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Sunday, April 1, 2012

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- NATURALLY DYED EASTER EGGS


Are you planning to dye Easter eggs? Since Easter falls two weeks before Earth Day this year, why not celebrate both holiday with naturally dyed eggs? All you need are some fruits, vegetables, spices, and white vinegar. Follow the recipes below, removing fruits and vegetables and allowing dye bath to cool before soaking the eggs in the bath. Soak the eggs anywhere from a few minutes to overnight for an array of hues. If you’re not using blown eggs, for longer soaking times, soak the eggs in the refrigerator. 

Here are some color recipes to get your started, but don’t be afraid to experiment with other spices, fruits, vegetables, and herbal teas.

Yellow: Simmer 1/2 cup of cut-up carrot tops in 1-1/2 cups water for 15 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons vinegar.

Orange: simmer the skins of 6 yellow onions in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. Add 3 teaspoons of vinegar.
Red-Orange: Stir 2 tablespoons paprika into a cup of boiling water. Add 2 teaspoons vinegar.

Pink: Cut up a beet into chunks. Add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 tablespoons vinegar.

Blue: Cut 1/4 head of red cabbage into chunks. Add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 tablespoons vinegar.

Lavendar: Mix 1 cup grape juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.

7 comments:

Kathy said...

Red cabbage makes a blue dye? Who would have thought it?

Jane R said...

What a fun project this would be! The colors would probably be beautiful. It reminds me of the description in one of the Laura Ingalls Wilder book about how they used carrot juice to make the homemade butter look more yellow.

Liz said...

Shared with friends and family. Thanks.

Liz said...

And with another author/fan:
http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2012/04/easter-recipes-roundup-cat-approved.html

ANASTASIA POLLACK said...

Weird, huh, Kathy? You'd think it would make a dark red.

Jane, great reference!

Liz, thanks for sharing those other recipes from Mystery Lovers' Kitchen.

Liz said...

Shared your post, to great applause.

ANASTASIA POLLACK said...

Thanks, Liz!