Saturday, February 7, 2015

Saturday Spotlight #6: Apple Swan Carvings Are Easy!

I always thought that if I tried to carve an apple into a swan, I would only ever achieve an ugly duckling. A video proved me wrong!

Have you ever been to a restaurant or a wedding, and wondered how they created the beautiful food sculptures displayed on the buffet table?  I always assumed making those sorts of creations took more artistic ability (and patience) than I possess.


apple carving, swan art

I recently watched a video, however, from Grant Thompson, The King of Random (embedded at the end of this post) called How to Make an Edible Apple Swan!  The video  made it sound just too easy.  With nothing to lose but time, I decided to give it a try.  I was surprised!


Within a half hour, I had created not one, but two apple swans!


I was so pleased with the result, that I am shining my Saturday Spotlight on the video!



The video directions are easy to follow, and although you do have to be careful to not cut your fingers, the instructions for how to use butter knives as a guide makes this less of a risk. I found the apple to be pretty forgiving: if your cuts are slightly off center and sides aren't symmetrical, it just adds character to the swan!  Instead of spritzing lemon juice on the finished creation, I used a pastry brush and applied the juice of a lime. (I didn't have a lemon handy!) These seemed to work very well, and the apple slices did not turn brown, even hours later.

Here are some photos I took as I created my swans:










Next time you have an apple handy and a couple of minutes to spare, watch the video and give this a try!




The directions on this video make this food art really easy to do.  The hardest part of the whole project was having to dismantle my cute little swans, to eat them!

Don't these look like they could just swim away in a pond?

Have you ever carved any fruit sculptures? What did you make?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

13 comments :

  1. That is one nifty trick and yes, I did make a pineapple owl for John Greys contest last year and a ladybug.

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    1. I hope you write a post with instructions as to how to make the owl and the ladybug! What fun!! Curious as to what the John Greys contest is? (Sorry to be so slow asking - just starting to catch up on blogging after being "unplugged" for a bit!)

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  2. Very, very cute. And no, I admire rather than do (which is the story of my life).

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    1. I really can't tell you how easy it is. The tutorial made it seem no harder than just cutting apples up to eat!!

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  3. This is seriously impressive Susan! You did a great job!

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    1. Try it, Lana - and you will see that it is the video that is impressive. Anyone who can use a knife can follow the directions.

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  4. Wow! Not sure if I could pull that off. Looks amazing. =0)

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  5. How neat! This would be so impressive on an appetizer platter. Great job!

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    1. It really would be a fun centerpiece. And the coating of lime juice kept the swans from going brown for quite a while!

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  6. A woman of many, many talents!

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    1. Hardly Rena - just enough of a curious spirit to try and see if I could make them :)

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  7. This is the coolest and funnest thing I have seen all morning! I wonder if my swan would turn brown by the time I figured it out.. Linking up from Motivational Monday.

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