Eggsquisite Eggs, Naturally!

Do you use the same old egg-dying kits with the tablets every year? Are you looking for a more natural alternative? This year, try dying your eggs with vegetable and herbal dyes. The most vibrant colors are obtained by boiling the dye right along with the eggs. Adding one teaspoon of vinegar before boiling helps to set the color, with one exception. If you are using onion skins they will react with the vinegar to make a brownish color. Bring to a boil, and then simmer about 15 minutes. Immersing the eggs overnight in the dye will result in the brightest color. If you don't want speckled eggs, you will have to strain all the organic matter out first, using a coffee filter. Read on for some ideas on how to get specific hues.

Pink - beets, cranberries or raspberries

Orange - onion skins, carrots, Paprika

Red - red onion skins, pomegranate juice.

Yellow - carrot tops, Turmeric, green tea

Blue - canned blueberries, red cabbage leaves, purple grape juice

Purple - Red zinger tea, violet blossoms + 2 tsp. lemon juice, red wine

Green - spinach leaves

Brown - strong coffee, black tea, Black Walnut shells

To create interesting patterns on the eggs, try putting rubber bands on the eggs, or tying with string or cheesecloth before boiling. You can also draw patterns on the egg with a crayon before dying.

I hope you have an eggceptionally fun Easter!