thane with christmas around the corner residents of thane city have put on their chef hats and are ready with their baking gears to prepare traditional sweets and christmas classicsfrom plum cake red velvet cake muffins chocolates to gingerbreadman and cookies women and children are making a beeline towards confectionery classes and workshops clearly indicating the yuletide celebrations in the city are happening in full swingpriyanka kumar a thaneite said earlier i used to watch youtube tutorials on the internet and would follow their cake recipes to the core but this time i attended a oneday workshop where i leant to bake some of these unique christmas goodies baking was always something that intrigued me so i decided to join the class i am also planning to prepare a christmas cake for my daughterit is not only homemakers that are actively seen participating in these special shortterm courses some are taking time out from their busy work schedules and are seeing this opportunity to pursue their hobby and shape their culinary skillsi have always loved baking i felt like taking a leave from office one day to join this class in a matter of just five hours i was able to learn a lot i wanted to learn desserts so i could surprise my son who is visiting me from abroad during christmas said leena ganguly another resident in a time when most people would prefer sweets from stores these home bakersturnedentrepreneurs seem to be giving confectioneries a run for their money ujjainee ghosh who conducts christmas special cooking classes in dhokali said once you have tried an authentic christmas cake the taste remains in your mouth forever i got the traditional recipe from my christian friend which i wanted to share with everyone so i started the classes