Wow what a week! Shaky hands, tears over creme pat and pasty and a giant carrot. This years final was a little tense and incredibly emotional throughout, and not just from the bakers! Signature – 16 x iced buns (two flavours) One of Pauls favourites and one that featured a few series’ back.  He likes … Continue reading Ep10: “Get your buns in gear, its the Final!”

Ahh hello again you divine flavoursome ingredient, but the arch nemesis of a tidy bake day. This week more than anything other I wish I was doing the signature or the technical bake and not the show stopper. Oh well onward we go… Signature – Chocolate tart  It’s semi final week and in the word … Continue reading Ep9: Chocolate week “Lets get the semi’s on!”

Another first for the series, and one I hope they continue to elaborate on, especially with the savoury side of things Signature  – Raised Game Pie Oh if only I was making this this week instead of the show stopper, the fiance would be in heaven.  I really like making the pork pies from previous … Continue reading Ep7: Victorian week “Oven, were we meant to put it in the oven?”

One of the main challenges for this week was trying to decide on the fillings for these retro classics.  Some of the contestants went with traditional retro fillings where as others, like Matt, really brought them up to date with his breakfast version.  Trying to use this as inspiration I decided to do three fillings … Continue reading Ep6: Showstopper – Vol-au-vents x 36

This week it’s sweet vs savoury, layers vs biscuit, and straight vs the collapsed, basically everything that comes with making and baking pastry. Signature – Frangipane tart Not something I have made before but certainly something I would like to try. I’m not a big fan of the popular pear, but Flora’s use of apricots … Continue reading Ep6: ‘Biblical Pastry’

For a showstopper that is half way through the series, I would have thought they could have chosen something a bit more tricky.  The main element, the ice cream, in itself isn’t technically difficult, with the only tricky bit, the freezing, being out of your hands.  Even the sponge isn’t particularly taxing, especially for this far … Continue reading Ep5: Showstopper – Dairy Free Ice Cream Sponge roll

Now this is definitely a first for bake off.  Over the years the baker’s have dabbled in this area independently but never has there been a fully dedicated week to it.  I have a few family member that are food intolerant in someway so we’re used to adapting recipes and coming up with something everyone … Continue reading Ep5: “Don’t be in a Pitta despair” its just Free-From week

I love baked cheesecakes, I much prefer them to the no-bake variety They have more body and taste much more indulgent, with their velvety texture. I’ve recently made a blueberry cheesecake for someone at work, so I have a bit of practise with them. Neapolitan nouveau For this showstopper I decided to the make something … Continue reading Ep4: Showstopper – 3 Tiered Baked Cheesecakes

After last weeks savoury we are are back to the sweet things this week, Dessert. Full of sugar, fat and all the things that are bad for you.  Thankfully it’s a bank holiday weekend, so lots of people to see who can eat this weeks showstopper, 3 tiered cheesecakes! Signature Bake – 12 Crème Brûlée … Continue reading Ep4: “The first brûlée to give me a hangover!”

Seeing all the sculptures from this weeks show, definitely opened the imagination from what I could do this weekend.  Do I make one thing, with the different doughs and bake it all at the same time, like Pauls Lion or different things and bring them together in the final build.  After spending some time reading up … Continue reading Ep3: Showstopper – 3D Bread

It’s Pauls week, and he’s taking no prisoners, what with irregular baguettes, unpractised bakes and Mary was left with being the good cop this week. Signature – Quick Bread A first for the bake off, but then again isn’t everything we see on it? The definition of this bread is a very speedy bread made … Continue reading Ep3: “He’s punching bread and shattering dreams!”

I really thought that these showstoppers would have been easier than doing the two other challenges together, but no. On second thoughts these tasks are definitely more challenging. First off the challengers have had at least a week to practise, not only their bakes, but the concept and design too. I have less time due … Continue reading Ep2: Showstopper – Biscuit box filled with 36 biscuits

Well that was a little surprising. Lithuanian cottage cheese biscuits, slipper biscotti’s and laminated wheels. This weeks episode certainly had a bit of bite, and when it came to the crunch, those that played it safe, simply crumbled! (sorry). Uniformity was key for every task this week. Signature Bake – Biscotti (24) These are yummy … Continue reading Ep2: Don’t forget to check the oven is on!

B. F. G. the shortened version of this three layered beast, and there was nothing friendly about this giant! Firstly can I just say that baking on a hot sunny day is not the most ideal conditions to bake, let alone try to temper chocolate in! This weekends bake turned out to be a chaotic, … Continue reading Ep1: Showstopper – Black Forest Gateau

Woohoo the bake of is back and so is my baking drive.  It’s been a little slow of late, what with the pressures of work and starting to plan a wedding! That’s right peeps the boyfriend proposed and as baking isn’t great for the waistline I’ve decided to do things a little differently this year. … Continue reading Ep1: GBBO Series 6 begins and what a cracker!