Easter is upon us.
I always remembered the egg dyeing when I was a kid … WOW WHAT A MESS… Bless my mother for putting up with us creating this ANNUAL TRASHING OF THE KITCHEN.
Now that I am an Adult and really wasn’t blessed with kids of my own, I always borrowed few from my friends to carry on this ANNUAL TRASHING OF THE KITCHEN.
Then I discovered eggs that already come out colored from chickens… BRILLIANCE…
So this year I am going to dye a few eggs using natural dyes……
Here is the preferred method for using natural dyes:
Place the eggs in a single layer in a pan. Add water until the eggs are covered.
Add approximately one teaspoon of vinegar.
Add the natural dye. Use more dye material for more eggs or for a more intense color.
Bring water to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
If you are pleased with the color, remove the eggs from the liquid.
If you want more intensely colored eggs, temporarily remove the eggs from the liquid. Strain the dye through a coffee filter (unless you want speckled eggs). Cover the eggs with the filtered dye and let them remain in the refrigerator overnight.
Naturally-colored eggs will not be glossy, but if you want a shiny appearance you can rub a bit of cooking oil onto the eggs once they are dry.
You can use fresh and frozen berries as ‘paints’, too. Simply crush the berries against dry boiled eggs. Try coloring on the eggs with crayons or wax pencils before boiling and dyeing them. Happy Easter!
Here are a few suggestions:
| Lavender |
Small Quantity of Purple Grape Juice
Violet Blossoms plus 2 tsp Lemon Juice
Red Zinger Tea |
| Violet Blue |
Violet Blossoms
Small Quantity of Red Onions Skins (boiled)
Hibiscus Tea
Red Wine |
| Blue |
Canned Blueberries
Red Cabbage Leaves (boiled)
Purple Grape Juice |
| Green |
Spinach Leaves (boiled)
Liquid Chlorophyll |
| Greenish Yellow |
Yellow Delicious Apple Peels (boiled) |
| Yellow |
Orange or Lemon Peels (boiled)
Carrot Tops (boiled)
Celery Seed (boiled)
Ground Cumin (boiled)
Ground Turmeric (boiled)
Chamomile Tea
Green Tea |
| Golden Brown |
Dill Seeds |
| Brown |
Strong Coffee
Instant Coffee
Black Walnut Shells (boiled)
Black Tea |
| Orange |
Yellow Onion Skins (boiled)
Cooked Carrots
Chili Powder
Paprika |
| Pink |
Beets
Cranberries or Juice
Raspberries
Red Grape Juice
Juice from Pickled Beets |
| Red |
Lots of Red Onions Skins (boiled)
Canned Cherries with Juice
Pomegranate Juice
Raspberries |
Ooo So Santa Fe 