easter eggs

I found these ideas on WWW.familyfun.go.com



Fern, leaf eggs

Place a leaf, fern flat against egg. Very carefully place egg, into a piece pantyhose. Make sure leaf, or fern is still laying flat against egg. Tie a knot in pantyhose, right up against egg. Carefully lower into dye (food coloring, water, and distilled white vinaegar). Dip a couple times, then remove. Gentle take off pantyhose, and gently remove leaf/fern from egg. Then allow egg to dry.


Necktie eggs

Take apart an old necktie. Cut a strip, just big enough, to cover an egg. Wrap necktie around egg snuggly. Secure each end of necktie to egg, with rubberbands. Boil in pot of water, for 15 minutes. Take off rubberbands, and necktie from egg. Pattern of necktie should be revealed on your awesome Easter egg.



www.etsy.com/kanekl
kanekl (handmade sugar flowers) Handmade sugar flowers, edible cake toppers, chocolate truffles, caramels, and marzipan.

gum paste recipes

gum paste

Gum paste can be rolled out thinner than fondant. which allows more realistic looking flowers. gumpaste flowers should be dried before being dusted with lustre/petal dust, or painted with powdered food coloring and lemon extract. attach flowers to cake using royal icing for glue.



gumpaste recipes

1/2 c. cornstarch
3 tsp. gum tagacanth
5 tsp. cold water
2 tsp. unflavored powdered gelatin
3 tsp. shortening
2 tsp. glucose
1 large egg

(1.) mix p.sugar and cornstarch in large bowl. sprinkle in gum tagacanth. (set aside, cover with towel).
(2.) in top of a double boiler, add water and gelatin. allow gelatin to soften (about 5 minutes). in bottom of double boiler, bring water to simmer. set gelatin mixture on top. add glucose and shortening to gelatin mixture. stir until shortening is completely melted.
(3.) add gelatin mixture and egg white to confectioners sugar mix. beat on low speed until incorporated. beat on high-speed 5-10 minutes (until dough looks stringy).
(4.) place gum paste mixture in plastic wrap and refrigerate 24 hours. it will then become stiff. kneading gumpaste will help the gumpaste soften, to make it for pliable. dust surface and rolling pin with cornstarch to prevent sticking.
(5.) use gel food coloring to tint gumpaste. use a toothpick, small amount at a time (less is more). knead in color until uniform. may be too soft after kneading and tinting. allow to rest at least 15 minutes, to return to normal texture. gumpaste dries quickly, so don't use or take out more than you need, keep the rest wrapped.

gum paste recipes two: yields 2lbs.
tylose- alternative to tragacanth, for making gumpaste. tylose is less expensive, holds up better in humidity, is whiter in color, and easier to make.

4 large egg whites
2lbs. p.sugar
12 tsp. tylose
4 tsp. shortening

(1.) put egg whites in large bowl, whisk just until egg whites break up (1 minute by hand about ten seconds with electric mixer).
(2.) set 2/3 c. of p.sugar aside.
(3.) use electric mixer, slowly add remaining sugar to egg whites (on low speed). once it's the consistency of royal icing, turn to med-speed for a couple minutes.
(4.) make sure mix is at soft peak stage and shiny (meringue peaks should fall over).
(5.) turn mixer on low speed, add tylose powder a little at a time until gone, then speed up to high for a few seconds. (will thicken mixture).
(6.) scrape constents of bowl onto flat surface, that has been sprinkled with remaining p.sugar (2/3 c.)
(7.) put shortening on hands, and knead paste. make sure dough is soft and not sticky.
(8.) color if wanted (gel color)
(9.) wrap in plastic wrap or tightly in ziploc bag. put in fridge for at least 24 hours, befor use to stiffen.
(10.) put shorten on hands before kneading again, only take out what you need, so rest doesn't dry.

(can keep up to 6 months in fridge).

gum paste recipe 3

1 T. gum-tex
1 T. glucose
3 T. warm water
1 T. lemon juice
1 lb. p.sugar

(1.) mix warm water and glucose until glucose is absorbed. add gum-tex and lemon juice, thoroughly mix. add small amount of p.sugar at a time, until you can handle it with your hands. turn out on flat surface and knead in small amounts of p.sugar at a time (just enough until not sticky).
(2.) cover with plastic wrap or place in ziploc bag. refrigerate al least 24 hours before use.

note: dusting with cornstarch can cause gumpaste flowers to crack. may also try coating hands, surface and rolling pin in shortening instead (can also help petal reach thinner, more realistic stage).

gummy bears and gummy worms

gummy bear recipe

1 small box of jello (any flavor)
7 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 c. water
food coloring

(1.) mix in saucepan until mix looks like playdough.
(2.) put pan over low heat and stir until melted.
(3.) once melted, pour into candy mold, and place in freezer for 5 minutes (or until firm). then take out of mold (don't need to grease molds).

gummy worm recipe

12 T. sugar
2/3 c. raspberry juice
2/3 c. orange juice
8 T. unflavored gelatin
food coloring

(1.) wet an 8 by 8 inch pan lightly
(2.) place 4 T. gelatin in 1/4 c. cold water for about 5 minutes.
(3.) place raspberry juice, 6 T. sugar and 4 T. corn syrup in medium saucepan on medium heat, and stir until sugar is dissolved, stir in gelatin, continue stirring until dissolved.
(4.) add food coloring
(5.) pour into 8 by 8 inch pan, let set for 1 hour in fridge.
(6.)repeat with orange juice. place 4 T. gelatin in 1/4 c. cold water for 5 minutes. place orange juice, 6 T. sugar and 4 T. corn syrup in medium saucepan over medium hear, stir until sugar is dissolved.
(7.) add gelatin stir until dissolved.
(8.) add food coloring.
(9.) allow to cool 10 minutes in pan.
(10.) pour over raspberr layer. refrigerate an hour.
(11.) when set, turn out pan and cut into long, thin strips (like worms).

raspberry juice: made from fresh or frozen raspberry's, medium heat, stir occasionally until liquidy. put through fine strainer or cheese clothe.