“The Great British Baking Show” Inspires More than Pastry

It inspires just a bit more kindness

The Joy of Cooking

I’ve been a keen and devoted home baker for about four years now, and it’s no secret to anyone that my interest was encouraged by two things, both very Special & Important.

The first was my friend Emma, a dedicated and creative baker herself. On the rare and treasured occasion we get a full day in each other’s company, there is baking and quite a lot of it.

The second encouraging and inspiring thing was The Great British Bake Off.

Now firmly set in its determination to remind the folks watching at home that its name is, in fact, The Great British Baking Show, those of us who have gleefully watched every episode more than once (okay, fine — maybe more than half a dozen times each) will never break the habit of referring to it as simply “Bake Off”.

We Bake Off fans have seen mirror glazes shine beautifully and buns fall flat in their second proof. We’ve watched competitors receive the coveted “Hollywood Handshake” (judge Paul Hollywood’s mark of particular approval) and we’ve watched competitors literally present a garbage can for judging when, in a bout of great frustration, that’s where their masterpiece ended up.