Page 23 - Irene Farm Villages 2021

Lifestyle

SIMPLE TOOLS yourself while you are learning. If you or frozen until you need them. If you are
The great part about succulents is are a beginner, rather choose a succulent transporting them, it’s best to do so in a
that they only require simple tools to that requires one nozzle and one colour. covered cardboard box as they will crust
achieve the same impact as complicated If you are more advanced, you can over if left out at room temperature, not
sugarcraft. Once your icing assembly experiment with realism – I often use a to mention it makes them far less fiddly
line is set up, you should not need fabric good reference picture or a real specimen to handle.
icing bags as these are usually used to to push my colour matching skills. Try to We have long adored the
insulate the icing from the heat of the achieve the perfectly balanced green by geometric curls, glorious textures and
hand in bigger scale kitchens. At home, experimenting with the tonal value and extraordinary colours of succulents.
you can use disposable bags that can adding black or brown. Knowing the simple piping techniques
be tossed when you are done – which behind making them takes them from
makes cleaning up much easier. ARRANGEMENT AND TEXTURE being an indulgence we dream of right
To make sure that you properly control During a class, I had a very nervous to our tables. This modern, arid aesthetic
the speed and extrusion of your icing student who had tagged along with a is hot in the icing and gardening worlds,
from your bag avoid overfilling it. Much friend. Once she piped her first succulent, turning regular cupcakes into the
like holding a pencil in the correct place her reservation melted quicker than perfect prickly treat for your next picnic.
gives you control over lettering, holding buttercream in an African summer and For more summer secrets, follow Grace
your bag in the palm of your hand she left beaming enthusiastically about on Instagram@ grace_stevenschef, or visit
gives you control over your creation. the bouquet of succulents adorning her her website at www.gracestevens.co.za.
Personally, I find that 100g of icing per cupcake.
bag fits perfectly in my hand and gives To get the most out of your succulent
me pinpoint control. arrangement use succulents that vary in
When it comes to the precision of texture to create dimension. If you are
your final product don’t underestimate more advanced and want to add flowers,
the importance of keeping your hands, make selections that won’t compete
tools and work surface clean and with the textures in the succulents so
organised. Trust me, nothing is more that the eye can easily follow the design
disappointing than accidentally piping of your cupcake.
the wrong colour directly onto a cake
or turning around to find half of your TRANSPORTING YOUR CREATION
succulents hanging squished to your Succulents are a perfect place for
sleeve. Keeping your tools clean makes beginners because they are easy to
for clean work and immaculate results. transport to show off to friends and
family. Unlike the more complicated
SELECTION OF SUCCULENTS designs of traditional flowers, they can
When deciding what type of succulent easily be piped directly onto the cake or
to pipe, remember to be patient with piped well in advance and refrigerated

The Villager • Issue 11 2021 • 21