Paul Hollywood: live webchat, Thursday 14 February, 9.30am

[RachelMumsnet]

We're just coming down from the thrill of last night's webchat with Yotam Ottolenghi and are now gearing ourselves up for tomorrow morning when Paul Hollywood will join us at Mumsnet HQ for webchat at 9.30am.

Paul Hollywood is Britain's favourite master baker and best known for his appearance with Mary Berry on Great British Bake Off. His latest book is all about bread - how to make it and how to use it. Not only does Paul teach you exactly how to make a variety of breads, but for each one there is a spin-off recipe that shows you how to make a fantastic meal of it.

Join Paul for brunch tomorrow between 9.30 and 10.30 am. If you're unable to make that time, do post a question to this thread in advance.

[reastie]

What's been your worst baking disaster ever?

[Lizzylou]

Do the female contestants go all a quiver whenever you come over to judge their efforts?

Cos I would

[NettoSuperstar]

Hi Paul swoons
Due to be severely asthmatic I can't knead dough at all. My budget won't stretch to a Kitchenaid so can you recommend something cheaper to knead for me?

As an aside I had my first ever day out in a wheelchair seeing you and Mary at The Good Food show last year, you were both fabulous

[JBrd]

Good morning, Paul, thanks for coming to 'talk' to us.

I love baking, and have recently started using spelt flour for making bread.

However, the breads with spelt flour always come out quite stodgy and 'wet', and I'm not sure if and what I need to adjust when baking with it - less water, longer baking times etc? I've tried mixing the spelt flour with normal bread flour, but not with much success. Any advice would be appreciated!

[CatherineHMumsnet]

Paul is in the house and will be answering questions in just a mo.

[lucjam]

Hi Paul, how do you manage to eat all those baked goods and keep your weight down? Do you exercise like mad? Love GBBO, its a top show!

[TheSkiingGardener]

Morning Paul. I've already asked a question but we DO need to know what you think of the biscuits at MNHQ.

[CatherineHMumsnet]

Just like to say a huge Mumsnet welcome to Paul Hollywood - off you go!

[PaulHollywood]

Hello everyone, let's get baking. I hope you're all having a great valentine's morning.

[ILoveTIFFANY]

Hi Paul!

Are you romantic? Would your wife say so? X

[PaulHollywood]

@gazzalw

We have two children, 12 and 7, who are keen on bread-making. We have mastered the basics and wonder what recipe(s) you might have for budding bread-makers that will be both fun to make and delicious to eat. Thanks!

Always start off with a simple bread as kids get bored very easily. That would be pita bread. Can be baked within an hour and then filled with anything you want. OR topped with jam and have your own jam sandwiches with the kids.

[PaulHollywood]

@ILoveTIFFANY

Hi Paul!

Are you romantic? Would your wife say so? X

Yeah, i used to be. I did woo my wife. As you get older i think I get more grumpy!

[PaulHollywood]

@CMOTDibbler

Have you ever tried baking gluten free? If not, do you fancy giving it a go as a real challenge!

We do do gluten free challenges on bake off and in fact this year we have another one. I am working on projects at the moment. Watch this space...

[GreatGooglyMoogly]

Hi Paul,

What is your favourite biscuit? :)

[PaulHollywood]

@cm22v077

Also, I read today you're going to be on Let's Dance for Comic Relief! Awesome! Are you excited/nervous/terrified?

Unfortunately not. Due to other commitments I won't be on this year.

[PaulHollywood]

@Afrodizzywonders

Hi Paul

Can you suggest a idiot proof cake or biscuit recipe for someone (cough) who has an extreme fear of baking...would need to impress my 2 year old son and imprint warm fuzzy memories in his mind and taste buds.

I watch GBO in awe.....

Victoria sandwich is the easiest cake to start with. All in one method.

[PaulHollywood]

@LilyBolero

Hi Paul, we all love TGBBO in our family!

My question is; "what is your favourite creation on the Bake Off, and the worst disaster?".

I've often thought it would be funny to introduce an element of realism (and comedy) by getting the bakers to have to bake with 1 or more small children in the kitchen....the dulcet tones of my 2yo discovering "Ooh a CAKE" as I nipped upstairs before icing my daughter's panda birthday cake were VERY unwelcome as he demolished half the cake before I could run back downstairs to stop him! My husband's comment of 'And there's only 30 minutes left in the Bake Off' was equally unwelcome!

On Bake Off i don't have disasters. I was doing sugar work one time and I burnt my finger.

Favourite bake for me would be my pork pies. Delicious. Both Mel and Sue devoured two each. Recipe is in How to Bake.

[BelindaCarlisle]

HI Paul!

i blame YOU ALONE for making my rugby playing 9 yo son into a crazy baker. He has done (in the last month) cookies (endlessly) chocolate eclairs, tarte au citron, his own sausage rolls (rough puff if you ask!) and yesterday a Bakewell tart.
It's brilliant as he just gets on with it, minimal input from me.

What he has found though, is that kids books tend to be " make a fairy cake into a monster" kind of thing, and he needs far more sophisticated recipes than that. He is now on Mary Berry ( of course). I wonder if there is a halfway house market for clever child cooks?

[PaulHollywood]

@Jux

Hi Paul, I have a question about bread making. I don't have/don't particularly want a bread maker, so either get dh to do the kneading for me or do it in the mixer. I can get my dough so it is easy to handle, looks glossy, and the finger poke thing works. However, whenever I see you guys on tv cutting gaily across the top of an unbaked loaf with a knife, leaving a lovely neat gash, it drives me nuts! My knife always get stuck. The dough clings to it like it has met the love of its life. My beautifully-shapped dough becomes a deformed gnomish thing, with a knife hanging out of it, as if it were the victim of a particularly gruesome murder.

This is true of any bread - white, granary, soda, rye.

OK, what do I do? What haven't I done? What have I done wrong? I am going to cry. (Once baked, the bread's bloody lovely, though. )

Hold your knife at 45 degrees. Make sure it's sharp and do it quickly. This will eliminate any tear but you must put it straight into the oven.

[PaulHollywood]

@Oodsigma

Do you and Mary Berry get competitive over baking techniques or do you always get on ?

We always get on but when it comes to baking we both have our own methods.

[PaulHollywood]

@GreatGooglyMoogly

Hi Paul,

What is your favourite biscuit? :)

Mine is a milk chocolate digestive with a bucket of tea. I'll kill a whole pack

[TennisFan42]

Hi Paul,

When you and Mary Berry disagree on star baker, how do you come to an agreement on who to give it to? Do you take Mel and Sue's opinions into account as well?

[PaulHollywood]

@BelindaCarlisle

HI Paul!

i blame YOU ALONE for making my rugby playing 9 yo son into a crazy baker. He has done (in the last month) cookies (endlessly) chocolate eclairs, tarte au citron, his own sausage rolls (rough puff if you ask!) and yesterday a Bakewell tart.
It's brilliant as he just gets on with it, minimal input from me.

What he has found though, is that kids books tend to be " make a fairy cake into a monster" kind of thing, and he needs far more sophisticated recipes than that. He is now on Mary Berry ( of course). I wonder if there is a halfway house market for clever child cooks?

My son, who's 11 and also plays rugby, follow the recipes in my new book, Paul Hollywood's Bread and he's getting on fine

[BelindaCarlisle]

great thanks

[MirrorballMoon]

Hi Paul, will you be at the London Cake & Bake Show this year? My friend Fruitcake and I loved you at last years! xx