Yes I know. The Bake Off has finished and we all cried along with Nadiya when she won and gave that lovely speech. Back at Craftguider Towers, I was really busy with my volunteering, followed by tonsillitis and a stinking cold and a back that went twang. I’ve been waiting for a good time to do my soufflé for chocolate week, but there hasn’t been the time, so I’m summing up my patisserie efforts and the final traditional bake now before you all forget what a bake off is!
I made choux pastry for the first time this year when I chose to make éclairs for my turn on the WI cake rota. This stood me in good stead for my Religieuses that I made for the Great Girlguiding Anglia Bake Off. Even though they didn’t win, they tasted delicious, but I still needed to perfect them. Cue patisserie week on Bake Off and Religieuses à l’Ancienne. Yes, those nuns were back, but this time they were Dalek shaped constructions. Instead of the construction element, I spent my time perfecting my pastry, and I finally managed the crisp choux shells I needed.
To represent the traditional bake in the final, eldest Craftyguidelet wanted to make a gluten free Victoria sponge. She roped in Mr CG to replace me, and used the Cake Angels recipe to make a nice sponge.
Youngest Craftyguidelet didn’t want to be left out and made some more gluten free custard creams from the Honeybuns cookbook. My originals from biscuit week were mentioned in Homemaker Magazine in October as I used the cutters and stencil from a previous free gift. I won’t let the fame go to my head!
I must make time for the soufflé so I can finally finish my bake along. Ingredients bought so watch this space…
Have you been inspired by the Bake Off to create anything new?