Hi dolls,

So today, I’m going to introduce you to a dear friend, Raveena Oberoi.

I first met her 6 years ago, during my first year at UBC, we both happened to live in the same residence- just a floor apart! It didn’t take me very long to become close to this sweet, hardworking, talented and beautiful lady.
I still remember her telling me about how she would make cakes as a hobby, and not just regular cakes, but super fancy ones too! I was in awe when I saw pictures, and even more in awe when she told me she learned everything she knew from youtube.

Before I knew it, this girl made a business out of her skills and though she graduated from the honours society in Psychology, she put aside her dreams of being a doctor and pursued this new one.
After completely perfecting her baking skills in Bellouet Conseil, a pastry school in Paris, Raveena has officially launched her very own bakery “Just Cakes”.

I am so proud and inspired by this human, and can vouch for not only the gorgeousness of her cakes, but the deliciousness of them too.
Let’s take a look at what goes inside the mind of this cake guru:

Q: What really inspired you to get into cakes in the first place?
A: What inspired me to get into this whole caking thing was my parents. They catalyzed the passion at a very young age, allowing me and my sister to be creative and exercise our right to explore and be passionate. You don’t find that a lot in the South Asian Culture, and I feel very grateful that I had the opportunity to grow up in that environment. Also, baking at a young age was my therapy to get away from my troubles in high school. High school definitely was not the best time for me, and I found my catharsis through baking and making cakes. That physical act of actually creating something from simple ingredients was magical for me, and the underlying notion that you can create anything you like by the tools you have been given has been a metaphor and guiding force for my adult life. 

Q: What do you enjoy making the most? Why?
A: I love love love making pastries, more specifically, petit gateau. There is so much creativity involved, and so much you can do with a simple recipe. A lot of it has to do with the technique and skill to make a dessert, rather than the recipe itself. I also love making custom cakes – although they can be tedious at times, the end product is all worth it.

4. Do you have any quick and easy recipes to share for those looking for a quick sweet fix?
A: This is the quickest, easiest and most delicious Apple Crisp recipe I use.
Ingredients:
For the filling – 6 apples, peeled, cored and sliced – 2 tablespoons white grandulated sugar – ½ tsp ground cinnamon
For the crisp – 1 cup brown sugar – ¾ cup old-fashioned oats – ¾ cup all-purpose flour – 1 tsp ground cinnamon – ½ tsp ground nutmeg – ½ tsp ground ginger – ½ cup cold butter
Procedure:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Toss apples with white sugar and cinnamon (1/2 tsp) in a bowl. Pour sugared apples into a 9inch square baking dish.
3. In another bowl, mix the brown sugar, oats, flour, and cinnamon (1 tsp).
4. Use a pastry cutter or a fork to mash coldb utter into the oat mixture, until the mixture is coarse and crumbly.
5. Spread this oat mixture over top of the apples to the edges of the baking dish.
6. Bake until golden brown and bubbly. This will take about 40-50 minutes.

Q: Do you have any advice to aspiring entrepreneurs?
A: Go for it. My favorite quote currently is somewhat cliché, but it resonates with me so deeply, “be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” We all have that something that makes us tick. Don’t disservice yourself, explore that fire and let it burn. Let it consume you, because I promise, magic will come. Take away any association of failure and fear with the unknown, and rather, associate the unknown with possibility, opportunity, and new experience. The moment your mindset shifts, is the moment the universe will respond and give you what you need.

Drop by Just Cakes at 5-7548 120 St, Surrey BC, and feel free to call Raveena for any inquiries at: 7782550997.

Before I forget, WIN yourself some tasty treats at the bakery by entering my latest GIVEAWAY! Head to my Instagram page for details.