It was the semi final – things were getting serious. Surely this week’s technical challenge would be a stinker. And, true to form, Prue threw in a smoking grenade – a gâteau Saint Honoré. Her words of wisdom? “This is very difficult to make look good, good luck.” WHAT?! Naturally, Saint Honoré is the French… Continue reading It took five hours to make and five minutes to demolish, but was it worth it?

Sometimes the stars are set to do anything but align. And so it was as I attempted to make this week’s Great British Bake Off technical challenge. As week eight of the competition rolled into town we were down to five contestants. It was pastry week, the doyenne of the show. Paul Hollywood set the… Continue reading This was more cooking than baking…

When the dough of a bake has Marsala wine in it you know you’re onto a winner. And so it was with this week’s Great British Bake Off technical challenge. It was festival week. As predicted last week, Paul Hollywood revealed the challenge – Cassatelles – delicate little cornish-pasty-esque pastries, traditional to Sicily, filled with… Continue reading Chocolate and cheese – together? In pastry?

It was announced as one of the most difficult technical challenges ever set on The Great British Bake Off. Prue gave us her words of wisdom: “This is all about the detail and precise measurements.” Noel said what we were all thinking: “…so helpful.” It was dessert week and the challenge was set – six… Continue reading The key to success? Chill…

…Paul would have walked out (no joke). Prue would have reassuringly picked out any positives (there weren’t any). Noel would have been aghast. Sandi would have displaced the tension by saying something witty. It’s fair to say the 1920s week wasn’t my week. What went wrong? Well, what went well – that’s the real question… Continue reading This was my week to go home…