Cake countdown: Food rolls out new NYE special

By Michelle Rose TV Media

Get ready to pop some bubbly and count down the final moments of 2019!

We’ve seen the return of favorites like Alton Brown’s “Good Eats,” and we witnessed a few missteps, too, (remember the tension of “Buddy vs. Duff”?).

We’ve watched the rise of emerging Food Network stars like Molly Yeh (“Girl Meets Farm”) and, judging by the ratings, we remained fiercely loyal to some familiar faces, too.

In terms of food trends, 2019 may very well be the year of the Keto diet, avocado toast and plant-based alternatives. (My predictions for 2020? You’re gon- na hear more about oat milk, zero waste and flexitarian diets.) Still, cake continues to reign supreme on Food Network, which is winding down one of its most ambitious holiday lineups yet — but not before debuting a new endof-year special.

“Cake-Off: New Year’s Eve” premieres Sunday, Dec. 29. This hour-long special pits four professional bakers against one another in a heated competition that’s more about design than flavor (but a terrible-tasting cake never wins).

A cake is the ultimate combination of food and visual arts, and bakers are constantly pushing the boundaries. Expect no less from the “Cake-Off” competitors, whose creations must re- flect the theme of change through the years.

There’s a catch, of course: Each cake must also embody the spirit of New Year’s Eve by transforming from old to new. And to win the $10,000 grand prize, the bakers will have to impress fellow top-tier cake artist Duff Goldman, who is joined by fellow judges Dan Langan (“Winner Cake All”) and Waylynn Lucas (“Cake Wars”). Not an easy panel of judges to impress.

Goldman, who got married in January, is coming off a busy year, and he shows no sign of slowing down in 2020. In April, the Food Network star added yet another new series (“Duff Takes the Cake”) to his cake-making and TV empire. And in the past few months alone, there’s a good chance you’ve seen him on TV as a judge, co-host or contestant on a number of other series, including Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship” and “Kids Baking Championship,” which returns with a new season on Monday, Jan. 6.

So while the “Cake-Off: New Year’s Eve” contestants will be scrambling on Dec. 29 to create cakes that say “out with the old, in with the new,” it appears Goldman has mastered the art of continuity heading into 2020.

Sunday, Dec. 29

2:00 p.m. (9) KAWE The Great British Baking Show

4:00 p.m. (8) WDSE Food Flirts

4:30 p.m. (8) WDSE Food Flirts

5:00 p.m. (8) WDSE America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated

Monday, Dec. 30

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show

Tuesday, Dec. 31

11:30 a.m. (9) KAWE Sara’s Weeknight Meals

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show

Wednesday, Jan. 1

8:00 a.m. (2) KTCA The Great British Baking Show

9:00 a.m. (2) KTCA The Great British Baking Show

10:00 a.m. (2) KTCA The Great British Baking Show

11:00 a.m. (2) KTCA The Great British Baking Show

Noon (2) KTCA The Great British Baking Show

1:00 p.m. (2) KTCA The Great British Baking Show

2:00 p.m. (2) KTCA The Great British Baking Show

3:00 p.m. (2) KTCA The Great British Baking Show

4:00 p.m. (2) KTCA The Great British Baking Show

5:00 p.m. (2) KTCA The Great British Baking Show

Thursday, Jan. 2

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show

8:00 p.m. (5) KSTP The Great American Baking Show (N)

9:00 p.m. (5) KSTP The Great American Baking Show (N)

Friday, Jan. 3

12:30 p.m. (9) KAWE Food Over 50

1:00 p.m. (11) KARE The Rachael Ray Show

Saturday, Jan. 4

7:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Steven Raichlen’s Project Smoke

7:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Moveable Feast With Fine Cooking

8:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Jamie’s Quick and Easy Food

8:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Simply Ming

9:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Martha Bakes

9:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Pati’s Mexican Table (N)

10:00 a.m. (2) KTCA How to Cook Well With Rory O’Connell

10:30 a.m. (2) KTCA New Orleans Cooking With Kevin Belton

11:00 a.m. (2) KTCA Joanne Weir’s Plates and Places

11:30 a.m. (2) KTCA Lidia’s Kitchen Noon (2) KTCA Sara’s Weeknight Meals (9) KAWE Cook’s Country From America’s Test Kitchen

12:30

Learnabout fitness, nutrition andliving aHEALTHY lifestyle

Mondays, January 13 to February 17 5:30-6:30 p.m. •Heartwood, Crosby

Week 1

January 13

OVERVIEW: Welcome Creative movement at home Build your own obstacle course Get your wellness calendar

Week 4

FEBRUARY 3

SPEAKER: Kristen Elliott, MS, CCC-SLP

OVERVIEW:

Lear nhow your brain uses communiation to keep your body healthy Free children’sbook

Week 2 january 20

SPEAKER: Registered Dietitian Amanda Dimke

OVERVIEW: Healthy eating Meal planning tips and tricks and creative snacks

Week 5

FEBRUARY 10

SPEAKER: Smiles Advocate Kristi Westbrock

OVERVIEW: Learnhow practicing gratitude changes your happiness and impacts you and those around you Create gratitude letters

Week 3 january 27

SPEAKER: Occupational Therapist Ellie Wheeler

OVERVIEW: Sensory bins and taste testing

Week 6 february 17

OVERVIEW: Closing, final thoughs Living Well Olympics

Formore information andRegistration: www.cuyunamed.org/wellness/living-well

Videoreleases

Continued from page 5.

An Innocent Kiss

The Barnes are a dysfunctional and chaotic family that consists of mom Ellie (Goin), dad Billy (Harris) and their children, Louise (Watson), Henry (Provost) and twins Jimmy (Neal) and Timmy (Rossitch). The family is turned on its head by the arrival of Billy’s wayward and free-spirited brother, Uncle Randy (Abbott Jr.), who has been absent for eight years.

Director:Jason Shirley.Stars: Burt Reynolds,Michael Provost, R.Keith Harris,Whitney Goin, MichaelAbbott Jr.,SophiaWatson,Josh Henry.2019.111 mins. Drama.