Bake Off
Recipe For Love Bake Off
I only actually heard about the competition a couple of days before it was due to close, but as soon as I did I knew that I just had to enter my mini cupcakes. They seemed to fit the brief perfectly and I was thrilled to get an email telling me I was one of the five finalists.
The day itself was an incredible experience. I won’t forget the excitement, adrenalin and fun for a long time. In fact, there is so much ‘bake off’ chat happening in our house at the moment that my children have even started to make ‘sand cakes’ (instead of sand castles) for their own pretend bake offs. My four year old pulled me outside to show me her latest creation today and announced, “This is my winning cake!”
Taking part also gave me the added bonus of a day out in London on my own, which may not seem like much to some but for a mum of 3 this was actually amazing.
I had practiced my mini cupcakes until we could eat no more, and as you can see from this video and the pictures, a great time was had by all, and I was very pleased with the way my cupcakes turned out.
I did not win, but I can honestly say that I was thrilled for Fatema (picture below). Her reaction when Katie said her name was lovely to watch and I was just so thankful to have been given the opportunity to take part.
Katie was a complete professional and so complimentary of all our cakes. I could tell that she really enjoyed the day. I’m guessing that might have something to do with the tasting and judging part at the end as well as spending the day with 5 very excited bakers. The team from Random House 
Publishing who had organised the event, did an amazing job too. I’m sure that something like that takes a lot of hard work. I went home with a fantastic bag of goodies including a copy of Katie’s new book Recipe of Love (all about a bake off competition) and the lovely bonus of more baking pals which is such a delight. I’m sure that we will be supporting each other’s baking efforts for a long time to come.
The only problem now is that having competed in two bake offs, (details of my first bake off below) I want to do more! I will be keeping my eye out for the next opportunity and if you see one, be sure to let me know. In the mean time, I think I will be getting my fix from Katie’s book.
*Exciting News* You can look forward to more of my bake off action on Channel 4 this Monday (26th March) at 12.05pm when you can catch me taking part in Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard. I’ll be putting up a blog post about that early next week too with photos and gossip from the day.
Tagged bake off, Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard, Katie Fforde, Random House Publishing, Recipe for love, video
Christina AlteiracMarch 20, 2012 at 9:52 pm
Love the video, looks like you had a great day and what a fabulous experience! I will be tuned into Channel 4 on Monday!!! xo
Homemade By FleurMarch 21, 2012 at 7:12 amAuthor
I had no idea what the video was going to be like, but I love it and my girls think it is amazing! Nervous for Monday but excited too x
RobynMarch 21, 2012 at 5:11 am
It looks like a lot of fun Fleur! I think yours looked the best, beautifully presented. Maybe I can see how they taste in the summer if you’re not sick of baking by then!!
Homemade By FleurMarch 21, 2012 at 7:09 amAuthor
It really was! Will defo make you some in the summer when you are over, and anything else you fancy on the blog
Sarah, Maison CupcakeMarch 21, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Not sure I’m convinced by book with a love interest called “Gideon” and Katie Fforde’s ideas about kitchens being a hot bed of passion sound total Mills & Boon fantasy to me!!
Your cupcakes look very delicate and pretty!
Homemade By FleurMarch 21, 2012 at 2:30 pmAuthor
Ha ha! Well I can assure you there was no passion going on during the bake off lol!
ChocletteMarch 21, 2012 at 4:45 pm
What fun Fleur and very well done for getting shortlisted for the bake off.
LauralovescakesMarch 21, 2012 at 9:22 pm
This sounds like an amazing experience! It seems like there’s so many cakey people making TV appearances at the moment…I’d love to do something like this! Well done on getting into the final!
PatsyMarch 23, 2012 at 9:47 am
What a joy to read. You certainly make the most of life and your pleasure of sharing it all with the children comes across. Well done fleur ! X patsy
Homemade By FleurMarch 23, 2012 at 9:09 pmAuthor
Thanks Patsy. Your comment means a lot. xxx
cakebouleMarch 23, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Oh my Fleur! Wow you really are doing the most amazing things! I hardly ever enter competitions. I would love to meet a real author like Kate what an honour! Amazed I truly am and I can not wait unilt half term when I cat sit down and watch all the baking mad I have recorded so I will get to see you too – excitied!
I also nominated you for a little blog award too – not that is much compared to all this brilliance but its is heart felt all the same! See here http://cakeboule.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/7-random-facts-about-me/
Homemade By FleurMarch 23, 2012 at 9:26 pmAuthor
Oh wow! I am soooo touched about the blog award. I was having a good day today, but you have made it even better. It means a lot more to me than you might think. Thank you very much. I have to tell you that I never expected so much to come out of writing my blog. I;m loving it! xxx
cakebouleMarch 23, 2012 at 9:32 pm
Aw bless you! All I can say is keeping doing what you are doing as you are obviously doing it right!
cakebouleMarch 23, 2012 at 8:14 pm
p.s where do you find out about all the competitions?
Homemade By FleurMarch 23, 2012 at 9:27 pmAuthor
Ummmm, too much time on twitter and facebook I think!
cakebouleMarch 23, 2012 at 9:31 pm
ahh that is where I am missing out then!