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Post by libgirl2 on Nov 15, 2023 22:17:52 GMT
HBC: Those turkey dome desserts the bakers made for the preheat were cute as hell, even the ones that didn't quite come out as expected. My personal favorite was the turkey whose neck was so big it just laid on the plate like road kill, lol. The Main Heat was creative, and I liked the table settings on each of the cakes. I felt very badly for the lady who didn't get everything on her cake but it was delicious, which is why she got to stay and Miss "I'm a single mom and home baker" went home. The road kill turkey was hysterical. I really wish the one guy's (can't remember his name) modern twist would have worked out. I have a feeling it would have been wonderful. As for the opera cakes.... I have been watching baking shows for as long as I can remember and an opera cake is not a tall, round, red velvet layer cake. I'm sorry but if she hadn't done well earlier, she would have been bottom two. As delightful as it might have tasted and looked, that was not what the challenge was.... As for the one who went home, she made me sad and uncomfortable. She didn't seem happy at all. I get there are challenges, I was there once before, but the public eye is not somewhere she should be with so much hanging over her. Plus, she really didn't know things that you need to when you go on these shows, home baker or not. I do wish her the best. You never know.
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Post by Kao on Nov 15, 2023 23:40:26 GMT
While I liked the concept of what Sheldon was trying to do with a modern twist, it wasn't implemented well and I felt badly for him. He did get high marks on the taste, which was good. A few of the bakers are having time management troubles and he's one of them, plus there were issues with the chocolate.
I feel the same way you do about the person who went home. She was...I don't know. I admit I have my own biases and feel a certain way about women who make motherhood their whole identity and personality, and I know that's not exactly fair. Not sure if it was her idea or the show decided to do something new this year and introduced more personal details about the bakers but it did not do her any favors (we did not need to know she was broke and really counting on the show, for example), plus you could tell she was kinda in over her head. I wish her the best and hope she continues to grow her skillset.
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Post by libgirl2 on Nov 15, 2023 23:46:27 GMT
While I liked the concept of what Sheldon was trying to do with a modern twist, it wasn't implemented well and I felt badly for him. He did get high marks on the taste, which was good. A few of the bakers are having time management troubles and he's one of them, plus there were issues with the chocolate. I feel the same way you do about the person who went home. She was...I don't know. I admit I have my own biases and feel a certain way about women who make motherhood their whole identity and personality, and I know that's not exactly fair. Not sure if it was her idea or the show decided to do something new this year and introduced more personal details about the bakers but it did not do her any favors (we did not need to know she was broke and really counting on the show, for example), plus you could tell she was kinda in over her head. I wish her the best and hope she continues to grow her skillset. It was almost a little too personal as I feel like seeing her kids made it hit harder. Time management is really an issue with many of them. I wish they would just give them extra time. Some might still fail but others might really shine.
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Post by Kao on Nov 17, 2023 16:33:45 GMT
Christmas Cookie Challenge: It's been really cute this season as they decided to change things up a bit, and it's welcome changes. Last week they had four contestants that had competed in previous seasons and lost to give them a fresh crack at the prize, and this week they had eight winning contestants paired into twos to win the cash and a "Best of the Best" trophy. They had some of my favorites past contestants and it was great hearing about how their lives and businesses changed after winning CCC. The challenges were also more advanced; for the Design Challenge they had to make Christmas cookie quilts, and for the Main Heat they had to construct a mini stadium with Christmas games. I was extremely happy for the team that won because they were my faves and their stadium was beautiful, and the cookie elements tasted fabulous. Definitely worth a watch!
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Post by libgirl2 on Nov 17, 2023 17:29:55 GMT
Christmas Cookie Challenge: It's been really cute this season as they decided to change this a bit this season, and it's welcome changes. Last week they had four contestants that had competed in previous seasons and lost to give them a fresh crack at the prize, and this week they had eight winning contestants paired into twos to win the cash and a "Best of the Best" trophy. They had some of my favorites past contestants and it was great hearing about how their lives and businesses changed after winning CCC. The challenges were also more advanced; for the Design Challenge they had to make Christmas cookie quilts, and for the Main Heat they had to construct a mini stadium with Christmas games. I was extremely happy for the team that won because they were my faves and their stadium was beautiful, and the cookie elements tasted fabulous. Definitely worth a watch! I thought all the stadiums were lovely but the winners was far and away the best one. The one with the rink would have benefitted from having some "skaters" on it and I'm surprised they did not mention that. And that blue quilt was a work of art! I'm also liking some of these changes quite a bit.
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Post by Kao on Nov 17, 2023 18:02:22 GMT
That blue quilt was gorgeous!
One of the ladies on the winner team was also a previous contestant on one of the American Holiday Bakeoff shows, and she's just a joy to watch because she's always upbeat and is one hell of a baker. I think she got her start as a home baker and took it from there and has her own shop now, and I'm pleased to see her going forward and thriving. The last time she was on CCC she impressed Rae with her cookie for the main heat so much she asked her for the recipe. You can't get higher praise than that!
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Post by Kao on Nov 21, 2023 13:48:45 GMT
HBC: Loved this week's episode with the 7 layer desserts for the Pre-Heat; I was really intrigued by the "pizza" dessert with the tomato/goatcheese because it looked and tasted delicious. Other notable desserts include Sheldon and Ashley's efforts (who won the heat).
The dueling pies cooked in the same pan was also a fun idea, and people were either really good or really awful. While both people on the bottom really deserved to be there, the person who went home's pie was just....it was an awful week in the kitchen for that person, plus they've been circling the drain for a minute so no surprises there.
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Post by libgirl2 on Nov 21, 2023 13:56:37 GMT
HBC: Loved this week's episode with the 7 layer desserts for the Pre-Heat; I was really intrigued by the "pizza" dessert with the tomato/goatcheese because it looked and tasted delicious. Other notable desserts include Sheldon and Ashley's efforts (who won the heat). The dueling pies cooked in the same pan was also a fun idea, and people were either really good or really awful. While both people on the bottom really deserved to be there, the person who went home's pie was just....it was an awful week in the kitchen for that person, plus they've been circling the drain for a minute so no surprises there. I think they were almost relieved to be going as they didn't look happy the entire show. I don't know if I am the only one but I don't like Ashley. Something about her just bugs me.
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Post by Kao on Nov 21, 2023 16:31:41 GMT
While I think she was relieved on some level I think she just has "sad resting face" like some people just naturally look grumpy all the time but aren't.
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Post by waywyrd on Nov 21, 2023 18:57:41 GMT
The girl who went home last week - now she really did seem unhappy most of the time. I think this week's boot was mainly stressed, she was always struggling with time management.
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Post by libgirl2 on Nov 21, 2023 19:13:50 GMT
The girl who went home last week - now she really did seem unhappy most of the time. I think this week's boot was mainly stressed, she was always struggling with time management. I think in addition to the time constraints and the loopy ingredients (sage anyone?), it can't be easy for some people to have cameras around, be on a sound stage, filming crew everywhere. I can see it might be overwhelming. She could be a real introvert.
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Post by Kao on Nov 26, 2023 19:51:23 GMT
The girl who went home last week - now she really did seem unhappy most of the time. I think this week's boot was mainly stressed, she was always struggling with time management. I think in addition to the time constraints and the loopy ingredients (sage anyone?), it can't be easy for some people to have cameras around, be on a sound stage, filming crew everywhere. I can see it might be overwhelming. She could be a real introvert. True, plus it's a "sink or swim" environment with restraints put on time, materials, baking in strange ovens, etc and not everyone can thrive there. Add in the pressure of the competition itself and homesickness and it can be really trying for some, especially if they have children or are just close to their spouse/family. While I don't doubt some of these folks are cannon fodder I think the vast majority of the people who go home do just fine in their own kitchens at home or (in some cases) at work.
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Post by Kao on Nov 28, 2023 15:55:39 GMT
Holiday Baking Championship: The Mont Blancs the bakers made for the preheat looked good. I liked Sharrod's even though it was brown (I laughed at Carla eating the whole thing) while Justine, Ashley and Thoa's Blancs looked really festive. Josh's Mont Blanc....didn't turn out the way he expected. I think Duff said it looked like Unicorn Poo? Josh had good humor about it because he knew it was a mess. The Willy Wonka upside down cakes for the Main Heat were interesting in theory but was hard for some of them to emulate, as several cake designs smashed against the glass beautifully while others didn't turn out well. Thoa's Mistletoe design and Josh's wreath was outstanding, and they tasted delicious as well. The curveball was making homemade marshmallows to use in the cake (except for Thoa, who got hers ready-made because she won the Pre-heat) and while some were able to do well with them, other contestants either put too much gelatin in, made them too sweet, or the texture was off. The cake of the person who ultimately went home was just bad; the colors were dull and nasty, the smashed design on the glass looked like dirty smears, and they used too much gelatin in the homemade marshmallows. You could tell the judges were struggling to find anything pleasant to say about it. They just had a horrible week and I felt badly for them.
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Post by libgirl2 on Nov 28, 2023 17:20:07 GMT
Holiday Baking Championship: The Mont Blancs the bakers made for the preheat looked good. I liked Sharrod's even though it was brown (I laughed at Carla eating the whole thing) while Justine, Ashley and Thoa's Blancs looked really festive. Josh's Mont Blanc....didn't turn out the way he expected. I think Duff said it looked like Unicorn Poo? Josh had good humor about it because he knew it was a mess. The Willy Wonka upside down cakes for the Main Heat were interesting in theory but was hard for some of them to emulate, as several cake designs smashed against the glass beautifully while others didn't turn out well. Thoa's Mistletoe design and Josh's wreath was outstanding, and they tasted delicious as well. The curveball was making homemade marshmallows to use in the cake (except for Thoa, who got hers ready-made because she won the Pre-heat) and while some were able to do well with them, other contestants either put too much gelatin in, made them too sweet, or the texture was off. The cake of the person who ultimately went home was just bad; the colors were dull and nasty, the smashed design on the glass looked like dirty smears, and they used too much gelatin in the homemade marshmallows. You could tell the judges were struggling to find anything pleasant to say about it. They just had a horrible week and I felt badly for them. Yea, that cake just didn't work at all. Congrats to Thoa for having a REALLY good week.
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Post by Kao on Nov 28, 2023 17:24:11 GMT
Justine did a very good job on both Heats. I was extremely happy for her as she almost got sent home last week.
Is it my imagination, or are a lot of the bakers struggling this season? Is it that the challenges are more difficult now, or what?
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Post by libgirl2 on Nov 28, 2023 17:56:37 GMT
Justine did a very good job on both Heats. I was extremely happy for her as she almost got sent home last week. Is it my imagination, or are a lot of the bakers struggling this season? Is it that the challenges are more difficult now, or what? Now that you mention it, some real good bakers are having issues. I wonder if it is a combination challenges and time constraints. Though, it does seem like there are always a few that are just leaps and bounds ahead of the others, look at the Halloween, it was obvious from the start who would be the final 3 (or at least 2).
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Post by MFWalkoff on Dec 2, 2023 0:46:04 GMT
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Post by waywyrd on Dec 5, 2023 13:24:42 GMT
HBC - they did Josh wrong. Yeah, leaving the sugar out was a dumb mistake, but Ashley's been hovering at the bottom for a while. I don't get it.
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Post by Kao on Dec 5, 2023 22:16:29 GMT
I wasn't paying attention last night, so I rewatched today and now I'm pissed. How did they decide on Josh when they both forgot to put sugar in their Main Heat desserts, plus he ranked higher on the Preheat?
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Post by libgirl2 on Dec 6, 2023 1:50:15 GMT
And Justine's board looked like crap.
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Post by libgirl2 on Dec 6, 2023 19:56:10 GMT
And I didn't even mention Ashlie's wonderful Star of David decoration. A toddler could have drawn that. And to have it just leaning on the pound cake. I felt like she was dialing that one in.
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Post by Kao on Dec 6, 2023 20:19:09 GMT
While Nancy liked the taste, Carla specifically told her to not make any more cakes and she did it anyway. It seems like The Powers That Be made the call to keep her in yet again, and I'm beginning to get tired of her.
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Post by libgirl2 on Dec 6, 2023 21:31:32 GMT
While Nancy liked the taste, Carla specifically told her to not make any more cakes and she did it anyway. It seems like The Powers That Be made the call to keep her in yet again, and I'm beginning to get tired of her. You can so see it on her face when she doesn't get the praise she used to. She would be great to play poker with.
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Post by libgirl2 on Dec 12, 2023 14:51:48 GMT
Last night was rough on Holiday Baking....
I was finding Ashlie annoying but Justine took over for her. I noticed how her accent gets stronger when she is in front of the judges.
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Post by Kao on Dec 12, 2023 15:11:46 GMT
At least Justine can bake. Raw dough really? Again? I'm so tired of Ashley and her disheveled looking self, lol.
I was so scared for Sherrold last night. And there's no way all 5 of them are in the finale; there's probably going to be a pre-Heat where two of them are eliminated at the beginning of next week.
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Post by libgirl2 on Dec 12, 2023 15:20:59 GMT
At least Justine can bake. Raw dough really? Again? I'm so tired of Ashley and her disheveled looking self, lol. I was so scared for Sherrold last night. And there's no way all 5 of them are in the finale; there's probably going to be a pre-Heat where two of them are eliminated at the beginning of next week. Yes, she can bake, though I still didn't think her "sign" was very sign-like. And I still don't like Ashlie, just a little less. I felt like when Justine was choosing her two bakers, I was back in gym class being chosen last. I felt bad for them. Honestly, I had a feeling it was going to work out the way it did. Yea, there is going to be a twist right away.
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Post by Kao on Dec 16, 2023 1:09:17 GMT
Those cookie jars on Christmas Cookie Challenge were fabulous. I especially liked the Mexican Santa with the red and green sombrero and was rooting for that baker, but they went with the other lady. Her cookies inside the jar sounded delicious as well.
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ccl
FORT Regular
Posts: 439
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Post by ccl on Dec 16, 2023 1:57:10 GMT
I wish there was a way to watch the baking shows with Nancy’s segments edited out. I dislike her so much.
Real shame about Javier going. Was almost wishing that someone else had done really badly so he could stay but that didn’t happen.
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Post by Kao on Dec 19, 2023 14:58:24 GMT
Holiday Baking Championship
.....
Alright, I guess so?
Yes, their design was lovely, but Thoa's cake looked better, Kevin's cake tasted the best, but somehow that person was decided on? OK. Also, I felt super bad for Sherrod. It wouldn't have cost much to have all 5 be in the finale. Hopefully he'll show up again on one of the one-off shows because he's a great innovative baker who isn't afraid to take risks. I think Carla wanted Sherrod, Nancy wanted Justine, and unfortunately Duff was the tiebreaker.
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Post by libgirl2 on Dec 19, 2023 15:20:07 GMT
Holiday Baking Championship..... Alright, I guess so? Yes, their design was lovely, but Thoa's cake looked better, Kevin's cake tasted the best, but somehow that person was decided on? OK. Also, I felt super bad for Sherrod. It wouldn't have cost much to have all 5 be in the finale. Hopefully he'll show up again on one of the one-off shows because he's a great innovative baker who isn't afraid to take risks. I think Carla wanted Sherrod, Nancy wanted Justine, and unfortunately Duff was the tiebreaker. I was kind of underwhelmed. I was really hoping Kevin or Thoa would pull it off. Her cake was lovely, his not so much. If only! I also felt bad for Sherrod. Nancy has treated him poorly this entire competition and it left a really bad taste in my mouth. I got the feeling Carla was a perturbed by Nancy in the bake off and good for her for sticking up for him. I hope he shows up somewhere as well. I did not enjoy this season as much as I have in the past. This season seemed more mean spirited. Add to that Nancy who's pets could do no wrong. And {Spoiler} Justine's "macarons" were garbage. They should have just sent her home then and there.
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