About me

by Swapnil Shilpa
Swapnil Shilpa - Vanilla Trails

Hello food lovers! I am Shilpa, a self-taught baker who found her passion and love for food and baking quite late in life.

Coming from a quintessential Indian family, I was used to freshly cooked delicious meals everyday. Festivals used to be a big affair, with loads of sweets and snacks being made at home. Food was taken very seriously! I however I didn’t realise my love for food until I had to part with deliciousness. This happened when I started living on my own. Within a year, I realised I had to learn cooking, I couldn’t survive on takeaways and restaurant food much longer. I craved those comforting home cooked meals and flavours!

Aided by many phone calls to my mom, grandma and aunties, I started cooking. Practice makes a person perfect. This has been so true for me. You guessed it right, my initial meals were barely edible. Well, I have gotten better with time, at least I would like to think so!

​When I started cooking, I wasn’t staying with my family. My cooking style is influenced by them, but also by my friends and my exposure to other cuisines, within India and outside. I absolutely love traditional Indian recipes but I also have a huge passion towards exploring all the other flavours and dishes out there.

I have to confess, I am a very picky eater, but one who is naturally very inclined towards healthy eating. Doesn’t sound quite right, isn’t it?! Because of this, my cooking/baking has evolved into what it is today! I understand the importance of incorporating nutrient-rich ingredients into dishes to ensure that indulgent treats don’t satisfy just the taste buds but also are nourishing.

I love to experiment in the kitchen. In fact, I am actually completely incapable of following any recipe, even my own! I love to change a few things, switch flours and sweeteners, play with their quantities… you get the picture. But with all my experiments, my aim is always to create dishes and desserts with healthier, more nutritious and as much as possible, local ingredients.

My ultimate goal is to help others enjoy satisfying their sweet cravings in a guilt-free manner by showcasing the versatility of healthy ingredients. I am constantly on the lookout for new ideas and innovative techniques that will enhance the texture, flavour, and nutritional value of my desserts. Expect to see recipes that include alternative flours, natural sweeteners, and other unconventional ingredients that’ll take your desserts to the next level.

Gone are the days of feeling guilty after a binge on sweet treats.

So, let’s make healthy desserts a new norm!

I am equally passionate about food photography. Capturing the beauty and essence of food is an art form that complements my love for baking. There’s something truly magical about capturing the colours, textures, and flavours of desserts in a photograph. I believe that a great picture can transport you to a world of delectable goodness, even before you’ve sunk your teeth into it.

So, if you’re also passionate about healthier desserts, food photography or just love to drool over beautiful dessert pictures, this is the right place for you! Let me take you on a food journey that will leave you craving for more, without any regret or guilt.

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