Around the first of the month, I saw eight robins hanging out in my backyard—always a welcome sign for me that spring isn’t far away.
Yes, I admit that I feed birds year-round, having …
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Around the first of the month, I saw eight robins hanging out in my backyard—always a welcome sign for me that spring isn’t far away.
Yes, I admit that I feed birds year-round, having finally discovered a squirrel-proof bird feeder that is actually squirrel proof. And since those little gray tormenters don’t even bother trying to get in anymore, there is no lack of feathered-friend sightings in my neck of the literal woods.
But the robins mean spring, and spring means hikes outside and the onset of warmer weather to come—always preferable for me, since I love being outside without freezing.
Spring also comes with traditions and holidays: Spring cleaning, Passover, Easter.
Of course, in the competitive Cake World, Easter is huge—the bunnies, eggs, candy and baskets associated with its more secular celebrations are ideal for cake and sugar artists to go wild... which we often do.
I thought, given the season, that it would be fun to show our readers how to make an Easter basket of their own out of chocolate.
I thought it might also be interesting to hear a little bit about the origin of the Easter basket. As it happens, my husband—who recently retired from teaching high school in Liberty, NY—had taught an elective class in mythology for a number of years. He found an article in Scientific American, “What’s the Meaning of Easter Baskets?” by Krystal D’Costa, that explains the origin:
“Easter is ultimately a celebration of spring. This is a period traditionally where life returns to an otherwise stark and cold landscape, therefore it’s not surprising that the key representatives of this season—the egg and the rabbit—are so heavily steeped in fertility symbolism.... Baskets do have a role to play in that particular narrative. They’re symbolic nests, after all, and are specifically used by children in modern Easter egg hunts to carry their prizes. Filled to the brim with eggs and other treasures, they are the epitome of birth and potential.”
So, what could be better than creating an Easter Basket that can be eaten itself?
Materials:
modeling chocolate (I prefer Satin Ice Choco Pan)
rolling pin
paintbrushes
clay tools
petal punch
petal dust (I prefer The Sugar Art Colors)
small Styrofoam bowl
jellybeans
water
cornstarch
wafer paper (I prefer Icing Images)
Make about 18 1-inch balls out of the modeling chocolate
Roll the balls thin, about 11 inches long and about 1/4” thick
Lay three strips over the bottom of the bowl
Use a simple weave pattern to form the basket
Use a little water to cement the connections, then twist off the tips and sculpt the rim
Use a clay tool to add texture and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes while you make some flowers
Use the petal punch to make flowers
Pull basket out of Styrofoam and paint
Paint basket with brown petal dust
Add flowers with a little water, then paint with petal dust.
Cut grass strips out of wafer paper and lay in basket.
Add candy, and you’re all set!
Kim M. Simons is an artist, food artist and cake artist. Kim and her team—The Bah Hum Bakers—are the reigning champions of Food Network’s Holiday Wars. Visit Kim’s website at www.cakesbykimsimons.com.
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