â
The wait is finally here! Itâs the Great British Bake Off Final!!
The past 10 weeks has been one sticky sweet rollercoaster ride for the bakers in the tent. And through all the ups and downs, the rises and raw dough bottoms we have all been there cheering them along. Â
We wanted to reach into our tvâs and give kim-Joy a hug in Danish week when the judges critic bought her to tears. We were right there with giggly tears of joy, alongside Briony (pretty much every time the camera panned her way). Â Chortled at the sweet naivety of Rahulâs expressions and deadpan stare. And smiled along with the sassiness of Rubyâs quick wit.
Week after week the bakers delivered a cake shaped cornucopia of delicious bakes that would fill any amuteuer home baker with pride. Â
We might not have had the high pressure of being in the Bake Off tent, or the stress of being eliminated, but here in the Saint Cooks kitchen we definitely had a rollercoaster ride of our own. Â
The past 10 weeks have been a great fun and we have enjoyed the challenge to make something delicious with a St Helenian twist each week. Â We made St Helenian Tomato Paste flavoured bread shaped as living Island legend, Jonathan the Tortoise in Bread week. Celebrated St Helenian Coffee liqueur in Cake week and St Helenian Curry puffs in Spice week. Â And a three layered homage to the Islands most famous resident, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte for French Patisserie week.
It wasnât always easy and our interpretation of the weekly themes meant that some weeks artistic licence had to be called upon. As in Biscuit week when we made a 3D sculpture of High Knoll Fort out of coconut flavoured shortbread. Â The upside down cake we made of the Islandâs unofficial national flower the Aurm Lily in Vegan week. Or Hertzoggies tarts in Pastry week.
But overall we still managed to celebrate and showcase St Helenian flavours, recipes and ingredients throughout. Â Like in our Mackerel filled fish pastries for Danish week.
Or a celebration of fruits and flavours in our Emerald Isle Trifle for Dessert week.
But all those bakes over the past nine weeks were just a warm up for the finialle and this week we have made our biggest, bestest and boldest bake in our showstopper finial. Â
We have taken the jewel in St Helenian baking, the humble coconut finger, and made it the star of our three tier celebration cake. Â Complete with sugar paste decorations of Jonathan the Tortoise, Arum lilies, Tuna fish and the St Helena Wirebird. Our most adventurous design to date the end product surpassed our expectations and we are so proud of how it all turned out.
Weâre excited to see what the three finalists, Ruby, Rahul and Kim-Joy bake in the finial tonight.
Thanks to everybody who supported our videos these past 10 week, liked, shared and were inspired to try St Helenian cooking.
Weâll be back soon with more bakes soon
EJ
â
***
â
Hereâs how you make it:
How to make coconut fingers
10 oz / 283 g Plain Flour
8 oz / 225 g Sugar
8 oz / 225 g Margarine or Butter
4 Eggs
Vanilla essence
2 teaspoons (tsp) Baking powder
9 oz / 250 g Icing sugar
18 oz / 500 g Desiccated Coconut
Red food colouring
Vanilla essence
Making the Cake base
Making the Coconut Fingers
Makes about 30 Fingers. (Depends on the size you cut them)
â