1242 – Festivals | Great British Baking Off to Sleep S10/C7 Ep7
A festive sleep will be slowly proofed by our bakers.
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Episode 1242 – Great British Baking Off to Sleep S10/C7 Ep7
[START OF RECORDING]
SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcaster who’s saying, huh, I wonder what I’ll talk about on this intro. I wonder how…how will I stop making sense? I never ask…what are those, small…what’s the smallest way you could make sense today? I’d say, well, use paper money. Hardy-har-har. But you may be saying, what in the name of the Hardy twins or whoever they are…or hearty soup is this gentleman talking about? Well, welcome to Sleep With Me, the podcast that’s here to put you to sleep. I’m so glad you’re here. I’m gonna keep you company and take your mind off of stuff, but this podcast is very different. Give it a few tries. See how it goes. It’s here to be your friend in the deep, dark night, to keep you company, but it is a bit different. It does take some getting used to.
If you loathe the show already, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou has other sleep podcasts and sleepy stuff on there. But most people that are regular listeners that love the show say, honestly, it took me two or three tries to realize, oh, the podcast will never make any sense. It’s hearty in nonsense. It’s wholehearted nonsense. Wholehearted, hearty nonsense; that’s really what this show is, but with a side of meanders. So, I’m so glad you’re here. I make the show because I know what it feels like in the deep, dark night and because you deserve a good night's sleep.
What we got coming up here is support for the show so it could come out twice a week for free — but you could also subscribe and skip the commercials — then we’ll have a long, meandering intro right after the support that’s meant to ease you into bedtime. It’s a show within a show. It’s most listeners’ favorite part of the show but it’s also part of the show most…the only part of the show most listeners hear…and then we’ll have a bedtime story about Great British Bake Off. So, I’m so glad you’re here, and thanks again for coming by. These…thanks…and this, patrons, is me still mis…thanks for letting me mispronounce things, patrons.
INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome to Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. It could be thoughts, things on your mind that you’re thinking about, thoughts about the past, the present, the future, or all at once, or thoughts from the past that are competing with thoughts about the present and the future, but they’re…I don't know, are they…? If a thought…? I kind of barely have a base…well, whatever’s less than a basic understanding of self-referential thoughts.
Well, actually, I don’t; now that I’m talking about it, I realize I have no idea. But the point I was gonna try to make was like, can a thought about the future be self-referential or is it referring to another…? I say…maybe I could ask that thought that even though I’m trying to introduce…you say, okay, so you’re thinking about what’s…we got that coming up and how you’re looking at all the possibilities in that…what we have coming up, huh? Let’s just use an example; oh, so we’re supposed to travel and you’re a thought about our traveling. Mostly it seems like — and I salute you for this — you’re looking at all the possibilities, all the wrinkles in our travel or even before we begin traveling that could occur; packing, planning, sniffles, getting there.
Wow, you…so, what I was wondering, though, is if you were also…oh, I’m the one thinking this stuff? I’ll be honest with you; I gotta…for the first time in the history of Sleep With Me, I may have to assert myself here and say, I don't honest…and I’m not even being…this is no irony or anything; I don't think I’m actually thinking you, and if I’ve learned anything from meditating…no offense, but you’re here of your own volition, and I don’t mean that in a way to offend you, but you’re an appearance within my mind. But what I was wondering, though…not how you were conceived. Please don’t ask me to explain that to you, 'cause I have no idea and it’d probably get…it’d be even more awkward.
But what I was saying is…do you mind if I call you temporarily travel…pre-travel prep? How about Travy? Okay, Travy. I don't know if you knew this, but I was about four minutes into trying to introduce a sleep podcast before I decided to have a chit…sit-down with you. But what happened, Travy, was I was saying to listeners…what I was usually say is thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, whether you have something coming up or you’re going through something, and that’s what I was kind of referring to with you. You’re one of those having-something-coming-up thoughts and feelings and physical sensations. You kinda provide them all.
You cover a lot of bases, Travy, and you’re good at what you do, though I don't think it’s suited for bedtime, and I would posit to say…if we’re being…if I’m saying this in a wholehearted, loving way, I don't know if you’re suited for…you’re probably suited…you’re suited for a reality…a hyper-reality, right? Right; you cover all the ‘coulds’. Okay. Originally my question for you was, if you were referring to a past thing, would that be a self-referential thought, but I don't…I think…I don't think we’ve cleared anything up here. I would say I agree with you even though you didn’t say it on the mic; Travy wants everybody…it’s not easy being you, right, Travy? Oh, no. Yeah, I’m sure. You’ve got all these things to think about; you want to share them with me.
The best time to do it is when I lie down to go to sleep, or…you kinda are saying it in the background 24/7 within a thirty-day time frame of me going anywhere. I’m sure having those concerns isn’t easy. That’s not really why I started talking about this, though. But believe it or not, this is what I make a sleep podcast for, Travy, is…and because of you, even though I don't know who conceived you and I would say probably…there’s probably some cosmic…I don't know if you have any neutrinos in you, 'cause I don't know what one of those is. I would say, even if you don’t have dark matter, if I had any dark matter, Travy, I would sprinkle it on you. But yeah, I guess this is a chance for listeners to explain why I make the show. Could you stick around here, Travy?
I could kind of explain it to you and this new listener that’s now at your side. Don't worry, new listeners, I won't sprinkle any dark matter or neutrino…don't worry, I don't…there will be no…all neutrinos and dark matter are imaginary and based on definitions that are in my mind which have nothing to do with reality. But so, Travy…so, I make a sleep podcast where I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones which means my voice is not traditionally soothing, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents which means…which we’ve already seen. I try to talk about something, I get distracted, I go off topic, I get…then I forget, I don't know the definition of something, and then something like you pops up, and that happens to me a lot, Travy.
I mean, you’re with…you’ve arisen within me. So, if I was a universe…you’re right, Travy, I don't know if there was a big bang within us, but yeah, you’re a part of me or you’re flowing through me. I mean, that’d be nice if you were just flowing through me. But you do seem to have…you seem to be pretty comfortable…you make multiple, regular appearances, yeah. That’s one of the reasons I make the show, because I have thoughts and feelings and physical sensations, trouble getting to sleep, trouble staying asleep, which a lot of people listening do, but not everybody has all three of them. Some people just have the feelings or the physical sensations, or they don’t know why they can't sleep. It can be baffling sometimes. Oh, so, ‘what else do you need to know about the show’ is usually what I say here, Travy.
So, this is a podcast…and I don't know if…I’m sure if you’ve been within me…maybe you’ve listened to travel podcasts or something, but this is a podcast you don’t really listen to. You just kinda barely listen, which is kind of how I’m trying to lovingly handle you sometimes when you make an appearance. I say, oh, okay, yeah, you’re worried about it. I could see that; how we’re gonna get there, are we gonna be on time, is all the things we count on gonna be on time? What are we gonna remember? What aren’t we gonna remember? So, I know how that feels and I…but I also say, uh-huh, yeah, I can see that. So, this podcast is a little bit like that but even more passive, where people listen to me like background noise or they’re not involved.
You and I, I guess we’re a part of a team. I wouldn’t call it a super team unless there was…if there was competitive neuroses, you’d say, look out, Scoots…and we just…I would say, let’s not compete. Let’s just all…I don't know what…we’d just all try to…like, let’s just all hug each other or…but without thinking about it, but let’s just all hug our Travys out there. But so, this is a podcast you just barely listen to, almost like a out-of-focus thing, kinda like when we’re staring out the window at that thing in the sky and we’re just looking out the window but we’re not kinda paying…you know what I mean? Yeah, we like doing that, huh? That’s relaxing. Once we’re in transit, you really can…you can really relax, then, and stare out the window. So, that’s one part of the podcast.
The other thing is this podcast actually doesn't put anybody to sleep. It’s here to keep people company while you fall asleep. I’m here to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-best…busty, your bore-bestie, your bore-bor, your neigh-bore, your bore-bruh, your friend in the deep, dark night to keep you company while you fall asleep, because there’s no pressure to fall asleep on this show or with this show. There’s people who are listening who can't sleep or who need a break during the day. So, I’m here to the very end, over an hour…plenty of time. Even if you can't sleep, I’ll be here. Or if you’re sound asleep and you’re not listening to me, I’m here to keep you company either way, and there’s over 500 free episodes available on demand anytime, so you could get those.
So, those are two things about the show. The other thing…and this…I say it before but I’ll say it again, Travy; most people don’t like this show when they first listen. It’s an acquired taste, so you kinda listen at first and you’re like, I don't like…or I didn’t…this is not what I expected. This is a popular sleep podcast? People recommend it and…or people search for it? However you discovered it, you get here and you’re like, this is not what I thought would be…this is not…I know there…yeah, this…I thought you were gonna be counting down. How come there isn’t the sound of golden light or anything like that, like a sound effect like that? I say, yeah, no, I understand. It’s different than what you expected, and it’s okay to be skeptical or doubtful or grouchy. That’s how most people get to this show, and why wouldn’t you?
It makes total sense. If you’re tired and you tried a bunch of stuff, you want something that works for you on a regular basis, well, see how this goes and see if it can help you. The reasons I make the show is because I’ve been there. I think my relationship with Travy has shown that. But the other side of it is you deserve a good night's sleep. You deserve the rest you need so your life is more manageable. You deserve to get the rest so you could be out there flourishing and living your life, and that means your world’s a better place…our world’s a better place. So, that is important to me. That’s why I make the show. The other things to know is the structure of the show. The structure of the show is very deliberate so it can benefit the most people it can, but it is adjustable. But let me explain to you the structure.
I think I tried…by the way, everybody, Travy is maybe falling asleep, which is great. Dreaming of breezing through and looking out the window of that air…that thing in the sky. Oh boy, is that relaxing…the right amount of puffy clouds, you can see stuff on the ground but it’s just out of focus, but it looks cool. Oh boy, yeah. So, where was I? Oh, structure of the show. So, it starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, so you feel seen and welcomed in. You say, I might check that show out. Then there’s support so all the work that goes into the show can be supported and the podcast can be free. But if you don’t like the support, you could subscribe and skip all the ads.
Then there’s the intro which is separate from the support, and I always point that out because sometimes…and maybe it’s like that the show just won't work, but separate from the support is the intro which is a show within a show meant to ease you into bedtime. That’s important because the intro kind of…some people fall asleep during it or some people skip it, but for most people it’s part of easing into bedtime, whether you’re getting ready for bed, you’re doing some other chill activity, or you’re in bed getting comfortable, or something else…or taking a break during the day. The intro is a slow descent to set you up to get ready to fall asleep, and that’s only because that’s what most things that I’ve found that work, that actually work. One of them is having a bedtime routine and some wind down.
So, that’s what the intro is, and then it also unsuccessfully introduces people to the podcast, and I meet people like…what was it? Oh, I don't want to say their name because they’re sleeping, but my travel buddy, pre-travel…my pre…some people have a pre-travel checklist; I have a pre-travel being that lives within me that at some point I’m realistically gonna have to sit down…I don't know, what do you call it if…what do you call…is that a self-perpetuating thought? I don't know what it is, but how do you explain the birds and the bees to something that lives within you that’s not a mammal? You’d say, I’m pretty sure Travy’s not a mammal. Maybe part of my brainstem, I mean, if I’m just guessing, or, yeah, some sort of remnant.
Could be a remnant from a multi-generational vibration that I’ve picked up on and re-vibrated within me. So, I can't wait for…I don't know, does anybody know of any pamphlets or PSAs that explain…when you sit down and you talk to that part of yourself that thinks about traveling before you travel, before…it’s time to have that talk. I say, if I read the pamphlet, I’d say, I don't understand…I don't…I’d have to go to a…I say, can you explain the neutrino thing to me again? I’d say, sir, I’ve never said ‘neutrino’ in this…this is the eighteenth class…thirty-six hours, I’ve never said the word…oh. Well, 'cause I was doodling this…I thought these were neutrinos. That’s a doodle, sir. Okay. When are we gonna get to the part where I talk to the…? Oh, that’s a different…I’ve been in the wrong class the whole time. Holy moly.
This is a bowling…? Physics of Bowling? Oh, man. Okay, so you could see how I made the error, then. Okay, I gotta go. Well, I might as well…is this…did…? Okay. Oh, I’m actually introducing a sleep podcast. Holy…wow. Holy bowling, what in the name…? Yeah, I don't have any other bowling puns or anything. I’m sorry. Rack it…do they rack it up? I think that’s in pool. But, I don't know, this is like a seven…so, the heck was I talking about, anyway? Oh, structure of the show? Oh, so the intro…I don't know, is that what I was talking about? Oh, so, the intro goes on and on and on to ease you into bedtime, then weird stuff like this comes up. I think that’s why this is somewhat organic and it helps you ease into bedtime, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, is slightly compre…incomprehensible or moreso. So, that’s the intro.
Then there’s support, then there will be a bedtime story, Great British Bake Off coverage, and then there will be thank-yous at the end. So, that’s the structure of the show. That’s why I make the show. I’m really glad you’re here. If you can't relate or you can, I’m so…if you’re new, a long-time listener, thanks so much for listening, really, or checking this show out and giving me a few minutes of your time. I work really hard on this podcast. So do a bunch of other people, and we all really hope and yearn and strive that we can help you fall asleep, and here’s a couple ways we’re able to do it for you for free twice a week.
Alright everybody, Scoots is back with more Bake Off, Season…or Collection 7, Episode 7, Festival Week. This episode starts with a really good sequence. Noel is carrying a giant backpack…furry jacket, trying to look warm. Green grass…and he’s going…he’s getting ready…Festival Week. Oh, he must be going to a musical…music festival, right? So, Noel’s ready…loves a good festival. Not Sandi’s cup of tea, but it ends up Sandi…they do a quick switcheroo. Sandi’s in a bag. I thought that was my food. She goes, no, but I brought blueberries. He says, blueberries for a festival? She goes, yeah, if there’s a jam session. He goes, don’t ruin my reputation backstage, Sandi. She says, too late. So, a cute little sequence. Then we get the teaser.
Celebratory…layer, layer of pressure…a sky shot, talking heads…oh, the walk to the tent…first we’re seeing things not going well, then of course the theme music, then the sky shot, then the walk to the tent. Two, four, six, seven? Two, four…let me back it up here. Great British Baking Show, sky shot…so, just so you know…walking in…and people are looking good. It looks warm today. We have Henry on the left, Michael on the right, then David and Alice, then Rosie and Steph. Two different vertical stripes on Dave…or Michael. Horizontal kinda stripes on David, but more…his colors are more…Michael has defined stripes on his shirt. What would you say David’s shirt is, color-blocking? His is a rainbow. ROYG…holy ROYGBIV.
Red, orange, yellow…ROYGBIV. Holy moly. So, Michael’s shirt…David’s shirt goes ROYGBIV top to bottom, shoulders to his hips, I guess. Henry’s got a short-sleeved blue shirt on with a tie. Maybe a knit tie? I can't tell. Jeans…and I can't see anybody else. I can kinda see Rosie. It looks like a maroon…? It could be a dress or it could be some sort of leggings and a black sweater. Okay, I hit Play again. What do we got here? Star…we got the talking heads is what we have. It says ‘indistinct chatter’ when they’re walking into the tent. Michael’s glad to get to seven, talking about Steph three times. Steph’s talking about that pressure. Alice had a busy work week; 180 exam papers and 150 reports. So, not a lot of time to practice.
I understand the wanting to express that, 'cause you say, hey, this is…I got a lot of work to do and I’m trying to be a great British baker and baking off. So…on a show. So, a hard week. Noel…everybody comes out. I think Scoots…you’re gonna tell me to pause it for…so, the thing with David’s shirt is it looks totally different under his jumper because…okay, but so, Paul has two buttons open on a blue shirt. It could be a denim shirt. Two buttons open…then Prue has on…huh, maybe that’s…is that layered or no? No, I don't think it is…yellow kinda lemony necklace and a matching bracelet on her right arm, and then a sweater which has a pink section, and then the arms have what I would say is a coral section, and then black and white stripes at the top.
Sandi has on an Oxford shirt, I would say — that’s what I would call it — with yellow…with blue stripes, maybe, or gray stripes on white, but then the bottom of the shirt and before her cuffs are yellow, which actually looks good. It’s not the same yellow as Prue’s, but it still does look good. Then I don't know what Noel is wearing, to be honest. I mean, not how to describe it, because it almost looks rubbery. He has on some sort of black pullover jacket with stars around the collar, and it looks good on him, but I just don’t know…I don’t…I wouldn’t say…I’d guess that it’s some sort of rain-proof material? It kinda looks bikery, but it’s a little…I don't know. Okay, so, twenty-four yeasted festival buns, celebratory breads that you might have at different celebrations.
Each bun must tell a story even if it’s that Paul’s eating your…eating the buns. Get ready, get set, bake. So, everybody starts yeasting and flouring. Henry says it smells like a brewery. Twenty-four buns. Represent any country and festival in the world, but it has to be related to a festival. Light, full of punch, flavor…and Prue talks about the hot-cross bun in Eastern England, but those have to be yeasted and there has to be spice and other flavors that are uniform, flavored, textured beautifully…delicious buns. Steph’s doing a hot-cross bun; lemon zest, there’s plenty of spice, orange…zest and spice hot-cross bun…cranberries and sultanas when it comes to the flavor. Could you get a triple-baker star status? No pressure. A lot of cinnamon going in there. Michael and Alice are also doing hot-cross…? I don't know.
Yeah, they’re also…their own spins on the Eastern classic. Alice talks about her grandparents, springtime baking…I thought of something a bit fresh, maybe put a twist on it. So, lemon, blueberry, almond hot-cross buns. That does sound tasty. Freeze-dried blueberries, lemon curd glaze…Prue says, really, lemon curd? Paul just stares. I’m gonna heat it up and make it runny. It’s gonna be sticky. Oh yeah, just like a hot-cross bun. Interesting. Alright, good luck. Thank you. Michael’s doing a hybrid bun; figgy pudding hot-cross buns, so Easter and Christmas festivals paired, with marzipan, holly, berries, and leaves…orange and lemon zest. So, that’s sultanas, cranberries, dates and apricots, brandy…so, where are the figs from the figgy pudding? Prue says, he’s got those. I got them. 500 grams of fruit? How much flour?
One kilo. That’s a lot of fruit, isn’t it? Is that right? Paul just stares at him. Michael cracks up. Thank you very much. Sandi says, at least he’s helping your confidence. I think Michael later talks about how Paul could play poker. Then we got…the dough is being mixed. A careful balance…gotta get the spices…can't inhibit the yeast. You gotta prove it. Don’t want it to be brick-like. You don’t want thick, dense buns. Raisins…David’s talking about. David’s is very…he’s doing Cozonac, traditional lemon…it’s from Bulgaria. It’s a lemon and almond Easter bread, 'cause he’s got…his older brother and his wife live in Bulgaria and David’s partner comes from Bulgaria, so they’ve helped out with the flavors. Yeah, he says, mine’s gonna be good. Then whilst David’s celebrating in Eastern Europe, Henry’s going to Sweden.
Cart…I don't know how to say his. Card…something, a chocolate something. Cinnamon Bun Day Festival, the fourth of October…so, it’s gonna be cinnamon swapped for cardamom, sugar, and a classic kardemummabullar or something…shape. They say, Henry, lord of the buns. Do you like festivals? Henry says, I’ve been to a book festival, that’s about it, but not a music festival. Noel’s giving him a hard time. Proving time now; thirty minutes. So, everybody starts proving. Prove it…then you have to prove it again. Then you gotta work on your festive fillings and decorations. Lemon candying…Rosie’s enriching her buns. Namelaka, pastry cream; milk, double cream, gelatin, lemon zest, liquid glucose, white chocolate…so, not very rich buns. They’re joking.
Hers are Mardi-Gras Finnish peacock buns; raspberry jam, candied peacocks…they say, Festival of Peacocks, is that a thing? Oh yeah, have you worked with a peacock before? Never worked with a peacock. Maybe you could take it for a walk. Then we get a outside boom shot. Sandi and Noel are wearing celebratory masks. Halfway through…people are checking their proving, seeing how their rise is going. Gotta…this enriched dough, you gotta rise it. I don't…oh, it’s gotta bounce back or not bounce back? I don't know. Paul’s watching Steph watch her food. Michael sneaks his out. David’s is out. You don’t want it to crack when baked, I guess. Bakers are only halfway there. They’re working with their doughs because…before…you have to shape it before you prove it again.
So, everybody has a different method 'cause…but Henry has to twist it, so he’s like, it’s gonna be hard to have them identical. Let’s see, who’s that? Paul’s just watching David work from a few feet away. Prue’s watching Michael very quietly. Then Henry shows his bun-twisting method to Noel, which is very…he says, man, that blew my mind. So, then we see the birds, some flowers. Noel does another Sandi joke about being in a bag. One hour remaining, so people are trying to prove their buns now that they’re shaped. Oh, Noel really tries to talk Alice’s ear off and she’s like, yeah, I’ve been busy. She’s really trying to work while he’s chatting and she goes, I’m so sorry. He goes, alright, well, good luck, then. Michael works on a brandy glaze.
Steph’s sugar and spice lemon curd; honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, cardamom…Henry…Noel jumps up. He was looking in Rosie’s oven. Maybe I’ll have a cape. Should I wear this for the judging? He’s got some sort of peacock mask on or something. Okay, so, they come out of the prove and everybody’s like, is this ready? David’s doing some egg-washing. Flour and water for hot-cross buns…I didn’t know that was…I thought it would have been glaze. Sandi’s got wings on. A half-hour left, maybe? So, you gotta go in the oven now. People’s hearts are racing. 200 degrees, eighteen minutes, David. Somebody…fifteen minutes for Alice. Michael’s are starting to crack. Maybe they’re under-proved. Steph’s in front of her oven. Oh, Henry does…he goes, this is the best thing I’ve ever done.
He does a hackey sack with a lime or a nut or something. Okay, Henry’s like, mine look baked. Michael takes his out. Alice is like, mine…Alice’s are out. Rosie’s like, mine are getting there. Some of David’s got stuck. Five minutes…four minutes, five minutes…Henry’s gotta glaze in the tin. Steph’s trying to glaze hers, same with…Michael’s is evaporating. Rosie’s have frosting, which is nice. I mean, if I was gonna eat a bun…maybe like a cream puff or something. So, they’re trying to get everything looking nice as well, putting them in baskets or stuff. Time is up. Place your buns at the end of your stations. Everybody…oh boy, did I do okay? We get a shot of more Mardi-Gras masks. Now Paul and Prue will decide if the festive buns are worth celebrating. They start with David. Cozonac, I think is what it says.
They say, very good. A couple minutes less, maybe. A little dark on the bottom, but the shapes are amazing. They look really good. Soft, springy cake. Nice texture. They start to take a bite. Paul really…he goes, okay. Prue’s like, I like the saffron and the sugar. Paul…this is a nice dough. Flavor’s fantastic. Structure’s good. Just needs some more fruit in the middle, but very good. I’m impressed. Then they go to Michael’s. He has a dip in the middle, too, I think. I guess a sugary dip? A bit uneven, Prue says, misshapen. Volume of the fruit, eh? Well, let’s take a look. Hopefully we get one that’s got the right amount of fruit. They’re very shiny…look nice. Tough, a little tough, but the flavor is spot on. Nice, warming, balanced. It does taste like figgy pudding. Delicious. Then they go to Steph.
Zest and spice…they’re shiny and attractive. Prue’s mouth is watering. Smell amazing…let’s have a look. Okay, distribution of fruit is good. Two halves in the middle, texture’s perfect, lovely, sticky. You can taste it…feel it on your figures…fingers. Okay, and Paul gives her a handshake. Everybody’s like, holy cow. Well done, Steph. Well played. Alice is next. I think hers is on a chalkboard, too. They look similar. A little difference in the color. Okay, blueberries in the middle…nice texture. Did you candy the lemon peel? Yes, it took me a while. Prue says, you needed to give it more time. It’s bitter, Paul says. No sweetness. Lemon curd glaze is not shiny enough, but you baked them well. Just a irregular color, size…they do look homemade, but Prue is…or, yeah, she’s not pulling…then Rosie’s next. Lovely color.
Highly decorative. Good look…good in a shop window. They’re a bit flat-ish, squat. Pretty consistent on the color. There’s the jam…Paul takes a bite, Prue takes a bite. Nice flavor. Look at that crumb. See, what happened was it got compressed when you dug it out for the filling. You kinda pressed them down, so…but it’s present. It’s a donut texture, which is nice. I think you’ve done a great job. Well done. Noel says, I feel like I’m a mama peacock and these are my babies. Then we go to Henry, his chocolate card thing; stable color, irregularities in the size. They look interesting, though. I’d try one if it was in a shop window, Prue says. Paul takes a bite, cuts it again…okay, thank goodness. I think your flavor are good, bake’s good, technique’s good. Flavor’s lovely…just a size difference.
But nevertheless, Paul puts his hand out — and Henry says shut up — to give him a handshake. They say, we don’t think to tell the judge to shut up…no one’s ever said ‘shut up’ on a handshake, Noel says. Henry says, it made my month. I can go now. I’m happy. I could leave this week. Steph says, I’m not gonna wash my hands after that, getting that handshake. Michael’s happy for his friends. I didn’t do as well as other people, but…and I’m a little nervous about the technical, but let’s have fun. So, we get a outside shot. Now, this was what they couldn’t practice; mystery…technical mystery lies ahead, set by Paul. Any words of advice? Perfect textures inside and out. Off you go. They’re gonna play in soft…Paul’s soft play area. Twelve Sicilian cassatelle, cassatelle carnivale…Italian carnivale.
Pastry crescents, smooth and creamy Ricotta, orange chocolate, and fried ‘til crispy and golden, uniform in size. On your marks, get set, bake. Cassatelle; never had them before. So, no one even knows what they’re making. They are deep-fried and there’s a pasta machine. So, like fried sweet ravioli? I don't know. But yeah, they’re…they kinda look more like an empanadas. Beautiful pastries. You got chocolate and orange in there, nice and thin. Little hand pies, I guess would be another way…but you fry them. If you don’t roll your pastry the right way, it’ll burst open and the Ricotta will pour out. Prue tries one. Yeah, it’s full of filling and you want Ricotta going all the way through it. Nice grit…no grittiness. Nice and orange, great with tea. Prue says, more Marsala. Fryer’s set to 170. Nobody likes working with these deep-fryers.
Trying to do this from memory…soft, pliable dough…it’s very simple ingredients. I wonder if I could freeze it on there. Let’s see if I can. Okay, yeah, I got it freezed. Paul’s chocolate…please do not confer with other bakers. For the filling; 250 grams of Ricotta, fifty grams of icing sugar plus extra for dusting, freshly-grated zest of one orange and fifty grams of chocolate…dark chocolate chips, chopped. For the dough; 250 grams plain flour, sifted plus extra for dusting, fifty grams castor sugar, the finely-grated zest of one lemon, one large egg, two tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, one tablespoon lemon juice, one tablespoon Marsala, and water. That’s it. Those are the instructions. Maybe more like pasta dough? Huh. I don't know.
So, no…everybody’s just trying to get it made. No idea how much water goes in, either. Stiff and pliable? What does that even mean? David’s dough starts to look good; so does Michael’s. Steph’s kinda comes together. Divide it in four, chill it, then sieve the Ricotta and then make it smooth. Back to…getting liquid out of cheese, Michael says. What a joy. Sicilian cossatette or whatever, Noel jokes. I wasn’t paying attention when they announced the competition, so…he goes, my head was just going, lah, lah, lah. Never sieved Ricotta, says Alice. It might take a couple sievings. I need to sieve some cheese, Henry. I never thought I’d say that. Sieve some cheese…I feel the nieve…my name is Nieve; I feel the need to sieve…I will achieve sieved cheese.
So, everybody’s mixing up their fillings, and then Noel talks to Steph about getting a handshake. What was Paul’s hand like? Was it manicured? Was it powerful? Was it soft? Vice grip? Did everything start spinning around? Yeah, and Prue levitated. You can see the sun going down. Now Prue has on…or, I mean, Sandi has on a pom-pom and Paul had on a fruit hat. Now you gotta take a piece of dough, run it through the pasta machine to make the pastry. Trying to find their…no one’s used this machine before. Maybe one or two people have, but it’s like, what…how do you even do this? Which, I guess you feed it through again and again and again. But Steph’s is not coming out good. Henry’s is not coming out good. David’s is coming out great. Michael’s looks good. Alice’s is a little thick. Henry changes his settings.
Rosie’s not having a problem. Henry’s like, I need three hands, so Sandi tries to help him. He’s like, turn it clockwise, please. She’s like, you’re really bossy. So, they’re…she has so much fun, and so do the contestants. Then you put…crimp the edges with…you make circles, crimp the edges with a fork, and fill and seal it, but don’t overfill it; like a ravioli. Oh, seal it with water and then crimp the edges. Some people are already getting leakage, but it’s like, what can you do? And fry…and David says, the last time we had a fryer, it did not go well for me. How hot is it? People start putting it in. You gotta flip it at three minutes, maybe? I don't know. Michael’s drops to the bottom. David says, mine’s browning. Henry’s puff up a lot. Jiminy Christmas, somebody says. It’s like a Jacuzzi in there.
Then they’re like, well, how well do we have to get them done? Rosie’s kind of like…puts up with Noel. David talks about his favorite fish and chips in Whitby. That’s his inspiration for frying there. It looks like Alice’s have burst open, and Michael’s. Yeah, theirs are puffing up. Trying not to lower the temperature of the fat…how long we got? Fifteen minutes. Noel and Sandi are sharing a feather boa, kind of a bright red one. Or, what is that, purple? Everybody’s running around trying to get this done. People are like, mine aren’t uniform. Trying to stay calm…a lot of them have opened up. So, it’s not going great for anybody. Everybody’s trying to eyeball them. Do I have twelve? People are trying to fry down to the last minute. Your time…they say, please take your time. So, Sandi buys some time. She says, T-I-M-E.
That’s how you spell time, and you are done. Michael exhales. Everybody’s like, that did not go well. Bring your Sicilian pastries up. Put them on the table. Twelve beautifully-filled fried cassatelle. Okay. No idea whose is whose, though. They start with David’s; uniform, sealed, look lovely. Could use more filling. There’s air holes in there, but great flavor. Looks lovely, tastes lovely. Nice shape. Very good. Next up is Rosie. Lost a bit of them, but delicious filling. Really good. Christmas in the Shell; I like that. Pretty good. Then Alice. These popped open, puffed up, kinda like seafood. Big air pockets, thick pastry, over-fried…then Michael. Not sealed, a couple have opened up…not much filling; all pastry. It would have been…it should have been thinner. Steph’s…all over fried, but sealed. Not uniform.
Yeah, over-cooked, too thick…pastry was too thick, but at least they’re sealed. Then Henry; nice and light, pretty good…some have burst, though, but they look…they don’t look too bad, and they’re full. Decent amount of filling, nice, thin pastry…so, then they’re trying…they’re actually trying to figure this out. They go back and forth. Let’s see, we got…sixth place is Alice, and that didn’t go well. Fifth place; Michael. A bit soggy…Steph; fourth, Henry; third. Second place is David, and Rosie’s in first. Man, David always ends up in second, huh? But yeah, it’s nice work. So, Rosie’s happy. I won a technical. I had to run a fifth, fifth, fifth, so I’m super happy. Second again, David says. I repel first. I got second. Michael’s like, I’m not really confident now. Today’s showstopper was hard, the hardest in seven weeks.
Alice says, at least I made it to the end of the day. I’m starting on the bottom, so tomorrow we’ll see. Sunsets, sun in the sky…walking into the tent…warm…everybody goes to their workstations, jumpers on. Who will leave the tent? Who will be Star Baker? Table talk…detecting a change in atmosphere. They’re almost smiling. Henry did well on the signature. He did tell you to shut up…shut the door…was sweet. Signature was good, but the technical was difficult for most people. Alice and Michael on the bottom…Alice took a gamble. Alice is getting more and more disorganized. They’re talking about…Alice’s bench isn’t clean and organized. Little spills…David’s the neatest, neat as a pin. They talk about the buns. Never thought I’d hear you say that. So, then everybody has their hands full.
They’re ready. Showstopper time, everybody. Cake lapis Sarawak is the original flavor of a cake from the Sarawak region of Malaysia. Cultural and religious celebrations…precise layers, grilled. Grilled? Yeah, it says ‘grill-off’. The cake is cut and reassembled…intricate patterns…four hour and fifteen minutes. On your marks, get set, bake. So, everybody starts getting their butter ready. This went from…it started in Malaysia, I guess, or started in Indonesia and then they took it across to Sarawak. Michael knows where they added a color…colorful cakes in Malaysia. Paul talks about…it’s complicated. So, it’s a layer cake. Many layers, many different colors, different flavors, but thin batter. So, you batter it and grill it, which is kinda like broiling, in this case, and then cut it into shapes so they resemble fantastic patterns.
Difficult to do. They’ve probably never done something like this before. One of the hardest cake designs to make. Nowhere to hide. So, that’s the good news. Multiple cakes to make, layer upon layer of sponge, a lot of eggs…fourteen times three is the number for Rosie. A complex challenge for sure. Henry; 110 eggs in one day when he was practicing. Lemon lime Sarawak cake for Henry. How many layers? He’s like, well, I got a couple drawings. Top of the cake…cake on the side…everybody laughs. Maybe I shouldn’t have shown this to you, 'cause if you don’t achieve it…and you’re gonna redraw it if the cakes don’t come out that way? Maybe. Elegant present box…contrasting blocks, yellow and green, mint, raspberries, lemon, lime…six to seven lemons in each batch.
Lemon zest…and they have to be flawlessly designed but also use a spice…oh no, David’s using cardamom, nutmeg, and other spices. So, everybody’s trying to spice their cake the right way, too, 'cause when you grill it, I guess the flavors go out of it? Michael’s gonna use liquor in-between the layers; spiced rum. Some of them use almond liquor but I said, well, maybe rum will work. Four hours; we’ll see. Michael’s making a Jamaican Mule Sarawak Cake; rum, lime, marzipan, rum and ginger sponge…Jamaica’s national flag, royal icing swirls. Six layers on each cake, so six times four…twenty-four. Well done. They said, that was pretty tentative, your twenty-four, but he says, well, I was doing the maths. Now Michael…let’s see, other people…Steph’s using orange liquor which her grandmother likes.
So, it’s Orange and Chai Revitalize Cake; marzipan roses, royal icing, chai spice layer, orange sponges. I tried to do triangles but they were hard to manipulate, so I reverted back to lines, Steph says. Henry also tried triangles; they didn’t work. Rosie’s sticking with triangles, though, so Rosie’s going for it. Eight-layer cakes…then triangle, then another triangle, then a diamond pattern…beyond my understanding. She’s working with her yolks. Rainbow Sarawak style…sugar glass birds, nectarine jam, lemon mixed spice sponge…and it’s a thing 'cause you don’t want it to be edgy rubber if you overcook it. Noel loves…Edgy Rubber? That could be a band we’re in. You do…you sing and drums. I’ll do guitar. Edgy Rubber, like Simon & Garfunkel. I’ll book some gigs at the festival. She says, okay.
But everybody’s trying to…you gotta have your sponge, you gotta have the layers, you gotta get the colors right. It can't be dull. Really bright, garish, over-the-top colors…pink, green, and yellow for Steph. Sandi tastes one of hers. She says, it’s delicious. I didn’t think that’s what the pink would taste like. David’s doing…one of his cakes is gonna be monochrome and then the other one’s gonna have color throughout. So, he’s doing kinda post-modern sculptures of…Indonesian spice mix, royal icing, tamarind honey…a post-modernist work of art, like a sculpture. The color one everybody loves. He says, it was inspired by Prue…a necklace from last season. So…and then the gray represents Paul? So, they all have a laugh, but everybody’s a little bit stressed trying to do these layers.
Very thin…Alice is doing a Carnival Sarawak Cake. So, in Alice’s hometown there’s a big fireworks display, in Essex. They say, oh, you’re from Essex? I didn’t know that. She’s like, what are you trying to say about Essex? So, he laughs. Chocolate Orange Salted Caramel Kaleidoscope Sarawak Cake; fire…isomalt fireworks, chocolate marzipan…and then they start making the layers. Okay, let’s puff it up. How long are you gonna grill it for? Have to be careful…maybe a couple minutes. Okay, thank you very much. I’ll still be here layering. Thank you. Michael’s working on his, putting…start…people are starting to put it in the oven, and…'cause you have multiple cakes. This is hard. There’s multiple layers and multiple cakes, so you’re trying to cook it under direct heat, which can be tricky to control, they say.
No idea what temperature to make it work at. If you overcook it, it’ll be rubbery. Undercook it, the layers will collapse. So, everybody’s trying to guess when it’s done and not have it burned. David’s first one is burned, so he has to throw it away. Henry burns his finger. Not badly; just enough to jump. Noel and Sandi have party…birthday party hats on and noisemakers. Party whistles, they call them. Okay, okay, layer number two for Rosie. Michael’s putting rum in-between his layers. He doesn’t want them to get too wet. Steph weighs her layers out…so I have the same depth. Can it be identical, everybody’s asking? Four more layers left on one cake for Alice…or Rosie. David even tells me, I burned my first ones. Henry’s trying to make jam. Michael’s working on curd, lemon curd.
Wallast working on decorations…Alice is blowing these glass…candy glass. Steph’s making marzipan, Alice is making bonfires…even David talks about Alice’s workstation. Noel puts a bowl on his head, almost drops it. Says, look at this, I’m like a painting, kinda like one where the eyes move. Alice is like, dude, I’m trying to work here. Don’t you enjoy our chats? Eleven…okay, then Henry smells something burning. Definitely burning, David says. Not me, not me. It ends up it’s Rosie. I don't know, something must have changed in her settings, 'cause she said it was only in there for a few minutes. She says, well, there’s nothing I can do about it now. I’m gonna have to bin it. All my layers are gonna be thinner now. So, she’s down. One hour left. So, Rosie has to start her last cake all over again. I have to watch it closely.
David’s getting ready to finish up. Everybody’s about to find out if their layer cakes have layers. Henry’s does, so he jumps for joy. Not raw…David’s does…his looks cool, too. Alice’s look pretty good. So, everybody starts cutting their cakes. Henry’s measuring with a ruler. David’s using a bread-cutter, which is a good idea. I think Michael has something…and Rosie also has a ruler. Bread-slicer…perfect bread slices. So, everybody’s trying to…then people are starting to assemble their cake pieces together. Not perfect, but it’ll have to do. Do you think that’s a little small? Well…so, Henry’s…or David’s looks…his cake’s isn’t as big as he wanted it. Rosie’s trying to cut in…make triangles now. She’s like, holy cow. So, she’s got some sort of right angle thing. People are singing, I got a cake, I need it decorated. An hour left.
We gotta have something…lime king marzipan…everybody’s, yeah, starting to decorate their cakes. They’re stressed. David’s like, not much I can do. I didn’t have all my layers. Yeah, so, the decorations are going on, people are hoping they made a recovery. People start icing, spraying, assembling. Time is up. So, then everybody says, oh boy. They say, well done, kids. Don't worry. Hugs go around. Tent shot, outside shot of the grass, cake shots…Sarawak-style layer cakes now face the judgement of Paul and Prue. Steph goes first. Hers is that Orange and Chai Revitalize Cake. Open sides, which I think most people do to show it…they say, your blocks are rotated, so you need kinda filling in-between your blocks 'cause there’s big gaps there. Almost grout around it would have made it neater, but the style is Sarawakian.
Looks lovely, Prue says. They take some bites of it. Delicious, soft, very good. Marzipan’s brilliant, delicious. Decoration’s good. Well done, Steph. Thank you. Thank you. Then a Rainbow Sarawak Style Cake from Rosie, and they look at that. Okay, it looks messy, Prue says, Rosie. Not neat at all. You can see the colors; they’re vibrant. Let’s take a look inside…complicated pattern to try. They take a couple bites of it. It’s a tasty flavor, that. Jam? Nectarine? I can’t identify it. It gives it a little zing, though. It’s nice. The idea’s sound enough, but it could have been executed better. But you did a lot of work. Then Michael’s up, and his cake…the top of it definitely looks like a flag, but his…some of his are monochrome layers. So they say, geez, your top and your bottom are…they look rubbery and there’s no color.
I drizzled rum…okay, but they are layers; they’re just the exact same colors. They cut his cake…but yeah, he had to do it 'cause he was doing the color of the flag. Prue says, it’s stodgy. Claggy, Paul says. Probably the soaking was a bad idea. It’s almost like one thing now. Very dense, rubbery. Overall, it looks wonderful, Prue says, but pity about the texture. Thank you. So, Michael’s a little down. Henry’s next, and…kinda nods. They say, what’s this? Oh, cake on cake? Okay. A lot of cake there. Ball cake, eh? Well, that’s clever. Looks like egg sandwiches for afternoon tea. Henry’s like, totally, that’s what I wanted to go for. So, Sandi shakes his hand. Then they cut a piece of cake. Everybody’s laughing. They taste it. Nicely textured cake. Not stodgy. The lemon and lime comes through. Really nice.
I’m impressed, Paul says. Not perfect, but executed pretty well and you do get a nice flavor. Not rubbery…it breaks apart like a cake would, even when it’s cut into pieces. So, pretty good job. So, Henry’s very happy. David’s up next. They say, okay, your cake looked a little small there. It’s interesting but…he says, yeah, I lost…it was supposed to be for a party, a big cake. You know? They give Sandi a hard time. He goes, yeah, I had some issues with layers. I lost some layers. But the lines look great. The color and definition; amazing. Paul takes a bite, Prue takes a bite. Nice and spicy. Could be a bit sweeter. A bit rubbery, but perfectly edible. He goes, I like the flavor and the neatness of it. Very neat, just not sweet enough. Just more icing or something. Okay. They say, geez, this is extremely neat. The detail is incredible.
This is for Alice. Okay, lines are beautiful, lines on top…painting, decorations, fireworks look good. It looks a bit dry. That’s my only concern, Paul says. The layers are so thin, Prue says. It almost looks like weaving. Pretty clever. Paul looks at it as one piece. He says, this is very good. Is there almond in there? It tastes like marzipan. It works well. Gives it that petit four flavor, the texture. Exceptional. Vibrant, artistic, very good. It really works. Well done, well done. She takes hers off. She says, phew, in the talking heads. You never know. Alice says, I don't know, maybe I saved myself, maybe not. Henry’s like, if I got Star Baker, that would be nice. Tick off my list of being here…it’d be a little bonus. But he goes, Paul got me back.
Fair play, telling each other to shut up. Henry’s like, I got a grilling. I held that pun in. He goes, I don't know. Okay is not enough at this point. David says, me, Alice, Michael, Rosie, we all had positives and negatives, so anybody could go. It’s really close, I think. So, then we see the outsides of the tent, some bunting, even, then we go to table talk. Rosie’s was messy but she…maybe she put herself in trouble, but it was ambitious. It was complicated and difficult, but she didn’t succeed. Too bad, Prue says. Michael’s was neat, but you weren’t impressed, huh? No, the layers ran together. Then we look at David’s, how neat David’s is. It was a shame that it was rubbery. But Henry’s was good…cake on cake. Taste was good. Lemon, lime; perfect combo. The colors balanced.
Steph’s…she just had that…she could have filled it in better, but her colors were there. Alice did a great job in this one. She was in trouble coming in. Maybe she saved herself with that good cake. So, Star Baker…well, Rosie and Michael are in trouble. Alice saved herself. So, any of the other three, Paul says, could be Star Baker; Henry, Steph, or David. So, then we zoom in. All the bakers are sitting there. We see their faces, profiles. Michael gulps. Everybody steps out. Noel gets to say who won. So, he says, yeah, Star Baker…Steph’s staring down at Henry with excitement. The Star Baker is…and Steph’s still staring. She’s very happy for Henry. Henry. So, Henry’s happy. Everybody’s happy for him. He says, shut up. I’m just kidding. But Sandi’s gotta say who’s leaving. It gets so hard now.
She’s crying 'cause…we’re all crying 'cause we love this contestant, but the person who’s leaving — there’s a long pause — is Michael. He says, I’m…everybody says, I’m sorry. He says it’s okay. Everybody’s crushed. Michael says, it’s okay. He goes, my head is held high. I’m proud, I’m tired, so happy. He’s trying to laugh. I’m going out laughing. That’s brilliant. Alice and him are really hugging it out. He goes, I wish I was a pretty crier like in a French film in black and white when it’s raining. But he goes, I’m crying 'cause of [inaudible] Sarawak. Michael and Paul hug.
Yeah, standard’s getting better. We liked Michael but from now on out, it’s a different standard of baking. Henry’s happy. That’s my tick list. I don't need to do any more. I’ve ticked everything off. Alice is crying. Noel’s crying. Alice says, yeah, I’m gutted Michael left. I’m really sad. He was so supportive and I wouldn’t have got this far without him. Some people are happy to be going through, but they’re sad for Michael. Week 8 of Bake Off, Alice says. Holy…what? And that’s the end of the episode, another good episode. In fact, just recording this episode, I’m feeling sleepy, so goodnight, everybody.
[END OF RECORDING]
(Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes)
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Baking Off to Sleep
Travel Planning
https://tavernatravels.com/how-to-plan-a-trip-an-easy-travel-planning-guide/
https://practicalwanderlust.com/how-to-plan-a-trip-travel-planning-tips/
GBBO S10/C7 E7
https://ew.com/recap/the-great-british-baking-show-season-10-episode-7/
https://ew.com/recap/the-great-british-baking-show-season-10-episode-7/
Festival Season
https://squaremile.com/culture/history-of-uk-music-festivals/
https://www.museumofyouthculture.com/photo-history-of-british-festivals/
https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-history-of-glastonbury-festival
Kek Lapis Sarawak
https://mymodernmet.com/kek-lapis-sarawak/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/kek-lapis-sarawak
DOWN TO BUSINESS
How will I stop making sense today?
Wholehearted Hearty Nonsense
Deep Dark Night United
Sarah (Helix Sleep)
PLUGS
Pro-Democracy Podcast Coalition; Hand in Hand; The Midnight Mission; Trevor Project; SleepPhones; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF: Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline
SPONSORS
AquaTru; Helix Sleep; Wild Health; Polysleep; Odoo; Air Doctor; Zocdoc; Progressive
INTRO
Past, Present, Future, All At Once
Less than a basic understanding of self-referential thoughts
Can a thought about the future be self-referential?
Potential Pitfalls in our Impending Travel
I might have to assert myself for the first time in SWM
Giving my inner self a stern talking-to
Can I call you Travie? For Pre-travel Prep?
It’s not easy being you, Travie, I get it
Believe it or not, I make the show because of you, Travie
I’d sprinkle some dark matter on you if I could
Maybe I can explain the show to you and you
All neutrinos and dark matter are imaginary here
Travie, I’m not sure how you were conceived
The Big Bang Within Us
Do you listen to travel podcasts, Travie?
I guess you and I do form a super-team of sorts
We would definitely win the Competitive Neuroses tournament
Hug your Inner Travie, everyone
I get it, you were expecting a countdown and the sound of golden light
Oh boy, Travie is starting to fall asleep. This is great, everybody
The intro is a slow descent
I won’t say Travie’s name because that will wake him
The Pre Travel Being within me
How do you explain the birds and the bees to something that lives within you that’s not a mammal?
He’s probably just part of my brain stem
Please let me know if you have any pamphlets
Oh, those aren’t neutrinos, those are just doodles
I’ve been in a Physics of Bowling class this whole time?
Thanks so much for listening
STORY
C7, E7: Festival Week
Noel has a big jacket and backpack
Blueberries for the jam session
Sandi is hidden in Noel’s backpack
It looks warm today
Henry on the Left, Michael on the Right
2 different vertical stripes on Michael
Horizontal stripes on David
Is David’s color blocking? Oh it’s a rainbow
David’s shirt goes ROYGBIV
Henry might have a knit tie on
Alice had to do a ton of grading this week
David’s shirt looks totally different under his jumper
Paul has 2 buttons open
Prue has a lemony necklace and a matching bracelet on her right arm
Sweater – pink main section, coral arms sections
Sandi has a striped oxford shirt with yellow cuffs
I really don’t know how to describe what Noel is wearing
It’s kind of bikery? It might be rainproof?
24 Yeasted Festival Buns
Has to be related to a festival from around the world
Steph is doing Hot Cross Buns with zest and spice and orange
Michael and Alice are doing their own spins on Hot Cross Buns
Alice – Lemon blueberry almond hot cross buns with lemon curd
Paul is in disbelief
Michael is doing a hybrid bun – figgy pudding and hot cross bun
Marzipan holly, berry, and leaves
The dough has to be carefully mixed
You don’t want thick, dense buns
David – a bulgarian lemon/almond easter bread
His brother lives in Bulgaria and his partner is from them
Henry’s is from Sweden
Cinnamon, Cardamom
Henry, lord of the buns
Henry’s only ever been to a festival for books
Rosie is enriching her buns
Milk, Double Cream, Gelatin, very rich
Mardi Gras Finished Peacock Buns
Rosie has never worked with a peacock before
Sandi and Noel wear celebratory masks
Not sure if the dough is supposed to bounce back or not
You gotta shape it before you prove it again
Prue watches Michael very quietly
Henry shows Noel how to twist buns
Alice doesn’t want to talk with Noel
Noel offers to wear a cape and peacock mask
David does an egg wash
Hearts are racing!
Michael’s are starting to crack – uh oh
Henry does a hackysack with a lime
Some of David’s got stuck
Rosie is making frostings for hers
Time is up
David is celebrating Kozunak (sp?)
A little dark on the bottom
Great texture, great dough, needs more fruit
Michael’s has a dip in the middle – a little uneven and misshapen
Very shiny – great flavor
Steph – shiny and attractive, mouthwatering, good fruit distribution, great texture, lovely
Paul gives her a handshake!!!!
Alice – similar look, slightly different color, lemon peel needed more candying time, glaze needed to be shinier – they do look homemade
Rosie – highly decorative, good color, a bit flat, nice flavor, donut texture, great job
Henry – chocolate cardamom, great bake, great flavor, just that sizes are different
Henry also gets a handshake!!
Don’t say “shut up” to a handshake, Henry
Technical, set by Paul
Perfect textures, inside and out
12 Sicilian Cassatelle
Fried, sweet ravioli?
They look more like an empanada
You want ricotta all the way through, no grittiness
Nobody likes working with deep fryers
Okay, I got a freeze on the recipe
And there’s marsala in there
Maybe it’s more like pasta dough?
What does stiff and pliable even mean?
Sieve the ricotta to make it smooth
My name is Neve, I feel the neeve to sieve some cheese
Noel talks to Steph about what Paul’s hand felt like
Steph’s dough isn’t coming out good
David’s is coming out great
Rosie isn’t having any problems
Sandi gives Henry a helping hand
Crimp the edges with a fork
Don’t overfill it!
David doesn’t have good experiences with the fryer
Somebody says Jiminy Christmas
Rosie … puts up with Noel
Alice’s and Michael’s have burst open
Noel and Sandi share a feather boa
It’s not going great for anybody
Sandi buys some time calling time
David – uniformed, sealed, could’ve used more filling, tastes lovely, looks good
Rosie – delicious filling, not quite 12
Alice – popped open, puffed up, thick pastry, overfried
Michael – not sealed properly, too much pastry
Steph – fried well, but not uniform, too thick pastry
Henry – nice and light, some are burnt, good filling and thin pastry
Alice is last
Rosie is in first for the technical!
David always ends up in second
Michael doesn’t feel confident
Time for the Showstopper
The technical was difficult for most people
David’s technical were neat as a pin
Kek Lapis Sarawak
This is a grilled cake!
Cut and reassembled in intricate patterns
You broil a really thin batter
A lot of eggs for this dough
Henry used 110 eggs in one day when practicing
Henry – lemon and lime cake, elegant present box
David – cardamom and nutmeg spices
Grilling it will sap some of the flavor out
Michael – Jamaican Mule flavors, orange
Steph – orange and chai revitalized cake
Rosie is sticking with triangles
Sugar glass birds, nectarine jam
Edgy Rubber – the Noel / Rosie band
These colors can’t be dull
David – one cake will be monochrome, and the other will be all color
Postmodernist work of art
The color is inspired by a Prue necklace from last season
Alice – Carnival cake – Chocolate Orange and Marzipan
Grilling it will puff it all up
Multiple layers and multiple cakes – tough to manage the temperature
Henry burns his finger lightly
Rosie is working on layer #2
Michael puts rum between his layers
Steph weighs her layers out
David burned his first layers
Michael is working on a lemon curd
Alice is blowing candy glass bonfires
Steph makes marzipan
Alice is quite bothered by Noel’s chat
Henry smells something burning
It ends up being Rosie
She has to bin that
Alice’s looks pretty good
David uses a bread cutter to cut layers
Rosie is using a ruler
Time for assembly
David’s cake is smaller than she wanted
Rosie is getting tripped out by these triangle cuts
Time is up
Steph – you need a filling in between your rotated blocks, the style is great, delicious, soft, great marzipan
Rosie – looks messy, vibrant colors, a complicated pattern to attempt, tasty jam flavor
Michael – top looks like a flag, top and bottom look rubbery, stodgy, claggy, very dense
Henry – A whole lotta cake, nicely textured cake, good execution, nice flavor, pretty good job
David – cakes look small, great color and definition of layers, spicy, could be sweeter, a bit rubbery, very neat, needed more sweet
Alice – extremely neat, looks a bit dry, incredibly thin layers, very good almond flavor, well done
Alice is relieved
Henry wants star baker
Table talk
Rosie’s was messy but ambitious
Michael’s was neat but not great
David’s looked great but rubbery
Henry’s was great
Steph’s could’ve had more filling but great color
Alice might have saved herself
Rosie and Michael are in trouble
Judgment Time
Henry is Star Baker!
It’s so hard to say goodbye now
Michael is going home
Everyone is crushed to say goodbye to Michael
Michael goes out laughing
A new higher standard of baking
Henry has done everything he wanted to do
I’m getting sleepy just recording this episode
REVIEW THANKS
GM; Trav; Rar G; A coded name; Fun; E Train
SUMMARY:
Episode: 1242
Title: Festivals | Great British Baking Off to Sleep S10/C7 Ep7
Deep Dark Night United: Sarah (Helix Sleep)
Plugs: Pro-Democracy Podcast Coalition; Hand in Hand; The Midnight Mission; Trevor Project; SleepPhones; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF: Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline
Sponsors: AquaTru; Helix Sleep; Wild Health; Polysleep; Odoo; Air Doctor; Zocdoc; Progressive
Review Thanks: GM; Trav; Rar G; A coded name; Fun; E Train
Notable Language:
- The Big Bang Within Us
- Pre Travel Being
- ROYGBIV
- T-I-M-E
- Elegant Present Box
Notable Culture:
- The Hardy Boys
- Stop Making Sense
-
- The Big Bang
- Great British Bake Off
- Edgy Rubber – the Noel / Rosie band
Notable Talking Points:
- Past, Present, Future, All At Once
- Less than a basic understanding of self-referential thoughts
- Can a thought about the future be self-referential?
- Potential Pitfalls in our Impending Travel
- I might have to assert myself for the first time in SWM
- Giving my inner self a stern talking-to
- Can I call you Travie? For Pre-travel Prep?
- It’s not easy being you, Travie, I get it
- Believe it or not, I make the show because of you, Travie
- I’d sprinkle some dark matter on you if I could
- Maybe I can explain the show to you and you
- All neutrinos and dark matter are imaginary here
- Travie, I’m not sure how you were conceived
- The Big Bang Within Us
- Do you listen to travel podcasts, Travie?
- I guess you and I do form a super-team of sorts
- We would definitely win the Competitive Neuroses tournament
- Hug your Inner Travie, everyone
- I get it, you were expecting a countdown and the sound of golden light
- Oh boy, Travie is starting to fall asleep. This is great, everybody
- The intro is a slow descent
- I won’t say Travie’s name because that will wake him
- The Pre Travel Being within me
- How do you explain the birds and the bees to something that lives within you that’s not a mammal?
- He’s probably just part of my brain stem
- Please let me know if you have any pamphlets
- Oh, those aren’t neutrinos, those are just doodles
- I’ve been in a Physics of Bowling class this whole time?
- Thanks so much for listening
- C7, E7: Festival Week
- Noel has a big jacket and backpack
- Blueberries for the jam session
- Sandi is hidden in Noel’s backpack
- It looks warm today
- Henry on the Left, Michael on the Right
- 2 different vertical stripes on Michael
- Horizontal stripes on David
- Is David’s color blocking? Oh it’s a rainbow
- David’s shirt goes ROYGBIV
- Henry might have a knit tie on
- Alice had to do a ton of grading this week
- David’s shirt looks totally different under his jumper
- Paul has 2 buttons open
- Prue has a lemony necklace and a matching bracelet on her right arm
- Sweater – pink main section, coral arms sections
- Sandi has a striped oxford shirt with yellow cuffs
- I really don’t know how to describe what Noel is wearing
- It’s kind of bikery? It might be rainproof?
- 24 Yeasted Festival Buns
- Has to be related to a festival from around the world
- Steph is doing Hot Cross Buns with zest and spice and orange
- Michael and Alice are doing their own spins on Hot Cross Buns
- Alice – Lemon blueberry almond hot cross buns with lemon curd
- Paul is in disbelief
- Michael is doing a hybrid bun – figgy pudding and hot cross bun
- Marzipan holly, berry, and leaves
- The dough has to be carefully mixed
- You don’t want thick, dense buns
- David – a bulgarian lemon/almond easter bread
- His brother lives in Bulgaria and his partner is from them
- Henry’s is from Sweden
- Cinnamon, Cardamom
- Henry, lord of the buns
- Henry’s only ever been to a festival for books
- Rosie is enriching her buns
- Milk, Double Cream, Gelatin, very rich
- Mardi Gras Finished Peacock Buns
- Rosie has never worked with a peacock before
- Sandi and Noel wear celebratory masks
- Not sure if the dough is supposed to bounce back or not
- You gotta shape it before you prove it again
- Prue watches Michael very quietly
- Henry shows Noel how to twist buns
- Alice doesn’t want to talk with Noel
- Noel offers to wear a cape and peacock mask
- David does an egg wash
- Hearts are racing!
- Michael’s are starting to crack – uh oh
- Henry does a hackysack with a lime
- Some of David’s got stuck
- Rosie is making frostings for hers
- Time is up
- David is celebrating Kozunak (sp?)
- A little dark on the bottom
- Great texture, great dough, needs more fruit
- Michael’s has a dip in the middle – a little uneven and misshapen
- Very shiny – great flavor
- Steph – shiny and attractive, mouthwatering, good fruit distribution, great texture, lovely
- Paul gives her a handshake!!!!
- Alice – similar look, slightly different color, lemon peel needed more candying time, glaze needed to be shinier – they do look homemade
- Rosie – highly decorative, good color, a bit flat, nice flavor, donut texture, great job
- Henry – chocolate cardamom, great bake, great flavor, just that sizes are different
- Henry also gets a handshake!!
- Don’t say “shut up” to a handshake, Henry
- Technical, set by Paul
- Perfect textures, inside and out
- 12 Sicilian Cassatelle
- Fried, sweet ravioli?
- They look more like an empanada
- You want ricotta all the way through, no grittiness
- Nobody likes working with deep fryers
- Okay, I got a freeze on the recipe
- And there’s marsala in there
- Maybe it’s more like pasta dough?
- What does stiff and pliable even mean?
- Sieve the ricotta to make it smooth
- My name is Neve, I feel the neeve to sieve some cheese
- Noel talks to Steph about what Paul’s hand felt like
- Steph’s dough isn’t coming out good
- David’s is coming out great
- Rosie isn’t having any problems
- Sandi gives Henry a helping hand
- Crimp the edges with a fork
- Don’t overfill it!
- David doesn’t have good experiences with the fryer
- Somebody says Jiminy Christmas
- Rosie … puts up with Noel
- Alice’s and Michael’s have burst open
- Noel and Sandi share a feather boa
- It’s not going great for anybody
- Sandi buys some time calling time
- David – uniformed, sealed, could’ve used more filling, tastes lovely, looks good
- Rosie – delicious filling, not quite 12
- Alice – popped open, puffed up, thick pastry, overfried
- Michael – not sealed properly, too much pastry
- Steph – fried well, but not uniform, too thick pastry
- Henry – nice and light, some are burnt, good filling and thin pastry
- Alice is last
- Rosie is in first for the technical!
- David always ends up in second
- Michael doesn’t feel confident
- Time for the Showstopper
- The technical was difficult for most people
- David’s technical were neat as a pin
- Kek Lapis Sarawak
- This is a grilled cake!
- Cut and reassembled in intricate patterns
- You broil a really thin batter
- A lot of eggs for this dough
- Henry used 110 eggs in one day when practicing
- Henry – lemon and lime cake, elegant present box
- David – cardamom and nutmeg spices
- Grilling it will sap some of the flavor out
- Michael – Jamaican Mule flavors, orange
- Steph – orange and chai revitalized cake
- Rosie is sticking with triangles
- Sugar glass birds, nectarine jam
- Edgy Rubber – the Noel / Rosie band
- These colors can’t be dull
- David – one cake will be monochrome, and the other will be all color
- Postmodernist work of art
- The color is inspired by a Prue necklace from last season
- Alice – Carnival cake – Chocolate Orange and Marzipan
- Grilling it will puff it all up
- Multiple layers and multiple cakes – tough to manage the temperature
- Henry burns his finger lightly
- Rosie is working on layer #2
- Michael puts rum between his layers
- Steph weighs her layers out
- David burned his first layers
- Michael is working on a lemon curd
- Alice is blowing candy glass bonfires
- Steph makes marzipan
- Alice is quite bothered by Noel’s chat
- Henry smells something burning
- It ends up being Rosie
- She has to bin that
- Alice’s looks pretty good
- David uses a bread cutter to cut layers
- Rosie is using a ruler
- Time for assembly
- David’s cake is smaller than she wanted
- Rosie is getting tripped out by these triangle cuts
- Time is up
- Steph – you need a filling in between your rotated blocks, the style is great, delicious, soft, great marzipan
- Rosie – looks messy, vibrant colors, a complicated pattern to attempt, tasty jam flavor
- Michael – top looks like a flag, top and bottom look rubbery, stodgy, claggy, very dense
- Henry – A whole lotta cake, nicely textured cake, good execution, nice flavor, pretty good job
- David – cakes look small, great color and definition of layers, spicy, could be sweeter, a bit rubbery, very neat, needed more sweet
- Alice – extremely neat, looks a bit dry, incredibly thin layers, very good almond flavor, well done
- Alice is relieved
- Henry wants star baker
- Table talk
- Rosie’s was messy but ambitious
- Michael’s was neat but not great
- David’s looked great but rubbery
- Henry’s was great
- Steph’s could’ve had more filling but great color
- Alice might have saved herself
- Rosie and Michael are in trouble
- Judgment Time
- Henry is Star Baker!
- It’s so hard to say goodbye now
- Michael is going home
- Everyone is crushed to say goodbye to Michael
- Michael goes out laughing
- A new higher standard of baking
- Henry has done everything he wanted to do
- I’m getting sleepy just recording this episode
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