If one is a dedicated foodie, coloring Easter or spring
eggs, should be done au natural, no?
eggs, should be done au natural, no?
This Examiner set out to discover – or re-discover – how to
color eggs with natural – plant-based dye.
color eggs with natural – plant-based dye.
Yes, the fizzie paaz is a holiday favorite or
tradition. But those pellets are
scary.
tradition. But those pellets are
scary.
In search of a better Easter egg, there was the pursuit of
the Martha Stewart-inspired craft of blowing out the eggs and using the wax
crayon to inscribe the name of family and dinner guests, with the beribboned monogrammed
eggs hung from forced cherry blossom or pussy willow stems.
the Martha Stewart-inspired craft of blowing out the eggs and using the wax
crayon to inscribe the name of family and dinner guests, with the beribboned monogrammed
eggs hung from forced cherry blossom or pussy willow stems.
This year, natural
was the challenge.
was the challenge.
After some research, including Junior League friends (Hilary
shared her red onion egg dye experience) – the plan was to more or less follow
the recipe or guidelines as provided by a Katie Fox, SimpleHomemade blog from
2010. Fox was unavailable for comment
for this post.
shared her red onion egg dye experience) – the plan was to more or less follow
the recipe or guidelines as provided by a Katie Fox, SimpleHomemade blog from
2010. Fox was unavailable for comment
for this post.
However the recipe seemed quite doable and fun. Most of the
ingredients were on hand, and the others would have been in the garden or
pantry. Nevertheless all were readily accessed from the market.
ingredients were on hand, and the others would have been in the garden or
pantry. Nevertheless all were readily accessed from the market.
Recipe from SimpleHomemade:
In
addition to eggs, you will need white vinegar, water, and veggies, fruits, and
spices for colors. Don’t leave out the vinegar – it is a necessary
fixative, ensuring that the color will adhere to the eggs.
addition to eggs, you will need white vinegar, water, and veggies, fruits, and
spices for colors. Don’t leave out the vinegar – it is a necessary
fixative, ensuring that the color will adhere to the eggs.
Reds/Pinks:
•
grated beets • chopped cranberries (fresh or frozen) • Red Zinger tea • chopped
frozen cherries
grated beets • chopped cranberries (fresh or frozen) • Red Zinger tea • chopped
frozen cherries
Blues/Purples:
•
chopped frozen blueberries • chopped red cabbage • red onion skins
chopped frozen blueberries • chopped red cabbage • red onion skins
Yellows/Golds:
•
yellow/brown onion skins • chamomile tea • ground turmeric • saffron
yellow/brown onion skins • chamomile tea • ground turmeric • saffron
Greens:
•
chopped spinach
chopped spinach
Mix
these together to create other colors, as well; for example, reds and yellows
can combine to produce orange shades. It’s a fun and easy way to teach
children about colors.
these together to create other colors, as well; for example, reds and yellows
can combine to produce orange shades. It’s a fun and easy way to teach
children about colors.
Use about 2-3 cups of water in a
saucepan for each color. Add one tablespoon of vinegar and the plant(s)
of choice. Bring to a boil for fifteen minutes before adding eggs.
saucepan for each color. Add one tablespoon of vinegar and the plant(s)
of choice. Bring to a boil for fifteen minutes before adding eggs.
The
chopping of the frozen blueberries and the spinach was easy. Likewise, the
grating of the beets.
chopping of the frozen blueberries and the spinach was easy. Likewise, the
grating of the beets.
Rather
than use four different pots on the cooktop (after all, there is a big holiday
dinner in prep for Easter!), the microwave was employed.
than use four different pots on the cooktop (after all, there is a big holiday
dinner in prep for Easter!), the microwave was employed.
The
natural ingredients were added to coffee cups, with the vinegar and heated for
five minutes to a boil.
natural ingredients were added to coffee cups, with the vinegar and heated for
five minutes to a boil.
The
best color was the chamomile and yellow onion skins. The yellow was a bright and happy hue.
best color was the chamomile and yellow onion skins. The yellow was a bright and happy hue.
The
red turned out to be more pink. It
worked better with the addition of the rest of the beet. Don’t shave it – just
cut it up and add to the vinegar water.
red turned out to be more pink. It
worked better with the addition of the rest of the beet. Don’t shave it – just
cut it up and add to the vinegar water.
The
thinking was to turbo-charge the blue color and add a blueberry tea to the
frozen chopped blueberries for the test recipe. After all, the chamomile worked
swell. But the blue turned out to be more grayish blue initially. The addition
of more vinegar accelerated the blue color.
thinking was to turbo-charge the blue color and add a blueberry tea to the
frozen chopped blueberries for the test recipe. After all, the chamomile worked
swell. But the blue turned out to be more grayish blue initially. The addition
of more vinegar accelerated the blue color.
The
only real failure was the green. Which is more than disappointing as the
spinach even dyed the cutting board when chopped! Perhaps more spinach and a bigger
container to accommodate the intensified plant dye ingredient.
only real failure was the green. Which is more than disappointing as the
spinach even dyed the cutting board when chopped! Perhaps more spinach and a bigger
container to accommodate the intensified plant dye ingredient.
The
result was great Yellows, good Red & Pinks and Blues. That the Green was
flawed was made all the more disappointing given that Green is the Pantone
color of the year…
result was great Yellows, good Red & Pinks and Blues. That the Green was
flawed was made all the more disappointing given that Green is the Pantone
color of the year…
Happy
spring. Enjoy the egg salad, sans
colored shells.
spring. Enjoy the egg salad, sans
colored shells.
1 Comment
I think this is one of the most vital info for me.
And i am glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few
general things, The web site style is wonderful, the articles is really excellent : D.
Good job, cheers
Here is my homepage Biotechnology and Bioengineering