For someone armed with a degree in construction management and property from University of New South Wales in Australia, it seems strange that Huen Su-Yin has chosen baking and catering as her line of business.

Huen’s blog started as a journal to keep track of her learning experiences in the kitchen.

Nevertheless, the Ipoh-born lass is charging full steam ahead, blogging as she goes about her venture.

Huen documents her experiences in The Journal of a Girl Who Loves to Cook (www.cookingismypassion.blogspot.com).

“My blog initially started as a journal to keep track of my learning experiences in the kitchen as a student in Australia. That was three years ago, when I could barely fry an egg. It was pretty hilarious!

“The lack of friends or company subsequently developed my love for cooking, foreign flavours, food and culture. As I moved on and improved, one thing led to another and unexpectedly, I had begun running a part-time cake decorating or catering business through the blog. It helped pay my expensive ‘practice’ sessions in the kitchen!” said the 23-year-old.

According to her, the blog posts helped her appreciate the art of cooking, improve her writing, provoke her interest in food photography and fine-tune her cooking techniques.

“My blog grew with me and its content stays true to the way I am. It followed me through the time I enrolled in the Diploma in European Pastry Arts programme at the Notter School of Pastry Arts in Orlando, Florida.

“The blog is now focused on the story of how this budding entrepreneur intends to kickstart Delectable, a designer cake studio (www.delectable.com.my) in Kuala Lumpur.”

Huen’s blog, which had just celebrated its third anniversary, just crossed the 1,128,000 mark in terms of page hits.

“I did not expect it at all! Though I’ve been receiving offers from advertising firms and kitchen appliances companies, I want my blog to stay ad-free. It’s a space I want to keep personal, and I’m sure my readers will appreciate that,” she said, adding that her blog has garnered a fair bit of media response internationally, including from the Sydney Morning Herald and Los Angeles Times.

Huen pointed out that her readers mostly visit her blog for a peek at the photos. She also keeps her readers updated daily through Twitter.

Huen prefers short posts.

“Long posts often catch me beating around the bush! I try to keep what I write about inspiring and short,” she said.

For example, her previous posts from Australia contained fun, student-friendly cheap meals and ideas for the kitchen.

“I receive e-mails daily from readers who comprise mostly students, stay-at-home mums and professionals who love to bake or have intentions of joining a pastry school,” Huen said, adding that she gets e-mails from budding designers and artsy individuals who want advice as well.

Readers may be pleased to know that Huen plans to keep The Journal of a Girl Who Loves to Cook the way it is.

“I want it to reflect me as a person... but I do feel that The Journal of a Girl Who Loves to Cook has slowly evolved. The ‘girl’ has turned into ‘lady’, who will inevitably become a ‘woman’!” she said.