In Charleston? Stop by Cupcake for a treat and help end childhood hunger

This week, be sure to stop by Cupcake in the Belle Hall Shopping Center for a treat that will not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but also help a very worthy cause--helping end childhood hunger in our community. Cupcake, one of the Lowcountry's favorite cupcakeries, has created a commemorative cupcake for Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale to raise awareness and funds of an issue that affects children in our community and across the nation.

According to recent studies, the poverty rate among children under the age of 18 is above the national poverty rate. Twenty-one percent of children live below the poverty line in South Carolina compared to 18% nationally.

Childhood hunger is problem is a problem in our community, but you can make a huge difference. So, this week, please be sure to stop by Cupcake because the funds raised through this promotion will help feed kids in our community.

And, if you're planning to attend this year's Family Circle Cup, be sure to stop by the Family Circle Magazine Bake Sale. A number of favorite shops have donated delicious baked goods, including Charleston Cooks!, Cupcake, Whole Foods Market and Ashley Bakery.

Is PR as Glamorous As Hollywood Portrays it to be?

I've been in PR for close to 10 years now (it's hard to believe). In college, I studied Journalism, hoping to be the next Christine Amanapur, but my dreams shattered in during my Junior year in college when one a college professor pulled out my story on commercial real estate and told the entire class that this was by far the worst piece of Journalism that he ever heard (okay, maybe not exactly those words, but he did say it was far by terrible), and that very same day, I dropped the class and changed tracks-I was now a PR student. I learned everything about PR, and I knew I was on the right track, especially after I aced my PR Campaigns Class, presenting a 75-page campaign on how to educate Americans in Tibet for the organization, Save Tibet.



Since then, I've worked for a number of organizations. I've even launched a PR & marketing Company during my 10 years, and I can tell you this-it can be hard; it can be dirty; and it's not as glamorous as Hollywood claims it to be. Yes, compared to some other careers, it's a lot of fun. You have the opportunity to attend fabulous events; wine and dine editors at fine restaurants, and meet and mingle with celebrities in some cases. But, you may also find yourself, touring a cement plant in a small town miles out of the city, chase down news vans when they can't find you minutes before your very first press conference, lugging an 24 pound themose of coffee for an event from Starbucks at least two-three times in a less than four hour period, and most of all, be the one to bring bad news if not all the time-most of the time. Sound glamorous?



Look, I am not here to discourage young, aspiring public relations professionals to not move forward with their dreams because the truth of it all is this-I love it, and I would not trade in my job for another one. I love the adrenulum I get everyday; I love the fact that I don't have to sit in a cubicle, five days a week adding numbers, I love being creative, and what I love most, is at the end of the day, your clients really need you and appreciate everything you do for them, and you appreciate them for believing you. And,as a person, I feel that my job brings out the best of me everyday. It gives me confidence and even on the worst days, there are things that can perk you up, i.e.: great placement or just simple thank you from your colleague or client.

Exciting News: My Mom Takes Her Cooking Talents to the Front of the Class

I am really excited to announce that my mother, Mrs. Kuki Bakshi, will be returning to the front of the class, teaching Charlestonians how to make authentic Indian dinners. She began teaching at local gourmet shop and cooking school called In Good Taste when I was only nine years old, but motherhood took over, and she stopped teaching until last year. But, then again, the daily grind of running our family's business took over her life again, and she had to put her teaching aside yet once again. But, now that my parents have officially retired (my father is a retired orthopedic surgeon who later ran a local hardware store)-she's back on track. And, I am really excited about her going back into something she really enjoys, and I love the benefits of being her apprentice (they're delicious!).

When people think about preparing Indian cuisine, two things pop in their head--spicy and difficult. Mama will be the first one to tell you that compared to other foods it can be time consuming, but it's not always spicy. She has spent years honing her recipes, and simplifying them in the process (thanks to me and now my sister-in-law).

I learned how to cook from my mom (of course), but I am not the only one. She was first featured in the Evening Post in 1986. Her recipes have also been featured in Audrey Magazine, a national Asian-American women magazine and Charleston Magazine, which not only featured her, but our entire Charleston family celebrating Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights.

Details about her classes will be up soon, but I can you tell you this, it will be just in time for grilling season! Stay tune for more details. And, also be sure to check out clips and recipes from her classes on this blog later this spring.

Great American Bake Sale Continues to Makes its Way On the Web

I still remain fascinated by the power of speed on the Internet. We're now 23 days into its campaign, and more than one thousand people have signed up to host bake sales for Share Our Strength. Thanks to foodie bloggers, mommy bloggers, as well as other bloggers, the word about Great American Bake Sale is spreading. There could be many reasons for this success--much of it can be attributed to the time we live in, but I think it's something else--the spirit of hope and the belief that it can just take one person to help another.

This hope and belief inspired Great American Bake Sale's campaign theme this year--"you or I" can help end childhood hunger by hosting a bake sale, and that every little bit counts. This hope has taken the web by storm, inspiring bloggers to help in ways that you could not imagine. One blogger is so inspired that she partnered with Bake Sale on an e-recipe book in conjunction with her virtual bake sale. Submissions will be accepted until April 5 with the book being released on April 13. For more information check out Cooking During Stolen Moments.

So, as you can see, Great American Bake Sale is inspiring Americans across the country to help. Why? Because anyone can help by "sharing their own strengths."

Why I Love Crepes

Maybe, it's because I am a Frenchie at heart, or maybe it's not. But, I love nearly everything French especially crepes. I absolutely adore them. The best crepe I have had so far was not in France though, it was in Montreal at this fabulous place in the old city called Le Jardin Nelson. Can you see why:

Smothered with chocolate with a side of fresh fruit, I couldn't wait to devour this crepe, and of course I did, but I wasn't alone. I enjoyed it with some of my closest friends.

The restaurant has a large selection of crepes, which also make delicious entrees. Prior to indulging myself in this crepe, I did enjoy one for lunch, and being the Diva that I am, I chose the Diva Crepe, stuffed with Brie, broccoli, and chicken, and boy was it good.

I have enjoyed crepes occasionally at local farmers' markets, but I haven't been able to find any other place where I can say I have enjoyed them like I have at Jardin Nelson (maybe that's why I am craving to go back soon.) But, in the meantime, I am going to start making them home.

If you have any great crepe recipes (desserts and entrees), please share them with me.

What do we wish for ....

Last night, I watched one of my favorite movies, which also happens to be one of my favorite books: Under the Tuscan Sun. I don't know what it is about stories of Europe or stories of people who desert their tired, unhappy lives to somewhere new and different to revive them. In Under the Tuscan Sun, Francis Mayes finds herself unhappy and alone after a terrible divorce. During a trip to Tuscany, she bumps into a beautiful home owned by an Italian countess, makes a quick decision and and becomes the owner of this old home. Though, life isn't what she first pictured it to be--it becomes it. She is given everything she wishes, and in the meantime, she absorbs herself into a new culture, absolute strangers become best friends and the most important thing is that she finds happiness!


One of my other favorite books is called Almost French. I came across it at a bookstore one day, picked it up and couldn't put it down. Sarah, a freelance travel journalist, finds herself in Paris, after meeting a young, French journalist in Budapest who insists she must come to Paris. Wearing shorts and a t-shirt, she lands in Charles De Gaulle Airport, worried that she's made a huge mistake-but that all changes the minute she is greeted by her new friend who later becomes her husband! She learns the dos and don'ts have French life (and it's hysterical and eye-opening). She learns how not to walk out to grab breakfast in your sweats (even if you're just picking up breakfast from the local patisserie), or at a party, it's not proper to become bartender, refilling glasses of champagne. But, as she spends more and more time in Paris, she finds herself becoming a Parisian (well almost). It's a fun story and one that I am so happy that I bumped into.



I'd been living in Washington, D.C. for more than a year and it hasn't been easy. I have been torn between Charleston (my hometown) and D.C. I've been wanting to come home because I feel that I belong here, people know me, and respect me. I miss Charleston, but is it the right decision to return? I don't know now. Right now I am alone (well, it's me and Nikki) and D.C. can be a cold city, but isn't that how any new place can be? I've had more ups and downs, but isn't that everyone's story? It may not be Paris. It may not be Tuscan country, but each of these women found themselves again.

Love to Bake: Here's A Fun Idea for a Great Cause

Do you love to bake? Well grab your your apron, your favorite mixing bowl and get your bake on! Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale is on. And, boy is it hotter than ever. Since the campaign launched more than two weeks ago, nearly 900 people have signed up to host bake sales in communities across the nation.

And, I just found out that Sandra Lee, one of our national spokespeople, will be on Fox & Friends on April 5th to talk about it. Lee understands hunger. When she was growing up, her family lived off of food stamps, and it turns out that the inspiration behind her company "Semi-Homemade" is a result of her having to make meals on limited budgets.

I had the opportunity to meet Sandra last October and she is an absolute doll during a live news segment on a local television station in Washington, D.C. She later shared her story at Share Our Strength's Conference of Leaders, which I attended, and brought the whole audience to tears.

Well, my whole point is that I hope people across the country will band together to host bake sales. It's great way to help kids in your community. For more info, check out GreatAmericanBakeSale.org.