Patchwork Cutters: Project: MEXICAN PASTE RECIPE

Patchwork Cutters, 123, Saughall Massie Rd, Wirral, Merseyside. CH49 4LA
Tel/Fax: 0151 678 5053 Email: info@patchworkcutters.com

Project: Mexican Paste

· Place 227g (8 oz) icing sugar into a bowl (fig.1)

Figure 1.

· Add 3 x 5ml teaspoons of gum tragacanth (fig.2) DO NOT USE A SUBSTITUTE.

Figure 2.

· Mix the dry ingredients together (fig.3)

Figure 3.

· Add 6 x 5ml teaspoons of cold water (fig.4)

Figure 4.

· Stir by hand until it becomes crumbly but damp enough to bind together (fig.5) Add a little more water if too dry, or icing sugar if too wet.

Figure 5.

· Turn out onto a worktop and knead until pliable (fig 6a & 6b).

Figure 6a.

Figure 6b.

· Place into a plastic bag and leave at room temperature (fig.7). Leave for 12 hours until firm.

Figure 7.

· The paste will feel very firm by now. Break a small piece away (fig.8).

Figure 8.

· Knead between your palms (fig.9a). Continue kneading between your fingers (fig.9b). Repeat until all the paste is softened.

Figure 9a.

Figure 9b.

The paste can be coloured using paste colours by Sugarflair or Squires Kitchen.

Cut the paste into small pieces after it has been softened. Wrap each piece in cling film and place all of the pieces into a plastic bag and place in freezer. Remove only the quantity required for de-frosting. (Smaller pieces will defrost quicker.)

Once de-frosted remove the cling film and store the paste at room temperature in a plastic bag only. Never store the paste in a fridge. Knead the paste every third day to keep it pliable and to prevent the corners from drying out.

Tips when using Mexican paste with Patchwork Cutters:-

Grease the rolling board with vegetable fat.
Roll out the Mexican paste, DO NOT LIFT THE PASTE OR TURN THE PASTE OVER WHEN ROLLING. The paste must stick to the board.
Grease the cutter well. Press firmly onto the paste.
Remove the cutter by flicking the edge. Always remove the cutter before peeling away the excess paste.

The paste should be cut cleanly. If the edges are ragged the paste is probably too thick.

The smaller the cutter the thinner the paste should be and the more vegetable fat should be used and spread over the smallest parts of the cutter.
Hot soapy water and a small brush will remove the fat once the cutter has been used.

Have you tried Marcela Sanchez flower paste? This works very well with Patchwork Cutters. See Cel Cakes on the Links page.

Making Mexican Paste