Expert: Paul Wagner - 3/1/2005

Question
Hi Paul, now this may be a strange question for you, in fact it most probably is!

It's not related to cooking, more ingredients. The thing is, I am making a film for university and require a recipe for blood. I have the perfect colour from a combination of food colouring, water and paint; however it could do with being thickened a little.

Can you recommend any possible ingredient that may thicken the mixture? I have tried flour but haven't made any notable difference.

I hope you can help me with this.

Many thanks

Mick


Answer
Dear Mick:

Wow!  You are right, this is an odd one!

I have a couple of suggestions...

First of all, Sugar. You will need a lot of sugar, but it will thicken the liquid.  And it won't change the color or opacity much.  You may have to add as much sugar as you have liquid to get it really thicker...

The other possibility in Corn Syrup...but that will dilute the color, and it will separate out of water over time, so you would have to mix and use it within half an hour or so.

Good luck--let me know what you try, and how it works!

Paul Wagner