Naturally Colorful Easter Eggs
To do this you need a few handful of colorful fruits and vegetables, a spoonful of creativity, and a large mixing bowl of fun. Here are a few dye suggestions to get you started.
Blue/ Purple
Blue Berries, Red Wine, Red Cabbage Leaf
Red/ Pink
Raspberries, Beets
Orange
Paprika Powder, Carrot
Yellow
Tumeric Powder, Yellow Onion Skin
Green
Spinach
General Vegetable Dye Making:
1. Boil two cups of vegetable in two cups of water. Simmer for 15 minutes at medium low heat. Add 2 tsp vinegar (for onion skin dye do not add vinegar) . Cool slightly before straining out the liquid into a stainless steel or glass bowl for egg staining.
2. Place up to 6 hard boiled eggs into the lukewarm (not hot) vegetable dye. Hot dye may cause the eggs to crack. Make sure all parts of the eggs are covered. Soak overnight for deep colors.
General Fruit Dye Making:
1. Boil two cups of crushed berries in 2 cups of water. Simmer for 15 minutes. Cool slightly and strain.
General Spice Dye Making:
1. Place 2-3 handful of powdered spice in 2 cups of water. Soak for 10 minutes then bring to boil.
2. Place hard boiled eggs directly into solution.
Patterns and Designs:
1. Use a white crayon to draw out simple patterns on egg shells prior to staining
2. Use parsley/ mint/ thyme leaf or edible flowers for a more natural motif. All you need is a clean nylon stocking or thin cheese cloth. Place a leaf/ flower and 1 egg in a stocking, tightly secure the two with a knot, repeat until the entire stocking is filled. Since you are only soaking the eggs in lukewarm dye, the heat will not melt nylon.
3. Place a few drops of vegetable oil into your dye solution. Stir the dye slightly before slowly placing a few eggs into the solution. This will create a spotted pattern to your eggs. Leave the eggs soaking undisturbed.
