Wednesday 15 May 2013

A Bake Off!

Earlier this year I sent off an application to take part in the 2013 Great British Bake Off. I filled in a 9 page application form and gave details of baking successes and baking disasters. I wrote about signature bakes and recipes passed down the generations and I sent this off together with pictures of buns..
 
 
and cupcakes... and various other baked goods.


But I was unsuccessful. I was a little disappointed not to have even got as far as a first heat but consoled myself in knowing that there were thousands of entries. And to be honest I don't think I would have enjoyed being on TV and having to bake in that tent with those blue eyes scrutinising my soggy bottom. If you've ever seen me trying to roll out pastry without getting floury hands (I hate having floury hands) you will know what a disaster I would have been!

 
But recently I discovered that Cambridge are having their very own Bake Off and before I knew it I'd sent of another entry. Much simpler this time... just one photo and a couple of lines about why I love to bake. I sent the photo of the cake above... and I've got through to the first round... along with 99 other people! In just over a week I've got to make a two layer chocolate cake for the judges.

 
So today I've been practising! We have been told that the judging will be on taste and texture foremost so for now I'm concentrating on finding exactly the right cake... I'll worry about the decoration next week.
I've made a amaretti chocolate cake with chocolate ganache...

 
and a Mary Berry chocolate sponge with a white chocolate icing

 
The amaretti cake wins hands down for taste and texture for me... but I'm waiting for my team of testers to come home and give a second opinion.

 
And if you are in the area next week do call in... there will be tea and chocolate cake on offer all week long until I find that perfect cake!

32 comments:

  1. Oh well done you!! If I was in the area I would love a piece of that cake - any of them!!!! x Jo

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  2. Well done and good luck.Those cakes look wonderful.

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  3. OMG - glad I'm not fasting today - I would happily eat all of those. gorgeous looking cakes Gina especially the photo of the one which you sent in for your application. I can't see why you wouldn't do brilliantly!!!

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  4. You could apply to do a bake off in my house if you like, I can tell you now, you're definitely in!!! :)
    Well done in getting through, I'm sure you will be amazing. Shame you didn't get on the BBC one, I would have enjoyed watching you and old blue eyes. ;)
    V xxx

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  5. Go Gina!

    Make sure you post pictures of all of your chocolatey creations so we can enjoy them from a safe distance.

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  6. Yay Gina! I am always available for testing. ALWAYS. Well, except carb free Mon & Tues. But other than that ...

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  7. The amaretti one sounds fantastic. Judging by just the look of your cakes you should have no problems, even against 99 other contestants.

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  8. Where in Cambridge??
    I live here and I haven't even heard about this... do they need tasters? I am available. Whatever the date...
    Good luck, Ax

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  9. Well done!! Oh my! Those cakes have made me really hungry ;p xx

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  10. Wow how exciting! All of your cakes look amazing and I am sure taste delicious.

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  11. Cambridge Bake Off this year, next year Salon Culinaire? Are you sure that your tasting team will let anyone else near those cakes, I doubt there will be any left for guests! They do look delicious.

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  12. Oh good luck...and if you ever need another taster...let me know!
    Xxx

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  13. Your resident testers are going to be soooooo happy! And looks like you've got presentation sussed - all those look glorious!

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  14. Good luck! Oh to live nearer and be able to take you up on that invitation!

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  15. Both of those looking really good; are your family marking out of 10?

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  16. Your cakes look amazing! Oh to be one of your cake testers - but that's my head speaking, my hips don't agree!

    Good luck!

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  17. I'm sure my husband will be jealous of your tasters, I haven't had chance to bake this week and his manual work out on our land means that he takes a lot of filling up.

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  18. Oh WOW! How utterly thrilling Gina! We're all rooting for you xxx

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  19. Oh how exciting! Congratulations on making the first round - and have fun moving forward!

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  20. Well done Gina! And don't let the other application attempt get you down! You can bake the socks off the best of them! Would love to have seen you on TV though!

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  21. Drooling here! Good luck with the competition.

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  22. Gina, having seen a photo or two of your very fine baking results over the years, I think that you are going to win this competition.

    How I wish that I lived close enough to help as a tasting coach! Yes, there is a dollop of self interest in my offer.

    Please do keep us posted on how it all goes. xo

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  23. Wow, that's amazing news, Gina, bet your family are pleased too all that lovely cake experimenting.

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  24. Oh my gosh, I am playing catchup with blogs again, and I am now drooling over your creations - lucky taste testers. I hope you win.
    The embroideries in your previous post are very inspiring too - fancy relegating your piece to below the window! Cheers

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  25. Congrats on getting in the competition! Best of luck. Your cakes look absolutely delish!

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  26. Oh how exciting! Your cakes and bakes always look so amazing. Looking forward to chocolate cake updates and will be keeping fingers crossed for the big day!

    K x

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  27. Well done Gina! You'll have a great time and will wow the judges, I have no doubt of it.

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  28. How fantastic! I'm sure you will be number one.

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  29. The amaretti cake looks exceedingly yummy. I wish I could be a taste tester. Good luck with the competition.

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  30. Great British Bake Off's loss is Cambridge's gain............

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  31. Just catching up here. Gina can I suggest you test drive the chocolate cake recipe that I posted a while back ... it is very moist and has perfect crumb and truly doesn't taste of tomatoes ... it might be just what you're looking for :)
    http://knitsofacto.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/beccas-best-ever-chocolate-cake.html (but just the cake, not the topping, I'm sure you could improve on that :) )

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  32. Ohhh man...... how I wish I lived next door .....mmmmmm.....

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