Great British Bake Off

I thought the same, Purpledaffodil! It would have been too obvious to do it last week.

Perhaps I am being cynical but I felt all that "We couldn't decide between them " from Mary and Paul was rather staged. They needed to have a week with nobody leaving to balance the series or they'd be an episode short. I think if Diana hadn't left, they would have decided all right!

I have just made Paul Holywood's pear pie! I will not bother again! I stuck (literally!) to the recipe.
They looked ok, I will put a photo on soon as I can.
The syrup is extremely sticky, on me, the cooker, the floor and welded to the jug and cooking tray!
The syrup also leaked out of the pears when cooked.
The taste was of pear and pastry, nothing special? Maybe that's just me.
I shall make a straightforward pear flan in future! If I ever get rid of all that sticky!!

Could face all that cream stuff last night, either. X

I don't normally watch Bake Off but watched some of it last night. I said to DH 'oh look we've had one of those cakes from Morrisons' and I agree gilly, they are scrummy.

Anyone familiar with Morrisons would have recognised the green cake as a Morrisons Festival Cake that I confess is my most favourite cake ever. Slushy cream, custard,melt in the mouth spongy layers and yummy (green) marzipan.

No wonder, anno. Did you watch it three times?

I thought some of the concoctions looked awful last night - not at all appealing like they usually are. Still love watching it, though.

All that cream made me feel more than slightly nauseous!

All that cream made me feel more than slightly nauseous!

All that cream made me feel more than slightly nauseous!

I agree Shysal, it was the right decision for me too. I think I heard that Diana is going to be on the Extra Slice programme this week. Good for her!

Still wallowing in all that cream, jam, sponge and icing. Don't care who wins, just keep it going for ever, and no calories!

I think the correct decision was made last night. I suspect that they had kept the option up their sleeves in case of a close decision, due to Diana's departure.

Just got back to this post - friend is coming on Thursday. I think I may have misled when I said doesn't eat dairy. She prefers not to eat cheese, cream and that sort of thing.
I will make the pears with puff pastry, I think and serve with local ice cream, so that she can choose whether to eat it or not.
Will take photo. X

Yes. It's the ones who can afford fancy machines that this "Bake-off" appeals to. Your over-fed, winme sozzled middle classes.

I think that statement says more about the maker of it than those who enjoy cooking and baking and like to invest in their hobby.

This has reminded me I'm going to watch the programme later this pm.
Hoping to get some pastry tips because I can't make good pastry. my Mum used all lard, and her pastry was always perfect, but we don't eat lard.

J52 just wondered how the pastry worked, I have made Shortcrust with vegetable oil in the past but found it a bit hard ???

J52 are you going to make a lard only pastry if your friend doesn't eat any dairy, let us know how it works out.

Take a photo J52, and post it on this thread with a GN label.
www.gransnet.com/forums/pictures/1209665-The-Great-Gransnet-Bake-Off
They did look good, apart from the ones where the pastry slipped off!

I liked the pear pies. I'm going to make them for lunch with a friend who doesn't eat dairy products. I don't think they'll be Bake Off standard. But as my grandma used to say 'it'll eat!' X

Yes, some of those pies were definitely on the rustic side. Agree about Norman, his presentation wasn't up on a par with the others - and lavender meringue?

I have reverted to this original thread, rather than the 'sabotage' one.

I think it was Norman's time to go, so agreed with the result, although there was a chance that no-one would leave due to Diana's departure.
I thought the show-stopper was supposed to be for a self-supporting tiered pie, yet they all used support of some kind, which was obviously necessary.

Apparently Sue is an accomplished baker, don't know about Mel. I find them very amusing. Paul is bumptious, but I have a reluctant liking of him, a bit of the Simon Cowell syndrome I think! He (Paul) and Mary appear to have a good relationship, she was leaning in to him to have a good laugh in one of the clips shown on the Extra Slice.

We have desserts next week, I must resist making any, although I have a sweet tooth.

Mel and Sue have me in stitches, especially when Mel gave extensive instructions in fluent Italian the other night, then turned to face the camera with a faux smug expression at her accomplishment. I relish the way they take the mickey out of Paul and Mary. Very good entertainment.

I dont like Paul Hollywood either...... self seeking , be on TV.

Mary is normal. As for Sue, my
mouth is sealed, is case something bad passes my lips.

The prog is so engineered by BBc, from the rain, thunderstorms etc.

I do wonder if it is stitched up before it is even aired.

I'd love to see roles reversed and Mel and Sue required to bake under the scrutiny of all the contestants, with Paul and Mary doing the washing up and Jo sweeping up. In the meantime I just wallow in all those good things!