GTBBO Week 1: Cake

The Great Taisty Bytes Bake Off

Hello friends and Welcome to #GTBBO—The Great Taisty Bytes Bake Off! 🍰

With the new season of Bake Off gracing our screens, I thought why not join in on the fun and attempt as many of the weekly challenges as I can? It’ll be a great way to push my baking skills in real time, try new recipes and give me the perfect excuse to create some chaos in the kitchen!

I’ll be attempting as many challenges (sometimes tweaked for my skill level) as I can and will be reporting back each week on how it went. If today is any example of what’s to come - you’re in for a few laughs as well!

Disclaimer - No Spoilers: Don’t worry, I wont be talking about the bakers or their bakes in these weekly posts - just the challenges themselves

I only took on the first two challenges this week - so let’s see how they turned out…

---

Week 1: Cake Week

Challenge #1 - Signature Loaf Cake

Okay, so for the very first challenge I had to chuckle myself when I saw it - it was only to bake a bloody loaf cake! What is Mark’s signature dish? Let’s say it altogether shall we… A Blueberry 👏 Banana 👏 Bread 👏 Loaf 👏 (I should just rename my Substack at this point to ‘The Home of a Thousand Blueberry Banana Breads’)

Is it technically a loaf cake? The judge, which is me, says yes it is!

In an attempt to elevate my usual recipe, I’ve topped it with a lemon drizzle 🍋 and I kid you not, I think this one is probably my best bake so far!

I know I joke about my obsession with banana bread, but there’s a reason it keeps making an appearance. It’s comforting, reliable and it’s one of the first recipes I tried when I started - so it holds a special place in my heart (and stomach).

Blueberry and lemon is such a good flavour combination. Can 100% recommend!

Technical Challenge #1 - Battenberg Cake

The first technical challenge of the season was to taste and study a Battenberg cake and then recreate it with no recipe or instructions. I’m nowhere near that experience level yet but still wanted to give it a go — so I followed the Bake Off recipe.

Now, I knew that this bake wasn’t going to be a piece of cake (wink), but I seriously underestimated how hard it was. I’m pretty sure I spent a good four hours in the kitchen making (and clearing up) this bake.

I trimmed the cakes to size, spread a reduced and strained apricot jam on the edges, and attempted to piece them together into that iconic checkerboard pattern. Let’s just say my squares were more… abstract art than precise geometry. But hey, rustic is totally a style, right?

Wrapping the cake in marzipan was another adventure. I rolled it out as evenly as I thought… but it was too late before I realised how thick it actually still was. There may have been some patchworking involved, too - which again is a feat in itself seeing how thick it was!

Is it the prettiest Battenberg ever made? Absolutely not. Did it taste good? The jury is still out on that one. Does it look like a Battenberg though? Yes, I think it does!

---

I had an absolute blast with these 2 challenges and I’m looking forward, with cautious optimism, to what else this season has in store. Although I think I’m already anxious about bread week 😬 If you’re baking along this season, let me know in the comments and I’d love to see how your bakes turn out!

---

What I’m listening to

Thank you to everyone who left such great feedback on last week’s post and over on instagram - I had some cracking recommendations of what to listen to, and my autumn playlist is building up nicely.

This week I’ve been listening to the soundtrack of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. The film is in my top 3 and the soundtrack is phenomenal - definitely worth check out if you have yet to see it.

I’ve also been listening to Nigel Slater’s new book A Thousand Feasts. A great collection of notes, memoirs, stories and small moments of joy - the perfect companion whilst you’re pottering round the kitchen.

If you have any recommendations, let me know in the comments!

---

3 Creators to follow

Each week I want to give a shoutout to three amazing creators who I’ve been loving lately. This week we have:

• Matt Inwood - A Thousand Fragments
  A huge inspiration to me, Matt is a fantastic photographer and wordsmith. Often capturing moments and writing words they make you think and feel - sharing snippets of life that are both intimate and universally relatable. Matt’s photography is a masterclass in light and composition, often highlighting the subtle details that others might overlook.

• Clare Ruston - Auntie Bulgaria
  Clare is one of those people who, you know when you’re scrolling and you see a post from someone that never fails to make you smile… yes, one of those people. Delicious recipes, great food photography, useful gardening tips (that I may or may not put into practice)…

• Anna Rose - Tides and Seasons UK
  Anna is someone that I follow closely in awe, not only at her Substack journey but also her personal one. I feel like it’s the ‘re-wilding of Anna’ - connecting to wilderness and nature and the world around us. I’m excited about seeing what the future holds for Anna!

---

Well, that’s all from me today my friends. Thanks for stopping by and sharing in my little corner of the world.

As always, feel free to leave a comment or just say hi. I love hearing from you!

Until next time,

Mark