Tag Archives: the great british bake off

Links: Spreading Romance Love!

Workspace with computer, journal, books, coffee, and glasses.

Hi there! How are we all feeling? A little better? Relieve? Still exhausted? It’s okay if you say yes to all three! Today’s links are mostly romance focused – namely, romance being awesome and exciting. Now the dash toward the holidays begins! … Many of you are anxiously awaiting the launch of The Bridgertons series on Netflix. You can read more about it here, along with Julie Andrews’ involvement as the series narrator. Andrews also has a … Continue reading Links: Spreading Romance Love!

Soggy Bottoms: It Takes Two Ciabattas to Tumble

Soggy Bottoms - a Bookish Journey through Technical Bakes with a floury spoon, a rolling pin, and eggshells on a slate background

I couldn’t remember my last Soggy Bottoms experiment, so I had to look through the archives to give myself a refresher. Turns out, my last bake was the creme caramel fail that turned into vanilla scrambled eggs. I think my mind decided to repress that memory. Typically, I alternate sweet and savory recipes, which means we’re back to bread. Baking bread in a technical challenge fashion has always been tough for me. It’s cold right … Continue reading Soggy Bottoms: It Takes Two Ciabattas to Tumble

Book Review

Mangos & Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera

Mangos and Mistletoe

The best part of Mangos & Mistletoe is the mouthwatering descriptions of pastries created in a GBBO-inspired holiday baking competition set in Scotland. The worst part of Mangos & Mistletoe is the mouthwatering descriptions of pastries created in a GBBO-inspired holiday baking competition set in Scotland. Do not repeat my mistakes: you must not read this f/f enemies-to-lovers-in-only-one-bed novella without a plate of delicious pastries nearby. My baking experience is limited to an almost burned … Continue reading Mangos & Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera

Soggy Bottoms: The Ten Thousand Creme Caramels of January

Soggy Bottoms - a Bookish Journey through Technical Bakes with a floury spoon, a rolling pin, and eggshells on a slate background

Get ready for Soggy Bottoms’ first fail! If you asked me yesterday why I picked a creme caramel for my next bake, I could not tell you. My life has been a fever dream of exhaustion, books, period cramps, and shitty family stuff. I think I assumed this would be “easy” and I’m sure it helped that I already had most of the ingredients in my kitchen. I didn’t have to buy Golden Syrup from … Continue reading Soggy Bottoms: The Ten Thousand Creme Caramels of January

Soggy Bottoms: Treacle Tart Crazy

Soggy Bottoms - a Bookish Journey through Technical Bakes with a floury spoon, a rolling pin, and eggshells on a slate background

It’s time to bake! We’re making a treacle tart, a dessert which I have literally never had in all of my three decades on this earth. However, I was rather surprised at the minimal ingredients, many of which I already had in my kitchen. I did have to go to Amazon for the golden syrup though. Making a shortcrust pastry is really the main component to tackling this bake. Oh, and putting a lattice design … Continue reading Soggy Bottoms: Treacle Tart Crazy

Soggy Bottoms: A Notorious Arlette

Featured image for Soggy Bottoms: A Notorious Arlette

Choo choo! All aboard the Soggy Bottoms train! If you’re new here since the last Soggy Bottoms, welcome! This feature is where I test my baking mettle and challenge myself to the Great British Bake Off’s technical bakes. I give myself the same time limit and, like many of the contestants, I literally have never made any of these things before. Truth be told, I was a feeling a bit uninspired for this one. None … Continue reading Soggy Bottoms: A Notorious Arlette

Soggy Bottoms: The Royal Sandwich

Soggy Bottoms - a Bookish Journey through Technical Bakes with a floury spoon, a rolling pin, and eggshells on a slate background

Ending the year with the Soggy Bottoms is a great idea! And I’m saying that for purely selfish reasons. We’re on to a sweet recipe and honestly…there’s nothing I love more than cake. I’ve never had a Victoria sandwich before, but there was something holiday-esque about it to me. I’m probably wrong, but it was probably the combination of fruit, cream, and a dusting of sugar that had me make the connection. A Victoria sandwich … Continue reading Soggy Bottoms: The Royal Sandwich

Soggy Bottoms: Forbidden Herb Fougasse

Soggy Bottoms - a Bookish Journey through Technical Bakes with a floury spoon, a rolling pin, and eggshells on a slate background

Soggy Bottoms is here! This week’s bake snuck up on me, and by that I mean I wasn’t aware I needed to bake anything until about two days ago. Since my last bake was sweet (and very deliciously rich), it was time for something savory! I ended up choosing the herb fougasse. I remember this episode of the Great British Bake Off quite well because no one could figure out where to make the odd … Continue reading Soggy Bottoms: Forbidden Herb Fougasse

Soggy Bottoms: The Last Soufflé

Soggy Bottoms - a Bookish Journey through Technical Bakes with a floury spoon, a rolling pin, and eggshells on a slate background

Soggy Bottoms returns and now that my moving is done, you’ll see these pop up on the site with a bit more frequency. (Every six weeks? Or is it eight? Sarah, halp!) (Sarah: Uh. Crap. No one told me a understanding of time measurement was a pre-requisite for this position. Time management, yes. Time measurement? Uh, no. Let’s say six?) This is also the first Soggy Bottoms in my new apartment! The kitchen is awesome … Continue reading Soggy Bottoms: The Last Soufflé

Soggy Bottoms: An Unkindess of Plaited Loaves

Soggy Bottoms - a Bookish Journey through Technical Bakes with a floury spoon, a rolling pin, and eggshells on a slate background

Welcome back to Soggy Bottoms! This is where I test my baking might by participating in The Great British Bake Off’s technical challenges. So far, all of the recipes have been new to me and this is one no different. I wouldn’t say this is my first challenge fail, but the results weren’t as positive as my previous ones. Typically, I talk about my process and what it was like to ham-handedly muscle my way … Continue reading Soggy Bottoms: An Unkindess of Plaited Loaves

Soggy Bottoms: Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Angel Food Cake

Soggy Bottoms - a Bookish Journey through Technical Bakes with a floury spoon, a rolling pin, and eggshells on a slate background

Soggy Bottoms is back! Sorry I was away for so long. One of my roommates had house guests for about a month (don’t get me started) and it was nearly impossible to use my kitchen for an extended period of time. I really waffled on trying to pick my next bake. (Ed. note: I see what you did there.) Did I want a bread, should I try something smaller and more delicate, or should I go … Continue reading Soggy Bottoms: Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Angel Food Cake