Ok, so let me start by addressing the fact that GBBO is no longer going to be on BBC and Mel & Sue are leaving and I’m going to have to endure ad breaks in between the Mary Berry innuendos and steely Paul Hollywood glares. I’m not ok with this. *cries in corner with the BBC*

Anyways, back to my showstopper bake along challenge. Following last weeks ‘gingerbread story’, and my attempt at building a biscuit Hogwarts Castle, this weeks episode challenge the bakers to make a savoury bread plait centrepiece as their showstopper.

Ugh.

Now, I may absolutely looooove baking, but I’ve never been much of a bread baker. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve made my fair share of focaccia’s, brioche’s, and even a few sourdough loaves from my pet sourdough starter Alan (R.I.P *tear*) over the years, but I wouldn’t consider myself an expert. It’s one of those things that can be affected by sooooo many different factors (temperature, flour, time, moisture, proving, yeast activity, extra ingredients etc.) that it’s kinda more like nurturing than baking. There are plenty crazy ‘bread whisperers’ out there that just understand bread, but I am not one of them. Nevertheless, a challenge is a challenge.

This week the bakers were asked to make their savoury bread plait centrepiece to the following criteria:

• must use 3 flours
• any shape/size
• 4 hours

Ok, so I know last week I said I’d try to do something a little less complicated for the next challenge… but when they said bread centrepiece my immediate thought was ‘I’M GOING TO MAKE A STANDING TREE!’ I know, I know, ‘wtf?’ … but hear me out.

Now, I’d definitely say I have a soft spot for nature. As you may know (because I’m CONSTANTLY telling people), my surname is Carvalho which means ‘oak’ in Portuguese (hence the ‘acorns’ in Acorns & Custard!), and as a result I’ve become quite obsessed with finding out the symbolism of plants/trees over the years. I mean, I love that oaks represent strength, endurance, stability, wisdom, and to me, family, because then being a Carvalho just makes me seem so much cooler than I actually am! But yeah, I love earthy themes and acorns and nature… so my immediate thought was to make a tree. Full of my own little hidden meanings.

I figured I’d make the ‘roots’ with a white rye bread filled with all the seeds. Because well, you find seeds in the ground.

Then for the ‘trunk’ I thought I’d go with a dark rye bread filled with the woody flavour of chestnuts paired with figs (grows on a tree, symbolises prosperity, and is constantly mentioned in various religions).

For the ‘branches’ I figured I’d make an olive and herb bread, because then I could ‘extend and olive branch’ and I would be the Queen of Puns. *smug face emoji*

Before taking on the challenge I drew out what I wanted to make, and even practised my design/plaiting with some plasticine because you can never be too prepared.

I also practised baking with rye flour, which I’m glad I did because my first batch were awful! However, after some tweaking I managed to get a decent bread.

Here’s how I got on…Continue reading “Tree Bread Centrepiece – GBBO Showstopper Challenge (Week 3)”