Gum Paste

Ingredients

• 4 oz. white gum tragacanth
• 1 pint warm water
• 3 lbs. powdered sugar
• 2 lbs. fine starch
• ½ lb. sugar
• 1 drop blue coloring

Directions

1. Soak the gum tragacanth in a bowl with warm water for 24 hours or until dissolved.

2. Force the dissolved gum through a towel by twisting.

3. Rub the gum on a marble slab for 10 minutes, gradually adding powdered sugar until 3 lbs. is incorporated and the paste is white and tough.

4. For flowers, work in 2 lbs. fine starch and ½ lb. sugar into 1½ lbs. of the stock mixture.

5. For leaf ornaments, work in 2 lbs. sugar and 1 lb. starch into 2 lbs. of the stock mixture, adding 1 drop of blue coloring.