Ms Siti Aishah, 27, housewife

Her search for a pastime ended in a cake-making class.

Ms Siti Aishah says: 'I was looking to pick up a hobby last year, and my husband, who likes to eat, suggested that I take up baking classes. I found it to be a good idea because I could please him and also learn a new skill.'

While no stranger in the kitchen, she had done little baking prior to the cake-making module she signed up for at Siti's Delights, a cooking and baking school in North Bridge Road.

The hands-on lessons sparked her passion for baking and when it ended after seven weeks, she continued with the pastry and bread-making modules.

On why she did not turn to recipe books to learn baking instead, she says: 'The classes are interactive and I get personal coaching from the teacher, which you can't get from the books.'

A confident baker now, she is able to make everything from chocolate mud cake to apple strudel and quiche.

She also likes that she and her husband can tuck into hand-made confectioneries fresh from her oven instead of splurging on expensive pastries sold in bakeries.

Baking has also allowed her to bond with her graphic designer husband.

She says: 'I'll bake cakes and he'll decorate them. It's a more meaningful way of spending our weekend than going shopping.'

Her newfound skill proved handy too when she was unemployed earlier this year. The healthcare recruitment company where she was working as a recruitment consultant had closed.

She is taking small orders from friends for wedding and birthday cakes while looking for a job.

She says she hopes to sign up for more baking classes to learn to make desserts such as blueberry cheese cake.

This article was first published in The Sunday Times.