way to stave off hunger, we say!

Popularly known as the ‘most coveted cookie in Paris’, macarons have always been trend setters! From Valentine’s Day to Mother’s Day; the star of an afternoon tea party to the perfect way to begin your day with your morning cuppa, macarons fit in (and are welcomed!) everywhere! The French city of Montmorillon is renowned for its macarons and even has a macaron museum as well as one of the oldest macaron bakeries, the Maison Rannou-Metivier dating back to the 1920s.

Fun Fact: Macarons are so popular in France that even McDonald’s sells them in their McCafes! Check it out on your next trip to Paris!

We at Con Affetto have been in love with macarons FOREVER and we can’t wait for Macaron Day on March 20^th. Watch this space for our favourite macaron recipes! Until then, keep spreading the macaron love Buy ’em, gift ’em and most importantly, if you haven’t done it already, go out there and EAT one today!

10 Must Have Baking Essentials Every Home Baker Needs

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Are you a passionate weekend baker, secretly waiting for Friday night so you can slip into those oven mitts and get up close and personal with your latest recipe of snickerdoodle cookies? Or maybe you bake multiple times a week and always have a triple batch of cookie dough resting in the fridge and a cinnamonny smell wafting through your kitchen. Or maybe…you love baking and have been planning to do it for a while but you don’t quite know where to begin. Well, whether you’re a home baking pro or an amateur, the following should be on your must-read list:

10 Must Have Baking Essentials Every Home Baker Needs!

1. A heavy duty stand mixer

Must have baking essentials every home baker needs includes a stand mixer.

A stand mixer is your baking BFF! Image Courtesy: www.kitchenaid.com

Do you have a BFF? If you do, you’ll know what we mean when we say that a stand mixer is going to be your BFF in the kitchen if you’re serious about baking. A reliable, trusty workhorse, a stand mixer is exactly what you need whether you’re thinking cookies, cakes, breads, pizza dough…or pretty much any sort of dough you’ll need to get baking! And that’s precisely why it makes it to the top of our list of must have baking essentials every home baker needs. The artisan stand mixers from KitchenAid make for a great investment for the serious home baker.

2. The right spatulas

Must have baking essentials every home baker needs includes a spatula

That perfect pizza crust needs some trusty spatulas to get it right…

Scraping. Mixing. Smoothing. Frosting and loosening. Holding and lifting. You’ll be doing all or most of these when you get baking and as you’ll see, a set of good quality spatulas will come in handy- quite literally!

3. Measuring cups and spoons

Must have baking essentials every home baker needs includes measuring cups and spoons

Measure ’em right!

“Be exact.” This is one of the most common pieces of advice you get when you start baking. Baking is a science and needs exact, precise measurements. Handling all that flour and milk and sugar and butter ain’t easy! And unless you’re a robot or a computer, you’re going to need them measuring cups and spoons.

4. Baking Sheets & Parchment Paper

Must have baking essentials every home baker needs includes baking sheets and parchment paper

Good quality baking sheets are an essential investment for the serious home baker

Ever baked the perfect batch of cookies only to have them ruined at the last minute because the baking sheet warped or burned? Trust us you don’t want that to happen to you. Preempt any such potential baking disasters by investing in good quality baking sheets.

5. Oven thermometer

Must have baking essentials every home baker needs includes an oven thermometer

Nobody wants a ‘scorcher’ coming out of their oven!

No list of must have baking essentials every home baker needs can be complete without this particular item. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: all ovens are slightly off, temperature wise and- like with all things baking- you need to be exact when it comes to getting that temperature right. Any one who’s longed to bake that perfect cake and gotten the perfect scorcher (ouch!) outta the oven instead will agree!

6. Mixing bowls

Must have baking essentials every home baker needs includes mixing bowls

For all that mixing!

It seems kind of obvious but you’ll be amazed at the scrapes many first timers get into because they don’t have a basic set of mixing bowls in place. Our list will make sure you’re not one of them! With a set of mixing bowls across various sizes, you’ll be all set for all that measuring, holding, scraping and mixing.

7. Cooling racks

Must have baking essentials every home baker needs includes cooling racks

Coz even cakes and cookies need some chillin’ ;)

Ping! The sound you’ve been waiting for- the oven timer goes off! You pace around restlessly allowing for the standing time the recipe stated and then bring out that tray of gorgeous double chocolate chip cookies. But wait! You’re going to have to wait for them to cool before you can start scarfing them down- cooling is an integral part of the baking process, it adds to the firmness and texture and helps air circulate around your freshly baked goodies. This is where cooling racks come in handy.

8. Whisks

Must have baking essentials every home baker needs includes whisks

Creaming, blending, mixing, folding…call for whisks!

Whisking, beating, blending, mixing, creaming…just some of the many joys of baking! But these can get kinda messy without those magical whisks; plus whisks add volume and froth to foods and are integral to developing that perfect cake batter. A must have investment for a smart home baker.

9. Cake pans

Must have baking essentials every home baker needs includes baking pans

But what is a cake without the perfect pan?

Ever had to bake in a casserole or pan that was totally the wrong shape because you didn’t have the right cake pan and ended with a great tasting but miserably misshapen cake you were too embarrassed to show anyone? Cake pans. The first step to getting that awesome cake looking as good as it deserves to. Check out the fab collection of baking trays here and guess what? They have a sale on too, right now! Sweet!

10. Rolling pin

Must have baking essentials every home baker needs includes a rolling pin

Roll, roll, roll that pin…gently down the dough!

One that you like getting your hands on and getting down and messy with. Make sure you get one that is wide enough to cover the width of the dough or icing you’ll be working with. And if you do a lot of cake decorating, it might make sense to also invest in a mini-pin for more intricate work.

So there you have it! Your go-to list of must have baking essentials every home baker needs. Are there any must haves you think we should have on this list? Tell us in the comments below!

Over to UPASANA!

1. To make up or not to make up?

2. The clothes maketh the cook…or the baker!

3. What goes on your feet…come around at the end of a long day!

4. That oven smells divine…but do you??

5. No list on how to look good in the kitchen can be complete without some hairy tales!

Want to look good in the kitchen? Pick up our Ready Reckoner: Quick Tips To Rock That Look While You Cook!

Presenting Con Affetto’s Easy Nutella Brownies Recipe!

What you’ll need:

Get Baking!

BONUS!!! Easy Nutella Brownies: Con Affetto’s Tippy Tips!

Easy Nutella Brownies Tip #1:

Easy Nutella Brownies Tip #2:

Easy Nutella Brownies Tip #3:

1. Get them to prep with you!

2. When you have your whole family in the kitchen and baking, DON’T have unrealistic expectations

3. Set aside a specified day and time

You may also like: 10 Must Have Baking Essentials Every Home Baker Needs

Sign #1: There’s less pressure!

Sign #2: You’re friends with each other’s friends

You may also like: 15 Surprising Benefits of Being in a Romantic Relationship!

Sign #3: You love hanging out together, even when you’re doing your own thing

Sign #4: You’re included in each other’s plans…without really thinking about it!

Sign #5: You have a bunch of your stuff at each other’s places

You may also like: 10 Things Your Boyfriend is Thinking, But Will Never Tell you!

Sign #6: You discuss the future together

Sign #7: You know things about each other that very few people do

Related: Funky Gift Ideas For HER, This Valentine’s Day

B for….Bonding!

There’s something in it for everyone!

You get to learn a lifelong skill…

Baking is SUPER for kids!

You’re creating more than just baked goodies…

Baking together gets those creative juices flowing…

Bake for family month will foster some awesome teamwork!

You may also like: 10 Must Have Baking Essentials Every Home Baker Needs

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST! Con Affetto’s Valentine’s Day Contest! Be there or be square 😉

Step One:

Simble! ‘Like’ us on Facebook! Here we are!

Step Two:

Check out our Valentine’s Day Contest on Facebook here and tell us YOUR idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day.

Step Three:

Simbler! We will pick the top TWO most fun, funky, quirky replies and announce them on our Facebook page on 10th February (mark that date!)

Step Four:

Step Five:

Bonus! Those lucky peeps will be featured on our blog as the Con Affetto Cutest Couple!

The Valentine’s Special Cake Pop Bouquet: An Exclusive, All New Con Affetto Launch!

1. A ‘Book of Love’….written by YOU!

2. A funky gift for her to prove your love can be priceless…

3. Tareekh pe tareekh!

4. Put a ring on it…

1. Gooey Chocolate Cake by Joy The Baker

Related: 10 Must Have Baking Essentials Every Home Baker Needs

2. Gordon Ramsay’s Gooey Chocolate Cake

3. Gooey Chocolate Cake in Seconds: A Hug in a Mug!

Related: How to Bake the Perfect Brownie!

4. Nigella’s Gooey Chocolate Cake

5. Thoda Chocolate, Thoda Caramel

You may also like: The Difference Between Macarons & Macaroons!

The Difference Between Macarons & Macaroons!

Let’s begin with MACARONS!

You may also like : Anatomy of a Cake Pop

10 Must Have Baking Essentials Every Home Baker Needs!

1. A heavy duty stand mixer

2. The right spatulas

3. Measuring cups and spoons

4. Baking Sheets & Parchment Paper

You may like: 5 Handy Cake Decorating Hacks That Will BLOW Your Mind!

5. Oven thermometer

6. Mixing bowls

7. Cooling racks

8. Whisks

9. Cake pans

10. Rolling pin

Simbler! We will pick the top TWO most fun, funky, quirky replies and announce them on our Facebook page on 10^th February (mark that date!)