Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs

NATURAL DYES FOR EASTER EGGS

RED = 2 LBS beets, peeled, diced
YELLOW/TAN = 1 LB onion skins
YELLOW/ORANGE = 1 1/2 cup jar turmeric
PURPLE = 2 small heads red cabbage, sliced
WARM BROWN = 1 (6-cup) pot of strong coffee

Distilled white vinegar

1. For all but the coffee color, in a 5 quart saucepan, add 1 vegetable or ingredient.
2. Add 4 quarts water
3. Bring to a boil
4. Cook for 1/2 hour or until the color is very dark.
5. Allow to cool to room temperature
6. Strain out the vegetables.
7. Add 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
8. Then add hard boiled eggs to each color.
9. Refrigerate overnight.
10.For the coffee color: brew the coffee.
11.Allow to cool to room temperature.
12.Add 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar.
13.Add hard boiled eggs.
14.Refrigerate overnight.

Each color will color 1 dozen eggs

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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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