The Great British Bake Off

I agree with you HildaW, Tv programmers love a bit of nastiness, good cop/bad cop. Thats why I love Masterchef, as the two chaps are both nice and get on well together. You couldn't have dear old Mary being the nasty one.

DaisyD. I am not a particularly good cook, but even my worst enemy would have to admit that my pastry is pretty darn fine and these days I make it in my food processor. It's more about the ingredients you use to make your pastry than anything else, I am convinced of that. And whatever else you do, or don't do, make sure your water is icy cold! By the way my domestic science teacher was Sister Monica (went to a convent) and she terrified me. She'd be horrified if she could see what I get up to in the kitchen these days, which actually isn't much if I'm being honest. Anyway, bring on the food processor is what I say....

Looking forward to this evenings programme - biscuits. I shall be intrigued to see what can be done that is exciting along these lines.

Cari - that's exactly the trouble!

They had two delicious chocolatey things on Waitrose cake counter today - reduced!

I resisted.

How good is that?

oooooooo Jangly.......you are so good!

Good for you, jangly. I averted my eyes when passing the cake counter in Waitrose today, having been on the scales this morning...

Biscuits should be good, I was even thinking of making some last week, I didn't of course. Instead I found two pieces of last years Christmas Cake to eat instead, the cake was delicious though.

I love this programme ...but posted on Facebook ''I wish the women would fasten their hair back off their faces and stop touching it whilst baking.''

As I am a retired Home Ec teacher I got lots of comments from some of my ex pupils !!! We had a good laugh !!

Not so keen on all the brightly coloured macaroons !!

I agree, they were rather vividly coloured macaroons.
But how sorry I felt for Ben - I wanted to give him a big hug, poor chap was SO disappointed

I agree about the highly coloured macaroons - don't look at all appetising to me!! When a group of people are given the same recipe, isn't it amazing how differently the end products turn out? - not 2 the same. Brandy snaps are very tricky as was shown this evening.
It really is a trial for all the contestants cooking in strange surroundings and with equipmnet that performs differently from what they have at home. It is no wonder that some get upset when things don't turn out as they would like.
For us watchers who are interested in cooking - it is all very entertaining.

I've still got a homemade Christmas pudding in the spare bedroom wardrobe.

about the Christmas cake though Hattie

In the spare bedroom wardrobe jangly that's a funny place for it! It'll be well matured by now and probably absolutely delicious with a generous helping of brandy butter . Please can I have some.

It's about time that we were all thinking of making our puddings for this year isn't it?

I always thought the spare bedroom was the only place to put Chrimbo puds! Its usually not over heated and yet not too cold also you dont go in there often so are not tempted, trouble is though if no one visits for ages it gets left till way past Easter (which is the usual time we have our spare)

I thought the biscuits were just too sweet and sickly and synthetically coloured.! Except for the one who baked the gingernuts and he got told off.
I would have picked one of his to try.
I bake from the Bero booklet like the rest of my family.

They had a day to practice cooking the macaroons, according to the chap who had to leave, makes you think doesn't it.
One of my dogs is always messing about in the spare room, chasing the rug around, and keeps opening the sliding doors under the beds and has a rummage around. So no way would I pop a christmas pud there.

I've just bought the book that goes with this series and it looks very good.

We'll be waiting to try some of the samples please janreb

I would have classed myself as a relatively good baker until I watched this, for amateurs they are incredible, I now realise that my family were being polite or don't know any better!!

I am waiting for Mary-Ann to go POP! She got so red in the face last week and seemed to be increasing in size as the stress became greater - it can only be a matter of time..... perhaps she ought to have a valve like my pressure cooker!

He he Artygran, my husband has been thinking this too............I, of course am far too nice to think it........

Well, Jason and Rob have gone. The next round will be all female, making desserts.

Oh no - I've recorded the GBBO to see later as I was busy earlier this evening - now I know who goes.....

I was going to say that artygran's comment about Mary-Ann sounded as though she should be a character out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or something like that!