Poly senior Helen Vellanoweth has become widely known for her baking prowess. On any given day, you can spot her on the senior patio with her famous basket filled with delicious sweet treats, ranging from puddings and cookies to cupcakes and muffins, which she generously shares with anyone who asks.
Vellanoweth, like many others, became bored during the long days of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and decided to explore a new hobby. She was inspired to take up baking by her mom, whom she claims is also a talented baker.
“I like [baking] because it’s stress-relieving, and I feel like I can focus on one thing when I bake. I like to be able to give people things,” explained Vellanoweth.
So far this year, she has made Gordon Ramsay’s sticky toffee pudding, chocolate cookies, brown butter espresso cookies and a variety of cupcakes, including espresso, pumpkin spice and brown butter cinnamon. Vellanoweth enjoys experimenting with different recipes she finds on Google.“Once I get comfortable with a recipe, I’ll change it up, or I’ll ask people what they think I should make,” she said.
For Halloween, Vellanoweth dressed up as Blueberry Muffin from the Strawberry Shortcake television series. Of course, she brought blueberry muffins to share with her classmates, and, for the winter season, she plans on debuting two new cookie flavors: spice and gingerbread.
“I feel like it’s a nice way to give people things, and I’m never going to finish all of them myself: they’re just going to sit around my house, so I like to give them to other people,” shared Vellanoweth.
On Nov. 13, she brought the holiday spirit to the senior patio in the form of ginger molasses cookies topped with purple sprinkles.
Fellow senior Stella Keatley was among the students savoring this festive cookie.
“I loved that she did purple sprinkles on top because it was a nice surprise. I also liked the strong ginger flavor because sometimes in ginger molasses cookies, the molasses overtakes the ginger. The main thing is the chewy factor: it’s never underbaked, which I really appreciate,” she praised.
Sharing her thoughts on Vellanoweth offering her baked goods to the senior class, Keatley said, “I love it so much. It brings us together and really livens up a boring day. Vellanoweth’s baking is a delicious uniting force.”
Vellanoweth carefully considers what she puts in her creations before distributing them. “I know a lot of people have nut allergies, so I never bake anything with nut ingredients.” She continued, “Maddie [Kashkooli] is vegan, and I’m good friends with her, so I try to make vegan treats every now and then.”
Regarding baking, Vellanoweth always imbues her delicious goods with thought and compassion, elevating them from sweet treats into a memorable class experience.
While she doesn’t have a favorite treat to make, Vellanoweth particularly loves baking cookies because they are quick and easy to whip up. She has kindly shared a recipe with the Poly community to recreate her culinary magic at home:
Helen’s Chocolate Chip Cookies:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter (softened)
2 ¼ cups flour (all-purpose)
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoons salt
1 pack of chocolate chips (or any baking chips)
Tip from Helen: I like to add about 1 teaspoon of vanilla, too.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Put the sugar, butter, and egg in an electric mixer and mix until combined. Whisk together dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add dry ingredients with a mixer on low and mix until combined. Then add chocolate chips either by mixing or folding. Place cookies on a tray, about a spoonful per cookie spread apart, and bake for 13-15 minutes or until fully cooked. Enjoy!
