GBBO - Week 10 The Final

My last GBBO post. Well, until next year. I was actually off and so able to see this one which is good because facebook or twitter or even the papers would have spoiled it for me. I did feel that Ian was maybe the only one not deserving to be in the final. He always comes across as being a little blase about the whole thing. He states that everything is easy until it comes to actually doing it. And then on Wednesday night there were a few tears from Ian which made me feel bad for not being a fan of his.

The show started off with one of Paul's favourites and one of mine. Iced buns. Who doesn't love an iced bun (only strange folk that's who). Poor Nadiya was doubted at first for having the audacity to make one set of her buns round. What's wrong with a round bun? I've had many a round bun and they taste just as nice as the fingers. Paul certainly ate his words when Nadiya nailed it. She was the only one who managed to get the flavours right AND make them look pretty. They also made me look at my low fat yogurt in disdain.

For the technical challenge the finalists had to make Mille-feuille. Wouldn't have known them by name but they look familiar. Paul was being deliberately cruel on this one. All three of the finalists had done poorly with various pastries and so he deliberately chose a challenge that involved, well, pastry. They looked so yummy too. Nadiya was the only one who nailed it as her pastry was spot on. Sadly the recipe for this hasn't been posted on the GBBO website. I am guessing the Bake off challenge ended with last weeks then? Did anyone take part? Fingers crossed I get to do that next year.

For the show stopper challenge the contestant had to make a classic British cake. The twist was that there had to be more than one tier and all of the cakes had to be the exact same consistency. Ian chose a carrot cake (which is one of my favourites). I feel that he should get a shout out because he had to start again and still managed five perfect carrot cakes. I have to be honest that I didn't get that the decoration on each cake made one large carrot until Paul pointed it out. Oops! I think kudos has to go to Tamal. He made a caramel sticky toffee cake. The decoration on it was amazing and I wish that there was a decent image of it. He went made with the spun sugar with elaborate decorations on all three. The three were then connected with a large spun sugar web. It was pretty amazing to see. My heart went out to Nadiya who basically made her dream wedding cake. It did look beautiful.

By the end it came as no surprise to me that Nadiya was announced the winner. This was her weekend. Unlike the others absolutely nothing went wrong for her. She deserved it and I loved her speech afterwards. Clearly someone who has always doubted her own abilities has just had it proven to her that she can do anything. I look forward to seeing what she does in the future. Hopefully bring out a book like most of last years contestants.

I think Mary Berry should get a mention here as she almost shed some tears when talking about Nadiya as the winner. Nice to see the judges getting emotional over cake for a change. Gives the poor contestants a rest.

I of course had to purchase the Bake Off book that went with the series. I actually bought this before it aired. So it's been sitting on my shelf unopened as I didn't want to spoil it for myself. I don't just love seeing how the bakers do each week but I also like to see what they have been told to bake. Better as a surprise. Sadly, it doesn't contain anything from the final so you will have to go elsewhere for those recipes but it has everything else and some extras. I won't do a proper review of it until I actually make something.

And for the last time all images apart from the last are not mine. You can get them and more information on the GBBO website.

The Great British Bake Off Everyday by Linda Collister - Book Review

Two book reviews in one week. I know, I'm spoiling you. My book reviews are like buses. With my bakery books (of which they are all Bake Off related) I like to have at least made a few things from it before I review it. This book was released during last years British Bake off. It's more complex than the first one and the bakes are more intricate. There are a few simpler ones in there but if I am honest it's the big ones that caught my eye.

The whipped chocolate layer cake that I made a few weeks ago came from this book.  While they may be more complex the instructions are still simple and easy to follow. Any terms you don't understand are explained in there. The book is split into sections such as cakes, bread and so it should be fairly easy to find what you are looking for.

Failing that the index is rather good. Everything chocolate is listed under chocolate. Or if you are looking for a good butter cream you will also find a section for that with different flavours. If you go to the vanilla butter cream it will even tell you what to substitute to make it chocolate.

Yep, it even has these little sections within it to show how to make little things such as the butter cream, royal icing or this orange curd which I made last week. I like that aspect of it because you can then bring together different recipes as I did this week (which I will show you in another post soon).

I should also point out that at the end of each section there are some weekend bakes. These aren't quick bakes as the title would suggest. Instead these are sections where some of the recipes Paul, Mary and last years bakers are shown. So you will recognise some of the images if you watched it last year.

My only criticism is that not all of the recipes come with images. Most of them do but I like an image so that I can compare my bake to see if it looks right. Especially since decorating is not one of my strengths. Other than that I have a fair few recipes earmarked to try.. 

I Baked Too!

Yep, I baked this week again. Not for placement (as it is all finished) and not the same old banana bread. This time I tried something from my other bake off book (the one I bought last year but still hadn't used). Wee Sis, mum and I were having a girly day so I decided to make something. My sister loves her lemon cake and my mum quite likes it too. So I decided to give the lemon poppy seed cake a go. It was an easy recipe to follow. It was my first time using ground almonds in cake and poppy seeds for that matter. I also added a little extra lemon zest than was listed in the recipe.

In all honesty I wasn't impressed with it. I didn't think the lemon was strong enough. I also don't understand the purpose of poppy seeds. I couldn't taste them and all it did was add an extra crunch to the cake. I tried looking it up and some people say that it makes the cake richer and others say that it adds an extra spice. I didn't dislike them mind you so I'm not against using them in other recipes. My mum and sister disagree with me over this cake. While I wasn't a fan they loved it. Wee Sis again mentioned I should pack in the nursing and open a bakery (not going to happen). So on that side it was a success.

As it was pie week on GBBO I should have made pie. However, I don't like pie although watching it I did want to have a go at making pastry. It looked like fun. I think we should take a moment though to express our deep sorrow at losing Norman. I was completely gutted that he was asked to leave. I am really going to miss him. My friend and I are thinking about starting a campaign to bring him back. It doesn't have to be as part of the competition. We think he should have his own segment called 'Norman's Corner'. Again, this photo doesn't belong to me but to the GBBO facebook page.

I am still on my final secret project. It's going well and I think I can see light at the end of the tunnel. In other news I finally cast on those socks using a smaller needle size. I am much happier with it as a result. In the meantime my lovely friend who dyed this yarn is going through a very tough time right now so please send out your thoughts and good wishes to her and her family.

GBBO #5

The above image came courtesy of the Great British Bake Off website which I have linked to the image itself. That can only mean one thing! I am going to talk about GBBO. Like last year I am once again addicted. I am even guilty of watching each episode more than once on iPlayer. You might wonder at that but I don't seem to ever get bored of it. Perhaps because my own creativity is limited to the time I can spend on it.

Regardless, I am loving it this year and I think this year is even better than last year. Not just because there has been no site of custard (which was prolific last year or at least it seemed to be). Not just because I would actually like to try my hand at most of this years bakes (so far). But also because there is an abundance of talent. Let's not forget that these are amateur bakers (however are also significantly less amateur) although this years seeem to be slightly more talented than last years. I don't think I could even pick out a winner at this point. Nor do I have a favourite to win.

I couldn't even point out a favourite at this point (although there are a few stars there). I do have a soft spot for Norman and not just cause he is a fellow Scot. However, his refusal to move from safety means that I don't see him winning. I also have a soft spot for Martha who is the youngest contestant so far and has a great deal of talent. I also like Nancy and her attitude to her baking. I have to say poor Jordan was my least favourite and he seemed to have less skill and knowledge than the others. Perhaps, he would have been better after a few more years of practise.

Thanks to my lovely mother I now have the book to go with this years series. Which is a good thing as I want to try my hand at a number of the recipes. I quite fancy having a go at the ciabatta. I am still dying to have a go at making bread in general. I also have an idea for a swiss roll which involves making my own jam. Just as well I am going to have some time off coming up.

I'm not going to review this book as yet. I want to try a couple of the recipes first. As I have another GBBO book I have yet to make anything from though you might be waiting a while. Or maybe not if I get the chance to make that bread.