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I’m Madhuram living in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA with my husband and my son who is two and a half years old. Although my mother tongue is Telugu, we are convenient with Tamil because we were born and raised in Tamil Nadu. The language we speak is a mixture of both.
I’ve always had interest in cooking. Back in India I used to follow all the cooking shows regardless of language, eagerly look for recipes in magazines be it veg or non veg. Being vegetarian, I used to think maybe I can use cauliflowers/potatoes in a non-veg recipe. But the truth is I didn’t cook as much as I watched the shows. Occasionally I used to try some interesting recipe or cook when my grandmother or mother was not feeling well which was very rare.
AFTER MARRIAGE:
Like many others who come to US from India after their marriage I also packed as much as I can, which included a LOT of books on cooking. But again I did’nt get a chance to experiment all those recipes because my husband was a VERY VERY VERY DIET/HEALTH CONSCIOUS person. He did’nt want anything fried in oil, nothing spicy or salty, nothing very sweet. God that was a tough period to learn a different kind of cooking altogether! So again I was just reading recipes, now from websites. That was the only difference. We did’nt have cable tv connection then, so was not able to watch FOOD TV.
MY NEW LOVE:
We had to move to Canada for a couple of months. There I started watching Food TV regularly, or to tell the truth, I was watching only Food TV. I was so thrilled to see the hosts baking cookies and cakes, breads and muffins. I just fell in love with baking. Until then I did not know what to do with the oven, I was just using it like another kitchen shelf, storing my oversize cooker, dosa pans etc.
MY EXPERIMENT WITH BAKING:
One day my husband and I were watching an episode in Food TV. Yes my husband also, even though he doesn’t eat much, he likes to watch Food TV. In that episode, the host was preparing potato puffs with puff pastry sheets. My husband told me that I should also try that, and to my surprise he also said that he will go to the store immediately and get the puff pastry and baking sheet and meanwhile I can prepare the potato stuffing. So I prepared the masala and switched on the oven to preheat it. My God, that was a big process because I had kept so many boxes etc in my oven, remember I was using it as a storage only. I had to remove all of them, find a place for it. (Now that I’m using the oven more often, not for baking per se but for preparing the store bought frozen French fries and making pizzas, my mother in law has converted the dishwasher into a storage area, seeing me moving things out each time I want to use the oven) My husband got the cookie sheets made in aluminum foil and the puffs came out very well. Hey I can hear what you guys are telling, this is not baking, it’s just using the oven. Yes I agree, but that was by itself a big deal for me.
Sometime later I bought a baking set because it was on sale. It was just lying idle. I did’nt know from where to start. Because I’ve seen in the Food TV shows, that they were using the big hand mixers etc. I didn’t want to invest in them without having a clue how to use them. So I used to google to see if there were any classes for baking nearby. But found none. Earlier I had bought the Magic Bullet blender and one day I was going through the recipe book given with that. There were some recipes for muffins. The process of preparing the batter was so simple, just put flour, oil etc in the blender’s big jar and pour it in the muffin pan. I wanted to try it, but I had to use eggs. As mentioned earlier being a vegetarian I was hesitant to bring eggs home. (But the secret was I started eating eggs after coming to US, I love Dunkin Donuts’ egg and cheese sandwich very much. Sshhh….. don’t tell my mother.) Then somehow I mustered some courage to buy eggs and try the recipe. I simply followed the instructions and it came out well, but both my husband and myself could’nt tolerate the smell of egg in the muffins. I don’t know whether it was psychological or something, we did’nt feel like eating it at all. We do enjoy the pastries bought from the store, we are conscious of the fact that they are made with eggs only, but the idea of brining it home and baking with them made us uncomfortable. The same happened when I tried chocolate chip cookies also. So I did’nt bake anything later. But I did want to learn to bake and got a book “BAKING FOR DUMMIES”. I did see some eggless recipes in that book for cookies, but I don’t know why I didn’t try them. With a newborn and related pressure I forgot all about this.
BACK TO USA:
We moved back to US again. Once I was googling to find out how to break the jaggery mounds we get in the Indian store. That time I found a link to Indira’s site. I was really dumbfounded after visiting that site. It was EXCELLENT. There I found a recipe for an eggless cake made with bananas and carrots. I tried it the next day itself and it came out very well. I have tried that cake with so many variations and each time it’s a hit. This rekindled my passion for baking.
MY INSPIRATION:
From Indira’s site I visited lot of other fabulous blogs. Until then I had no idea what blogs were and was not aware of the fact that there were so many other passionate cooks out there. Shilpa’s www.aayisrecipes.com, sunitha’s blog and so many other food blogs inspired me so much that I also wanted to become a part of this delicious world.
So that’s how egglesscooking.com was born.
Back in Canada again, since 2009.
Hi Madhuram,
I’m so glad to have stumbled upon your blog! My 2 year old daughter has many food allergies (including egg), but since finding your recipes, I’ve been inspired to eat healthier and try some of the ingredients I would otherwise never tried. Thank you for helping my family to live healthier and tastier at the same time!
Regards,
Emily
Dear Emily, thank you so much for taking the time to give your feedback here. This inspires me as well to blog more.
Hi Madhuram,
I stumbled upon your website a few months ago and have looked at some of your recipes. For some reason, I have become more passionate about baking now that I always have your website open in my computer. I keep looking at different recipes. But today I happened to read about how you started this website and I have to tell you that I am able to completely relate to it – starting from using the oven for making puffs to being a vegetarian and eatings eggs but not cooking them at home. In fact, I have even tried finding a baking class to learn cooking without eggs, because I didnt have much success (until I tried your vegan chocolate cake). But now I have signed up for the Wilton Cake Decorating classes and I am all excited about it – thanks to you
. Keep up the good work and keep posting new stuff!
I also have a suggestion – your site is filled with so many recipes that I dont know where to start. There are multiple recipes with different ingredients for the same item (eg. Chocolate cake). It would help if you point out which one is the best, so that first timers can pick the right recipe instead of re-inventing the wheel. I did read somewhere in your posts that your favourites for chocolate cake are “I cant believe its eggless” and “Vegan Chocolate cake” and thats what made me try these. If you point out your outstanding recipes, it would help.
Thanks!
Vijaya, thank you so much for your detailed comment. Thanks for the suggestion too, maybe I will have a column named My Favorites and list some of the best recipes in there. Also best wishes for enrolling in the Wilton’s classes. Its really very good. Happy Baking!
I am so happy to have found your blog- such a wealth of knowledge and recipes! Will come here often!
Thank you for your website and recipes. My son is very much allergic to eggs and is turing 2 soon. I used one of your recipes for cake and frosting for my husbands birthday and it was the best feeling to watch him enjoy a dessert that everyone else was eating too. He looked at me and said “yummy”! Everyone else thought it was great and would not have known it did not have eggs except for my son was able to eat some. I am so happy I will have a recipe for his birthday coming up soon! Thank you.
You’re welcome Kelly. I sincerely appreciate your gesture of taking the time to leave your feedback here. This motivates me to blog more actively.
Hi Madhuram,
Thanks a ton for all the mouth watering recipes. I came across your website 1 week back and i have already bookmarked numerous recipes to try. Since then i have been going through your site like crazy. We do eat eggs but these days “sawan” is going on and eggs are not allowed inside house. That made me search for some eggless recipes and i saw your blog. And before that i never knew eggless baking is so simple:-)
The best part about your recipes is that you test them before posting. Secondly, your “my notes” column. Thirdly, you answer the queries (immediately) if someone has a problem. Everything so properly documented. I think all these things make your site wonderful.
Btw, I sent a general query regarding flours throught the “contact us” form. I am not sure where to look for it.
Can you tell me which aluminium free baking powder to you use? I live in Japan. Its difficult to find due to language problem. If you could tell me the brand name you use then i can search for it in International supermarkets. Does baking soda have aluminium traces too?
Do let me know if its wrong to ask questions here.
waiting for more amazing recipes…
Naisha
Naisha, thank you very much for the good words about my blog. I did send you a reply yesterday itself to your email ID. Please check if the mail has gone to the Junk folder. You can either ask your questions here in the blog and I will reply below your comment itself, or through the contact form and I will reply back with an email. Things are quite hectic at my end and sometimes it may take time for me to get back, but you can be assured that your questions will be answered.
Regarding baking powder, I have been using the regular baking powder only but am going to switch to aluminum free ones. I read that even though it has not been proven that using baking powder regularly creates any health problems, the taste of baked goods made using aluminum free baking powder is so much better. So I was thinking of buying it this time, since I will be running out of it shortly. I see that Rumford brand is quite popular. I have to check out myself what is available here in Canada. But I do remember seeing something in the organic section too but don’t remember the brand. So maybe you can also check in the organic aisle. After searching for info in the net I understand that baking soda does not contain traces of aluminum because it is plain sodium bicarbonate available naturally and extracted from the ground but some companies do sell aluminum free baking soda at a cost thrice as much as plain baking soda and its a marketing tactics to increase their revenue.
Dear Madhuram,
It’s so good to see such a wonderful website full of nice and yummy recipes. My mother is a vegetarian so I feel very bad when I eat or bake nice cakes and mum doesn’t eat. I have only one eggless cake recipe (that i make with semolina)so it becomes quite dull to bake the same thing over and over again. I’m glad that now i got so many recipes to try out. Thanks for the recipes and keep the good job going.
Take care
Selvina
Thank you very much for your feedback Selvina.
Hi Madhu,
chance upon your blog when googling for eggless cakes…very informative, full of pictures and interesting blog. FYI I too store my cooking/baking utensils in my dishwasher, never like the dishwasher…will post you on those recipes tried…keep blogging
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Hi
I absolutely love your website. I have tried few recipes like cauliflower fry,
tofu bake and it was a hit at my home.
I remember you mentioned somewhere ( I have also visited that website couple of times) that you blog also at a different website. can you pls. mention that websites name . I dont remember that website name but it was awesome(you blog with other bloggers I believe)
Thanks
G
Thanks for you compliments G. The blog you are referring to is http://www.beyondcurries.blogspot.com. I also have another blog of my own for vegetarian recipes and it is http://www.vegcorner.com
Hi Madhu,
Im amazed to see a lot of variations in eggless cooking. I
could relate myself when I saw ur intro. I wantto make waffles
and mainly pancakes without using eggs. Can u help me out on this.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks Charu. For pancakes, I use about a cup of all purpose flour, a teaspoon of baking powder and little sugar. I keep making some additions like mashed bananas, applesauce etc. I don’t have a waffle iron, so don’t have a go to recipe for that. Maybe you should google and you can get some eggless recipes.
Hi Madhu
What a nice and useful blog you have !
My hearty wishes for yr all receipes….
Hi Madhu
I love your blog. Its amazing the way you created so many eggless recipes and thanks for sharing all these mouth watering recipes. You are doing a great job and wish that you share more and more recipes with us!!
Thanks SL.
I keep coming back to your site for some amazing recipes.. the sheer number, variety and now the new indexing is amazing..
I was wondering whats stopping you from going completely vegan..
. You already have a lot of experience in vegan cooking now.. and since it is such a ethical, healthy, environmentally friendly solution, i was hoping that the site will someday transition to that. Milk is full of cholestrol and hormones and has already been deemed not necessary for children. Also it takes 21 lbs of milk to make 1 lb of butter, and 10-15 lbs to 1 b of cheese.. just imagine the amount of dairy cattle we will not need and the calves we will save by eliminating just butter, ghee and cheese.
Just a thought:)
Thanks for sharing your concern Richa.
hello there madhuram, greetings from malaysia! i came across this wonderful site of yours while looking for an eggless cake recipe for a friend…and i was hooked! this is a wonderful site and i hope to see and try some of your recipes soon. keep it up!
Thank you very much Dotty.
hey madhuram.. m frm india.. new delhi
m big fan of ur cooking…
tc.. n keep posting more.. luv dem all
going thru ur recipes.. ven i came across cake flour.. oops.. bt i don hv ne idea from where i wl get it in delhi.. by any chance.. do u hv ne clue.
Thanks Shilpa. You can use 3/4th cup of all purpose flour (maida) plus 2 tablespoons of white cornstarch in place of 1 cup of cake flour.
Hi Madhuram,
I came across ur delicious website. I must say that I was surprised when I read about u and found some common things.A vegetarian(no garlic,eggs @ home!) ,came to US after marriage(almost 1 & a half years back), now staying in Philadelphia with two loved ones: my wonderful hubby & a handy Magic Bullet! Last year I got a cake as a surprise for my hubby’s b’day. But this year it falls on one of the festivals and I can’t get it. I am thinking of baking a simple beginner cake & put his name on it. Please suggest me one. Thank you very much in advance!
Shubha
I guess a lot of us share a similar experience. This is the simplest and most delicious cake you can bake: http://www.egglesscooking.com/2009/02/16/whacky-vegan-chocolate-cake/
You can readymade icing too in the grocery stores and icing pens for writing on cakes. You could get that. I have a couple of posts about cake decoration in the blog, which I updated when I took the Wilton’s Cake Decorating course. You can find those posts here: http://www.egglesscooking.com/eggless-baking-recipes/eggless-cake-recipes/
Hi Madhu,
Thanks for making my day!
Now for the story,which will take some of your time.
I had not decided about the gift & then remembered ur eggless cakes.Checked some of ur recipes & asked for your suggestion.
My item checklist was done & prompted me to go ahead.Until afternoon,I was still apprehensive of trying it on my own, that too on his birthday & with my ILs.Finally, with a prayer & determination, started the cake.After the batter spread in the tray, I realised that I did not have a cake pan. I tried it to even it but then stopped everything altogether in disappointment.
But again, I put the tray in the oven. After 20 mins, I felt it was done and switched off the oven. 5 mins later i took it out.
Then I went out shopping,but did not want to buy the icing for the shapeless cake, instead bought a small cake for my hubby.
Finally, after some thinking I decided to cut the cake with the help of a round lid and knife. Now I was happy that atleast it looked good.Then I spread a little French Vanilla icecream which was at home.Later my hubby came home & cut the store-bought cake. He said the cake and icing was too sweet & heavy.
Now for the best part of the story.I presented him my creation. He was very happy that I had baked for him. And his feedback:soft,spongy and tasty!!!
Now that made me guilt-free , b’cos I didn’t buy any gift for him!
Thanks again for a sweet & successful day!
Shubha
Thank you very much for sharing your experience Shubha. Happy Baking. Do feel free to ask any baking questions and I’ll try it answer it to the best of my knowledge.
Hi there!
Greetings from Singapore.
I came across yr site while browsing YouTube for eggless cakes and cupcakes recipes:)
I’m so glad I found your web becos I am trying to be vegetarian and looking for ways to eliminate eggs from my food and bakes.
Thank you very much for your sharing. I’m going to try your recipe for the vegan chocolate cookies for my son’s teacher for teacher’s day.
Thank you very much Lynda.
Your site is delicious as your name. I was a pastry chef. That means I quit that profession past 4 years. I wasnt showing much on eggless, but sugarless. Recently I’ve been pushed to know about eggless. Guess what, your site is the first one. I didn’t go to anyother yet. Such an inspirational recipes! You made me to give a thought about going back to pastry. I never thought that eggless makes such a creative journey though I have made products. Well I worked in a commercial place afterall. After I saw your site, and my current boss’s eggless craze, I’m stunned and speechless!
It may help me in near future. Thanks!
You are very welcome Jaga. Thank you very much for your generous compliments. Coming from a professional and experienced pastry chef it means more and motivates me even more.
Hey Madhuram,
Thanks for the effort and information , Just found you today but will keep coming back
Hi,
Stumbled upon ur site and am so glad for it! Being a Jain I dont use eggs at all; yet being an avid baker am always on the prowl for new eggless recipes.
My daughter is also into it, and does a great job with brownies and carrot cakes; she takes orders on them and they go like hotcakes!
Hope to share a lot and learn a lot together!
Thanks Ami. Welcome to my blog.
Hey I was browsing the net for eggless cake recipes and I found your site. I’m dumbstruck seeing your website. Great work. I will definitely try your recipes and let you know.
Welcome to my blog, Nakshatra.
Hi Madhuram,
, you’ve put in a lot of effort here which helps a lot of us. Till date I have not baked anything, since I did not have oven back home. Now i want to bake a cake for my husband’s birthday. I have been looking online regarding which type of cake I want to bake. I have shortlisted 3 type of cakes. Checkered cake, topsy turvy cake and swiss roll ice cream cake. I want to bake any one of these without egg. I want to use vanilla and chocolate flavors in my cake. Many of the recipes and bakers say denser the cake, easier it is to handle the cake with cutting and frosting. I need help from you about how make a dense eggless cake. I dont want to use cake mix, because I have read it makes the cake very spongy and crumbles a lot when we cut it. Could you please tell me which of the vanilla cakes from your recipe index is dense and moist or what changes do i need to do to your recipe to get a denser cake. I am thinking since I have 2 months time, I can experiment with just vanilla eggless cake so that I can get some confidence to bake for the big day. 
Your reply will be very much helpful to me.
I am glad I came across your website
Thank you,
Pushpa
Thanks for writing to me Puvi. It’s interesting to note that all your cake choices require quite advanced level skill. Actually I have been thinking of trying a swiss roll cake for quite sometime now. I think you should be trying this Eggless Vanilla Cake. It slices well without crumbling. Try it out and see.
Hi, hats off to your effort. Today is the first time I am visiting your site. I’m very happy I gained so much knowledge on alternate cooking methods. Will continue to browse your site and learn lots about eggless cooking. Just like you I have been wondering how to make use of the oven.:)
Welcome to my blog Subha. Hope you start using the oven pretty soon.
Thank you for this doing this website! It means so much to me to find so many recipes to try for my egg-allergic son. I made some brownies for my other kids and I started googling for an eggless brownie recipe so I could make brownies for my egg-allergic son. I found several to try and will do so as soon as I finish typing. I just wanted to thank you for all the eggless recipes. I’ll also be trying some of your cupcake recipes soon also. And others.
THANK YOU
You’re welcome Theresa. Do try the recipes and get back to me if you have any questions.