BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
There’s something really satisfying about turning everyday foods into gorgeous natural colors. This Spring we are taking this hands-on, family tradition up a notch and skipping the artificial dyes. Using simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, you can create, soft yet beautiful hues for your eggs. But you better believe, we will still employ the white crayon to create secret messages and designs that reveal themselves after they hit the dye. Happy Spring!
Ingredients
Hard-boiled eggs (white works best for brighter colors)
White distilled vinegar (helps the color stick)
Water
A saucepan and fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
Bowls or mason jars for dyeing
Natural Color Makers & How They Look
Red/Pink eets (grated or chopped)
Orange ellow onion skins
Yellow urmeric spice
Blue/Green Purple cabbage
Reddish Brown Red onion skins
Grey/Violet rozen blueberries
Make your dyes:
Put your chosen ingredient into a saucepan with water (about enough to cover the ingredient).
Bring to a boil, then simmer about 30 minutes until the water is richly colored.
Strain:
Pour the colored liquid through a strainer into a bowl or jar and discard the solids.
Add 1-3 tablespoons of vinegar & cool to room temp.
Place hard-boiled eggs into each color bath. Leave them in for at least an hour in the refrigerator, longer for deeper hues. Many people let theirs soak overnight for rich tones.
Gently lift the eggs, let them dry on a rack or paper towels, then admire your natural palette!