American Baking Competition

13 years ago

Has anyone else watched this show? I know I'm posting about it a little too late, as I believe it's over now. I tape shows and watch them later, so I haven't seen the finale yet, so don't spill the beans, if you please.

Anyway, I have really enjoyed this show simply because it's been about the food. The contestants and judges have been totally civil and kind to each other, although the judges are not afraid to criticize, they do it constructively. There's no game playing, no making the constants scheme against each other. They just have to do their best to create whatever the judges tell them to make. All that and it's got Jeff Foxworthy. What's not to like?

I'm looking forward to seeing the finale, although I don't have a favorite contestant. I like them all. I hope this series is a keeper for the network.

Sally

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Comments (7)

maxmom96
13 years ago
I've seen almost all the shows and have really enjoyed the series.
As you say, it's free of the all backbiting and nastiness that the other shows have. I've also learned a few things. I like that it's just about baking. Hope they have another season.
colleenoz
13 years ago
That's why I like Australian MasterChef. The judges are very kind even when they're telling the competitors why their food wasn't up to scratch, and offer suggestions as to how to do it better next time. (Actually while the contestants are cooking the judges will point out if they think the competitor is going to come to grief about something.) And the competitors all are supportive of each other. The few who've tried the gamesmanship thing (I can only think of one, really) are not liked by the viewers and don't get far ultimately.
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Russ-1. 3 blooms- any color 1 container- the 3 blooms are the same variety. NOT on the same stem- be sure you have disbudded & have a set of leaves with each bloom - a must in an ADS show & gets better points in a hort. show. They will be judged on the quality- not the size of the blooms so an AA shouldn't get higher than a B or BB as long as all the blooms are good quality. Don't use a "dahlia-ish" version of anything because the closer to the ideal is what you're looking for-- not a weird-o. 2. If they wanted a lac. dahlia it would say lac. not cactus. If the judges know what they're doing they'll mark a lac down in a cactus catagory as it's a major form break in a C dahlia- but not in a lac catagory- then the deeper the lac. the better. 3. Whichever of the blooms are the best bloom- no open centers, no falling petals & the one that conforms to the SC description will do the best. The stem should be in proportion to the bloom & the leaves on good condition. 4. Crichton Honey isn't a Pom- it's a Ball! & if you do have a catagory you can enter 3 of them in make them the most perfectly matched that you can! Judges don't want to see the stages-- as interesting as it might be- they want to see matched blooms that are the same age, same color, same form, etc. & here again- no open centers on blooms that are supposed to be fully double. 5. Here again- it depends on the quality of bloom- if the AA is ragged, faded, has an open center, has falling back petals ets. it sure won't win over a nice smaller bloom. 6. A table center piece out of waterlilies would be really nice- just be sure the blooms are in good condition. 7. Oh Canada- the reddest & the whitest you can get- 8.-ooppss- just got company so I have to go for awhile!
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I guess I feel pretty lucky--my DD has a small class, only 14 students. I would agree that inviting 40 kids is excessive. I'm assuming there are two classes for SD's grade? Could you do something where she only invites her particular class? Or what about just the girls? My DD's school seems to be low-key. Last year, only a handful of kids had bday parties; a few invited the whole class, but two girls just invited the girls, and I think 2 boys had boys-only parties, as well. We just had an issue with BM about this. SS's bday is coming up and she wanted him to have it at this very expensive indoor trampoline place----the party room (that you HAVE to rent) is $175. Then it is an additional $14.75 PER jumper and there is a 10 person minimum. So that's $322 already. This does not include cake or drinks or goodie bags or anything. There are 23 kids in SS's class and SS's mom felt he should be able to invite the entire class. DH just told her that it is ridiculous to spend $500-600 on a 7 year old's birthday party and that she (or we) would have to find something more reasonable. Well, then they got in a big argument b/c she was saying they would split the cost this year (normally, DH pays) and DH said that wasn't the point----that even if they did cut the cost down the middle, it was just too extravagant of a party. We normally spend $150-$200 for a party. DD's birthday is 6 weeks after SS's, so we have to be financially mindful of planning for two parties relatively close together, as well.
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Another vote for good old fashioned flat pure aluminum cookie sheets. I didn't mesn to imply that warmth was the only cause of spread—just that no matter what you bake on, if the butter is too warm and soft in the dough, you will have spread. That's also why oil doesn't work well in most cookies. Chloebud, what I do know about a long chill/rest time is that the flour soaks up the water from the butter (and eggs if there are eggs). The result is just druthers. The different level of absoption will give you a different texture, though the difference might be subtle. One problem is that in a long soak, gluten will develop more, making your flour choice more important. You need some gluten for loft and chew, but you don't want tough! I know Chloebud has this down. I'm just pointing out some places where the complexity of it all can trip up people who just change things. I can't even fathom how many thousands of lovely cookies I've baked, but I've know people to use the exact same recipes and fail.
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mitchdesj
13 years ago
I watched all episodes, and loved it, made me want to eat cakeÃ¢ÂÂ¦..

It's only 7 episodes long, I bought it on ITunes.
compumom
13 years ago
Does it show you the steps the contestants take to create their items? That's one of my major peeve's with most cooking shows, too much drama and chatter, too little cooking!
sally2_gw
Original Author
13 years ago
It does a little bit, more than most shows like this, but not all the steps, as there's just not enough time to do so. They have 3 rounds in each episode. Each week they focus on a type of baking; for instance, the first week it was pie. The first round is their signature dish, where they have to make their signature pie. Then, the second round is the technical bake, where they are given the ingredients for a certain kind of pie, and vague instructions of what to do. The object of this is to test their knowledge of making that certain kind of pie. Lastly, they have to make a "Showstopper." That's where they have to make the same general type of pie, such as a fruit pie, but they can vary it to put their own spin on it. In each round, especially the technical bake, it's explained to the audience what needs to be done, and what the judges are looking for. But in each round, they do explain what each contestant is doing, or trying to do, but they don't go into great detail.

It's been a fun show. I have yet to watch the final episode. Maybe I will tonight.

Sally
mitchdesj
13 years ago
I liked the variety of desserts they had to make, from soufflÃÂ©s to napoleons to tarte tartin, they also did bread and petits fours, croquembouche, etc... it's a competition so they don't show all the baking steps but you see them in action. Presentation was a big factor also.
The judges know their stuff and had high expectations and would point out what failed or not and why.

The winner gets a cookbook published ( I'm not saying who won) and $250,000.
sally2_gw
Original Author
13 years ago
I did finally watch the finale. I didn't care who won, as I liked them all. It was an interesting finale, having to make something peanutty, some Boston Cream Donuts, and then lots and lots of little individual deserts, 24 each of 4 different kinds. Talk about a difficult challenge. I sure couldn't do all they had to do.

I hope the show is back again next summer.

Sally

American Baking Competition

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maxmom96

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American Baking Competition

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maxmom96

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compumom

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