How To Create Humidity In Grow Tent

As the GHI's tech expert, gadgets are my first love but baking comes a very close second. I'm often whipping up homemade treats for friends family and my colleagues at GH towers. I've been hooked on The Great British Bake Off since its very first series in 2010. I even once applied to be a contestant but it didn't pan out. So when Amazon invited me to the GBBO tent at Pinewood studios to try my hand at a 'showstopper' challenge with a little help from Alexa - Amazon's voice assistant - I jumped at the chance.

MORE: IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW SPEAKER? CHECK OUT OUR WINNERS HERE

Mark Bourdillon 07831605033

Just like on TV
Stepping in to the tent, it was clear that it's just as magical in the tent in real life as it looks on TV. Each of the benches where contestants bake is heaving with baking equipment and ingredients, from the iconic Kitchen Aid to plenty of knives, scissors and spatulas.

Once we've donned our aprons, the words 'On your marks, get set, bake!' echoed through the tent and we were off.

Time ticks away quickly

Our challenge? We had one hour to assemble a croquembouche, then decorate it as a self portrait with a selection of fondant icing, sprinkles and lustre sprays. To make life a little easier, the profiteroles and creme patissiere had been made already. Easy I thought! But time seemed to tick away so quickly - before I knew it, 20 minutes had passed and I hadn't even finished filling the profiteroles, let alone started assembling the croquembouche or decorating it.

I usually spend a good week or so planning the details of any impressive bakes i make (birthday cake, dinner party desserts etc) but when time is in relatively short supply, being put on the spot and having to decide on decorations and make them, my 'get on with it attitude', got up and left.

Alexa, the secret weapon

Unlike the real contestants of GBBO, we were allowed to use an Amazon Echo Show during our time in the tent. This 10.1in smart display has Amazon's voice assistant Alexa built in and she was really useful - I used her to set timers and convert measurements. However her baking prowess doesn't stop there - she can also search the web for instructions on how to do things like temper chocolate. And using Recipedia, you can find recipes for the type of cake you want to bake (or dish you want to cook) and read them aloud so you get an audible step-by-step guide.

Amazon

Under pressure
Even though this was a relatively simple task, the pressure of being in the tent really does get to you. I ended up forgetting simple things such as remembering to taste my cream patissiere after I flavoured it with freeze-dried raspberries, because I was far less relaxed that usual. I also struggled to cut out the perfect cartoon-esque features from fondant icing that were the basis of my self portrait.

Star Baker
Despite my silly mistakes, I'm proud to say I achieved the accolade of Star Baker from our judges Perri Kiely from Diversity (Star Baker on the 2018 Celebrity Great British Bake Off) and Sophie Faldo (2017 Great British Bake Off champion). It may not be my best bake to date, but its one I'm extremely proud of.

Even simple bakes feel ten times harder in the tent. In the past, I've shouted at my TV (from the comfort on my sofa) when bakers have made silly mistakes in the tent but having felt the pressure and the rate at which time ticks away, I'll never pass judgement again. In my eyes, anyone that steps foot through its door is a hero!

Natural foods, Fruit, Food, Local food, Plant, Vegetable, Produce, Smile, Pineapple, Vacation,

Mark Bourdillon 07831605033

The Amazon Echo Show is priced at £219.99

Buy now

For the latest household advice, GHI taste tests, tech and money-saving hacks, sign up to our weekly newsletter HERE!

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io