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Parenting
Easter
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Parenting
Things To Do
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Parenting
Easter
Kids of all ages just love to color and decorate Easter eggs! Coloring eggs has been a part of spring festivities for centuries. In both Passover and Easter traditions, the egg symbolizes new life.
PREPARING THE EGGS
Keep eggs refrigerated until it's time to cook them. Place the eggs in a single layer in a saucepan and add enough cold water to come at least one inch above the eggs. Cover and heat on high until the water comes to a boil. Turn off the heat and remove the pan from the burner. Allow to stand, covered in the hot water for 15 minutes (for large eggs). Place in cold water immediately to cool. Once eggs are cold, it's time for the fun! Decorate and then refrigerate until you're ready to use them.
BASIC EGG DYE
Add 1 teaspoon of vinegar and a few drops of food coloring to 1/2 cup hot water, or use commercial egg dyes.
DECORATING
- Crayon Eggs: Easy for the littlest ones in your house. Draw on the eggs with a white crayon (unless you want the marks to show after dipping in dye). Dye as usual.
- Marbled Eggs: Great way to recycle old, broken crayons. Grate peeled crayons onto waxed paper. Drop grated crayon pieces into a jar with very hot water. As soon as the crayons begin to melt, put in egg and swirl with a spoon. When dry, polish with a dab of vegetable oil and a soft cloth.
- Nature's Own Egg Dyes: Experiment with different vegetables, fruits and spices. Use yellow onion skins for an orange color; fresh beets or cranberries for a pink color; saffron, ground turmeric, ground cumin or lemon peels for yellow; beetroot for a beautiful purple; spinach leaves for a light green; brewed coffee for a light brown; and blueberries for a blue color. To use these natural dyes do not boil eggs first. Place in pan, covered with water, as above, and add 1 teaspoon vinegar. Add the natural dye you have chosen. Bring water to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Cool and refrigerate as usual.
- Crepe Paper Dye: You will need different colors of crepe paper. Soak crepe paper in very hot water, using individual cups for each color. Add eggs and allow to sit in water until you achieve the desired color. Remove with a slotted spoon, and allow to dry. For a nice shine, polish with dab of vegetable oil and a soft cloth.
