What’s our favorite Easter tradition? We’ll give you a hint — it doesn’t include eating our weight in chocolate eggs, though, that is a close second. We love getting together with friends and family to dye hard boiled eggs into a dozen beautiful shades.
Here are some quick, easy ways to create your own food dyes this Easter. Want to take things up a notch? Wrap the eggs in rubber bands before dying for fun stripes. Already dyed your eggs? Try etching patterns into the shells with a pine!
Pink Eggs
INGREDIENTS : Red Beets, White Vinegar
Combine beets, vinegar, and 3 cups water. Simmer for 30 minutes, then strain into a large bowl. Let eggs steep for 30 minutes for a delicate light pink, or up to 4 hours for a deeper red.
Jade Green Eggs
INGREDIENTS : Red Onion Skins, Vinegar
Peel the skin from 6 red onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar. Let eggs steep for minimum 30 minutes.
Yellow Eggs
INGREDIENTS : Turmeric, White Vinegar
Bring 3 cups water to a boil; add vinegar and turmeric. Let steep for 10 minutes. Add eggs and let steep ifor at least 30 minutes and up to 3 hours. Want your eggs a little more orange? Try saffron instead of turmeric too!
Purple Eggs
INGREDIENTS : Red Cabbage, White Vinegar
Combine cabbage, vinegar, and 1 qt. water. Simmer for 30 minutes; strain into a large bowl. This is a stinky one — so open a window or two. Steep eggs in water for at least 30 minutes.
Amber Eggs
INGREDIENTS : Onion Skins, White Vinegar
Combine onion skins, vinegar, and 1 qt. water. Simmer for 10 minutes; strain into a large bowl. Let steep for 10 minutes. Steep eggs for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
Dying eggs with natural ingredients has some great benefits — the best of which is that you can eat the hard boiled eggs worry free when you’re done!
No time to colour eggs? Heritage breed hens lay eggs in the most beautiful shades of brown, green and blue. Just look at these beauties from the ladies at Mad Maple Country Inn!
Once you’re done dying your eggs — head for an Easter Festival near you! For a list of what’s happening where this weekend, check out our Culinary Calendar!
