Great British Bake Off Challenge

I love almondy things, to the point that I would happily sit down and eat an entire block of marzipan. So Battenburg, one of the challenges on the great British bake off, is right up my street. I have never made one before, mainly because it looks like a bit of a faff and fiddle, but also because I'd eat the entire thing, and would be considerably larger than I am. I do love a challenge though, and since I was palming the calorie laden coffee and walnut battenburg onto my appreciative work colleagues, it was all fine.

The recipe can be found here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/coffee_and_walnut_88342

The finished result was pretty good, although it could have looked slightly better. It tasted very nice though and I had a fight on my hands trying to wrestle it off my husband so I could take it to work.

Paul Hollywoods Focaccia

If you have been glued to the Great British bake off as I have, you will have seen Paul Hollywood's focaccia made. I love bread, especially Italian bread and when I've made it before, it's been the typical dough you would make for most bread. According to Mr Hollywood, this is not how an authentic focaccia is made, so I decided to take the challenge.
The photo really doesn't do justice to this fantastic recipe. It took three tries to make it, mainly because I didn't realise I had the wrong type of yeast! It is a very messy and sticky dough due to the large amount of water added and takes a bit of practice and any sort of scraper to help handle this difficult dough!

Once you have mastered it though you will make it again and again. It is a perfect bread for accompanying a meal or even to have on its own, with maybe a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip it in. I'm now going to try adding olives and sun dried tomatoes to add other flavour dimensions but it is still amazing with simply salt and rosemary as I've added to mine.

The recipe can be found here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/focaccia_08389

The Great British Bake Off book is excellent too so here it is if you fancy an early Christmas present!

Great British Bake Off: How to Bake: The Perfect Victoria Sponge and Other Baking Secrets (Great British Bake Off TV Tie)

Good luck!