Natural Dyes for Eggs

[ajrsmom]

by Kim Tilley

Here are some ideas for dying your eggs naturally. Usually, the more natural ingredient you use the longer it takes to dye them, even overnight in some cases. The longer they soak, the darker the color.

Note: Not all of these eggs will be safe to eat. Do not eat eggs that sit in hot water for many hours or overnight- save them for decorations.

RED - Save the skins from red onions and boil with eggs 1/2 hour to 1 hour. Remember that the more skins you use and the longer you soak, the darker the color. a smaller amount of skins produces a nice lavendar.

PINK - Soak your hardboiled eggs in cranberry juice or the juice from pickled beets.

VOILET BLUE - Soak your hardboiled eggs overnight in not water to which you have added voilet blossoms.

LAVENDAR - Soak hardboiled eggs in grape juice, or add 2 tsp lemon juiced to the voilet blue water to lighten the color.

YELLOW - To a cup of hot water, add 1 to 1 1/2 tsp turmeric and 1/2 tsp vinegar.

GOLDEN TAN - Save the skin from yellow onions. Add them to the water when you hardboil your eggs.

BROWN - To a cup of hot water, add 1 tbsp instant coffee, and a 1/2 tsp vinegar.

GREEN - Add 1/2 tsp baking soda to a bowl of the water from the Voilet Blue before soaking your eggs.

PRETTY PASTELS - You can rub blueberries and cranberries right on the shells for soft blues and pinks. Blend them in for a pretty result.

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here is some more tips that I ran across not sure who or where it came from. sorry...

Dying Easter Eggs--the Natural way!

This Easter, why not color your eggs using nature's very own dyes?
It's possible to come up with a great number of colors using natural
ingredients that can easily be found in almost any kitchen.

Pale Red: Fresh beets or cranberries, frozen raspberries

Orange: Yellow onion skins

Light yellow: Orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed
or ground cumin

Yellow: Ground turmeric

Pale green: Spinach leaves

Green-gold: Yellow Delicious apple peels

Blue: Canned blueberries or red cabbage leaves

Beige to brown: Strong brewed coffee

To dye the perfect Easter eggs the natural way, here's
what to do:

1. Put eggs in a single layer in a pan. Pour water in pan until
the eggs are covered.

2. Add about a teaspoon of vinegar.

3. Add the natural dye appropriate to the color you want your eggs
to be. (The more eggs you are dying at a time, the more dye you
will need to use.)

4. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for
15 minutes.

5. Remove the substance you used to color the eggs. Put eggs in a
bowl. If you want your eggs to be a darker shade, cover them with
the dye and let them stand overnight in the refrigerator.