SEASON #6: MELISSA.

 EPISODE #1: Gearing Up for the Holidays.                                      10 to Start.

HOST - Jesse Palmer.

PRIZES - $25,000

                 Starring in a series on Food Network Kitchen app.

                 Title

JUDGES - Nancy Fuller,

                  Duff Goldman,

                  Lorraine Pascale.

PLAYERS (10)

1.  SARAH WALLACE         Bakery General Manager               Boston, MASSACHUSETTS

2.  GEOFFREY BLOUNT     Culinary Instructor                         Myrtle Beach, SOUTH CAROLINA

3.  CEDRICK SIMPSON       Pastry Chef                                     Atlanta, GEORGIA

4.  JENNIFER CLIFFORD      "         "                                      Moulton Borough, NEW HAMPSHIRE

5.  DENVER MACCIVER       Home Baker                              Claremont, CALIFORNIA

6.  MELISSA YANC                 Bakery Owner                           Healdsburg, CALIFORNIA

7.  KOBE DOAN                      Home Baker                              Boston, MASSACHUSETTS

8.  DWIGHT PENNEY           Executive Pastry Chef                Pittsburgh, PENNSYLVANIA

9.  JANET LETENDRE          Home Bakery Owner               Malakwa, BRITISH COLUMBIA

10.  MARIA SHORT              Bakery Owner                             Hilo, HAWAII

PRE-HEAT CHALLENGE - Introducing yourselves through a dessert in two hours and make an edible place card with your name on it and creating a one-bite dessert.

    WINNER - Sarah - won the first advantage.

MAIN HEAT CHALLENGE - Kransekake is a Danish Cake.

- Make your own Kransekake with the chosen ingredients in two hours.

SARAH'S ADV. - pick first.

TWIST - Add an Edible Bow.

JUDGING:

           TOP 2 - Jennifer & Kobe.

                  WINNER - Kobe.

          SAFE - Janet, Geoffrey, Maria, Sarah, Cedrick & Dwight.

          BOTTOM 2: Melissa & Devon.

ELIMINATED - Devon.

EPISODE #2 - Sweet Revenge.                3 to Start

   This is a special episode in which three previous players came back.  I didn't watch this.

EPISODE #3: Filling Grateful.                            9 to Start.

START OFF - The 9 Bakers return to the kitchen.

PRE-HEAT CHALLENGE - Holiday Spiced Nuts.

- In Two hours grab a jar of spiced nuts and bake up the amazing, spiced nut dessert.

     WINNER - Melissa - won the Advantage.

MAIN HEAT CHALLENGE - Jesse is on a tractor. The Fall Bounty.

- Harvest Pie Tower.  Bake 3 Beautifully decorated pies featuring harvest ingredients in 2 hours.

MELISSA'S ADVANTAGE - she can switch with anyone.  She switches & takes the Plums.

   TWIST - Flavored Whipped Cream.

JUDGING:

            TOP 2 - Melissa & Dwight.

                   WINNER - Melissa.

           SAFE - Geoffrey, Jennifer, Cedrick, Janet & Sarah.

           BOTTOM 2 - Maria & Kobe.

ELIMINATED: Maria.

EPISODE #4: Holiday Survival Guide.                                  8 Left.

      Previous Players are given another to win.  Didn't watch.

EPISODE #5: Thanksgiving is My All.                                     Still 8 Left.

START OFF - The 8 remaining Bakers entered the kitchen.

PRE-HEAT CHALLENGE - Next Level Kicked -Up Apple Cider donuts in 2 hours.  

JANET - Pinecones                                       SARAH - Early Forest

CEDRICK - Fall Leaves                                DWIGHT - Apple Picking

GEOFFREY - Cornucopia                             JENNIFER - Cozy Scarves

KOBE - Warm Fire                                         MELISSA - Mittens.

           WINNER - Dwight - won the Advantage.

MAIN HEAT CHALLENGE - Yule Log.

- In two hours Create a Thanksgiving roll cake using the inlay technique of baking a Thanksgiving pattern into the exterior of the roll cake.

     TWIST - Use Fall Ingredients.

JUDGING:

         TOP 2 - Geoffrey & Jennifer

                WINNER - Jennifer.

       SAFE - Janet, Melissa, Cedrick & Dwight.

      BOTTOM 2- Sarah & Kobe.

ELIMINATED: Kobe.

EPISODE #6: Trendsetting Turkey Day.                                          7 Left.

START OFF - The 7 Bakers entered the kitchen.

PRE-HEAT CHALLENGE - Hor d'oeuvre.

- In 90 minutes make the jam yourself.  Brie and Jam Mini Pies.

SARAH - Blood Orange Marmalade                            JANET - Cardamom Apple

CEDRICK - Peach Basil                                               DWIGHT - Spiced Pears

MELISSA - Apricot Ginger                                          GEOFFREY - Blackberry & Thyme

                      JENNIFER - Blueberry-Lemon.

     WINNER - Sarah - won the advantage.

MAIN HEAT CHALLENGE - Grab one prepared ingredient and use it in a novel way in 90 minutes to create a crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving dessert.

     TWIST - Use Canned Cranberry Sauce.

JUDGING:

           TOP 2 - Jennifer & Melissa.

                    WINNER - Jennifer.

          SAFE - Geoffrey, Dwight & Sarah.

         BOTTOM 2 - Janet & Cedrick

ELIMINATED - Cedrick - too many flaws in his dessert.  (Another Black was eliminated)

EPISODE #7: Gettin' Gifty with it.                           6 Left.

START OFF - The Six Bakers entered the kitchen.

PRE-HEAT CHALLENGE - Panettone.

- In 90 minutes repurpose a Panettone, a dried Italian fruit holiday sweetbread into another dessert.  No Bread Pudding.

        WINNER - Geoffrey - won an advantage.

MAIN HEAT CHALLENGE - Matching PJ

- Use the PJ in the gift boxes under the tree as inspiration for a holiday PJ cupcake pull-apart in 2 hours.

GEOFFREY'S ADVANTAGE - 10 minutes head start. - picked - little gnomes.

TWIST - Must make a filling.

JUDGING:

        TOP 2 - Jennifer & Sarah.

              WINNER - Sarah.

     SAFE - Geoffrey & Melissa.

    BOTTOM 2 - Dwight & Janet.

ELIMINATED - Janet.

EPISODE #8: North Pole Vaulting.                                  5 Left.

START OFF - The Five Bakers entered the kitchen.

PRE-HEAT CHALLENGE - Baked-Up some sweet treats inspired by look-like Santa Claus in 90 minutes.

SARAH - Whoopie Pies                                   DWIGHT - Macaron

MELISSA - Mini Layer Cake                           GEOFFREY - Cake Pop

                           JENNIFER - Cream Puff.

WINNER - Dwight.

MAIN HEAT CHALLENGE - Igloos.

- In 2 hours Create an impressive Igloo cake and meringue frosting for a winter look.

DWIGHT'S. ADVANTAGE - is having a basket of goodies for him.

     TWIST - Make an ice cream treat to go along with your dessert.

JUDGING:

        TOP 2 - Jennifer & Sarah.

             WINNER - Jennifer.

       SAFE - Melissa.

       BOTTOM 2 - Dwight & Geoffrey.

ELIMINATED: Dwight.

(Penguins ARE NOT up at the North Pole)

                              

EPISODE #9: Traditions with a Twist.                                           4 Left.

START OFF - Final Four - Sarah, Melissa, Geoffrey & Jennifer.

PRE-HEAT CHALLENGE - Hannukah - Gelt.

- In 90 minutes Create a dessert highlighting a flavor of Gelt from the pantry: Smoked Salted, Pistachio, Candied Orange, and Toasted Coconut.  Make your own custom Gelt cover in gold foil and serve it with your dessert.

GEOFFREY - Toasted Coconuts                                       JENNIFER - Candied Orange

MELISSA - Smoked Salt                                                 SARAH - Pistachio.

         WINNER - Sarah.

MAINHEAT CHALLENGE - Ice Skates

- In 2 hours Create a Cheesecake with an edible shiny Ice Rink in the middle.

SARAH'S ADVANTAGE - choose the crust for the bakers.

GINGER SNAP CRUST - Melissa                             OAT CRUMBLE CRUST - Jennifer

PRETZEL CRUST - Geoffrey                                     GRAHAM CRACKERS - Sarah.

    TWIST - Incorporate Hot Cocoa Mix in your dessert.

JUDGING:

         TOP 2 - Sarah & Melissa

               WINNER - Melissa.

      BOTTOM 2 - Geoffrey & Jennifer

ELIMINATED - Geoffrey.

EPISODE #10: Christmas Day Delights.                                      3 Left.

START OFF - The Final - Melissa, Jennifer & Sarah.  all girls' finals.

PRE-HEAT CHALLENGE - In 2 hours Create a lavish Christmas Brunch with three different baked goods, each featuring one of the classic Christmas flavors - Gingerbread, Eggnog, and Cinnamon.

                           WINNER - Sarah.

MAIN HEAT CHALLENGE - Make a Holiday Plaid Cake - on the outside and inside in 5 hours.

SARAH'S ADV - is to assign the plaid blanket

Sarah - took the Red Plaid, Melissa was given the Blue Plaid, and Jennifer was given the Black Paid

   NO TWIST.

JUDGING:

        THE WINNER IS MELISSA.

Sarah thought she was the winner.  I am glad she didn't win.