The Great British Bake Off

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!!

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

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

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 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.

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)

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

about the Christmas cake though Hattie

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 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 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 !!

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.

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

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

Cari - that's exactly the trouble!

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

I resisted.

How good is that?

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

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....

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.

Funnily enough I watched this last year and my impression of Paul was not unfavourable, I think perhaps hes been told to spice it up a bit because Mary and the girls are so lovely. I've watched him on his own somewhere and athough he does come over as a bit of a 'smoothie' he did not seem that much of a villain. Mind you........its amazing what a difference editing can do!

I watched this last night and loved it. artygran I love to cook and bake but have never had any success with bread so was impressed with their efforts too. Paul thing is truly horrible, why they always have to add that nasty element to these kind of programmes ?

Hollywood..................its probably his real name but does make him sound a bit of a prima donna....or whatever the male version of that is.

I enjoyed yesterday's programme - I felt really sorry for the lady who made the bread basket with wholemeal flour - even a twit like me could have told her that wouldn't work! I was full of admiration for their efforts though (yes, even Rob!) cos I can't make bread, and that Paul Whotsisname is totally up himself and horrible!

Rob is still hanging in there by the skin of his teeth, only because some others were even worse!
I love bread making so enjoyed this week's show .I am glad there is no one stand-out potential winner at the moment, look forward to the rest of the series.
Wish there was a cup-cake smiley!