Friday, November 1, 2024

Rolling In The Dough -Week Three Of The At Home British Bakeoff

It's Bread Week in our at home version of The Great British Baking Show. If you don't know what I'm talking about read this post-Bamboozled By A Battenberg followed by this post-Waltzing In To Bakeoff Week 2 to catch up. 

This week's technical challenge had contestants baking a 7-strand plaited bread wreath in two hours, thirty minutes. They weren't given a recipe, just a list of ingredients. Paul demonstrated the plaiting technique before they got started and daughter2 and I agreed we'd probably watch that bit at least ten times before we tried it on our own. 

Okay, first of all we're not on the clock-ha! 

Secondly, we used a recipe. Our house, our rules. 

Neither of us are bread bakers on a regular basis and we were excited to try this. Plus fresh bread? Yes please. 

Not exactly like braiding hair, but it's the same general idea. Rolling out the 'octopus' was the hardest part of the process. I didn't feel like my strands rolled as easily as the contestant's did, but I got there 


Look at me all official with my proving bag.

my finished wreath

I have to say this turned out surprisingly well. I credit years of raising daughters who regularly wanted their hair braided. 

My daughter’s wreath 

I told my daughter she was star baker this week. 

Now,  did  I make a kitchen mess? You betcha. In fact hubs may have stated he hopes we don't do this again next year lol. Except I think he was serious? Whatever. He's not turning down freshly baked bread, and it's been fun baking with my daughter, comparing notes, trying something new, and realizing I could never be an actual contestant on the show-ha.  

I'm sure Paul Hollywood would say mine was 'slightly underbaked' but I tapped it like an honest to goodness contestant and it sounded hollow, which apparently is the sound you need. The texture was really good. 

Next up-caramel week. We're going to hold off on the actual bake for another week because we both have some travel scheduled and we don't need the extra pressure. Plus! we anticipate being in the same kitchen next weekend so our plan is to do the caramel bake together. Double the fun...

No doubt double the mess too. Enjoy your weekend everyone! 

17 comments:

  1. Well done! They both look good. I couldn't go on that show either - way too much stress lol.

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  2. I think the timing element on some of the baking shows must be contrived- at least the ones on Food Network that I have watched. Like every contestant JUST gets done in the nick of time. Every time. That doesn´t seem to comport with reality. I understand there needs to be a time limit practically for the show but the timing seems fake to me. Anyway, maybe not on the British show you watch. Your bread looks amazing! Great job!! I hope the caramel making goes well when you do that one. I love to make homemade caramel though it has been a while. Your making it will probably inspire me :). Have a great weekend!

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  3. Wow! Stunning! This is such a fun thing you are doing. It makes me want to start watching the show.

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  4. That is a beauty, well done! Love it. I think I'll talk our girls into doing some sort of bake when they are here for either Thanksgiving weekend or Christmas. Happy November!!

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  5. Well done to you and your daughter! I watched the professionals make it and even they didn't find it easy!

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  6. What a lovely braided bread.
    Saw your post at Weekend Traffic Jam Reboot!
    My entries this week are numbered #65+66
    Come and join us weekly at https://esmesalon.com/tag/seniorsalonpitstop/

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  7. I have to tell you that you piqued my interest and I have started back with earlier seasons of the baking show and am enjoying it. Not enough to be challenged to try any of the recipes but it fun to watch and nice to see that I'm not the only one who makes mistakes/disasters!! Your bread and D1's bread both look great! This makes for some fun blogging!! xo

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  8. This looks fabulous and I may have to try this with my sourdough bead! Caramel sounds yummy too!

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  9. I'm so impressed! Both of your bread wreaths look so pretty and delicious too!

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  10. LOVE this...I'm totally going to follow along. I'm not sure I can talk my girls into doing this, but maybe I could do it myself.

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  11. I think you did a good job. We just watched that one last night. It reminded me of my Hoska that I make at Christmas although it doesn't go into a circle.

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  12. Oh holly molly this looks divine..

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  13. Very impressive! I baulk at making bread and I'm not sure why but your efforts look delicious. Thanks for sharing with us at #weekendtrafficjamreboot and I have selected your post as one of my favourites to feature in next week's link up. Have a lovely week. Sue L x

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  14. Oh, I want to try this now. We just started watching this season so we're not up to the bread challenge yet. Thanks for linking up with us!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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  15. What an accomplishment! I love that show and I'm loving following along as you and your daughter take on these challenges! Fun! Fun! Fun! (Although I'm sure I would have been a bit stressed if I were the baker!). Thanks for sharing with us all!

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