What a week it has been! Wednesday was both the start of my new job and the Band of Bakers Christmas party. Forgive me for not providing the usual photo round-up of the bakes, but I was embroiled in far too much chaos to remember to dig out my iPhone. Luckily, the lovely Harley managed to get quite a few snaps which you can see on her blog Running, Cakes and London: A Beginner’s Blog.
One of the most exciting things that happened in 2013 was our appearance on Paul Hollywood’s Bread. Naomi, Jon and I were lucky enough to get the chance to bake with the Silver Fox himself before he joined a big group of our bakers for an event celebrating enriched breads. A couple of weeks later we were invited to Paul’s studio kitchen to try a range of enriched breads that he had made during the episode, including a very special brioche couronne filled with parma ham, mozzarella and basil.
Naomi, Jon and I making lardy cakes with the Master Baker
The couronne was one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten, so I decided to recreate it for our Christmas party. Honestly, if you only have time to make one loaf of bread over the festive season, make this. Your family will love you for it. The recipe can be found on the BBC Food website here.
The inside of the pre-rolled brioche: parma ham, mozzarella and basil
The finished article (photo by Harley Beecroft)
The Boozy Rouge 