 |
Further
Reading ...
|
|
Develop Your Child's Critical Thinking Skills
1. Encourage Questions. Don't answer every question, instead ask what do they think. Asking questions stimulates conversation between you and your child. 2. Don't Criticize. Criticism invites low self-esteem. Children feel that they...
Tips For a First-Time Mom
Having a baby can be one the most life-changing experiences there are. And not all those changes will be easy to cope with. Here are some tips for a first-time Mom, to help you get through the rougher times. The vast majority of women today, are...
Summer Fashion Fun For The Beach
Look Good & Have Fun This Summer With The Perfect Beach Wardrobe It's that time of year when we pack up our bags and head to the beach for the day to enjoy those warm sunrays and the refreshing sound of the lapping water. So what constitutes a...
Friends Are A Gift You Give Yourself
My oldest boy is fifteen and was a real jerk about a month ago. He had gotten pretty full of himself and acted like he was too cool for the rest of the family. Pretty typical teenager behavior, but I didn't like it. I had gotten to the end of...
|
|
|
Color Easter Eggs Naturally With Dyes From Your Kitchen
|
 |
Written By:
Debra Lynn Dadd
|
|
|
The most beautiful dyes for Easter eggs come from foodstuff
you probably already have in your kitchen.
I have been delighted with the results of the colors I have
tried and my friends have been thrilled to receive them as
springtime gifts. The colors are very unusual -- gentle,
earthy, soft, and very vibrant, without being harsh like the
artificial dyes -- and when I tell people the colors come
from plant dyes, they always want to know the origin of each
color.
To color these eggs, you boil the eggs with the dyestuff,
rather than boiling the eggs separately and they dying
them.
Here are the general directions:
1. Put raw, white-shelled, organically-raised eggs in a
single layer in a pan. Cover with cold water.
2. Add a little more than a teaspoon of white vinegar.
3. Add the natural dyestuff for 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, and the more dye you use, the darker
the color will be.)
4. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15
minutes.
5. Quickly check the eggs for color by removing them from
the dye liquid with a slotted spoon.
If the color is as desired, pour off the hot dye liquid and
rinse the eggs immediately in cold water to stop the eggs
from cooking. Continue to change the water until it stays
cool in the pot because the eggs are no longer releasing
heat. Drain and allow eggs to cool in the refrigerator.
If you wish a deeper color, strain the hot dye liquid into a
container, then rinse the eggs immediately in cold water to
stop them from cooking. Continue to change the water until
it stays cool in the pot because the eggs are no longer
releasing heat. Drain the last of the cold water, then cover
the eggs with the strained dye liquid. Add more water if
necessary so that the eggs are completely covered. Put into
the refrigerator immediately and keep eggs in the
refrigerator until the desired shade is achieved. Overnight
is good. Longer than about twelve hours some of the colors
just get muddier instead of deeper, and the lighter - continued below ...
|
|
|
continued ...
shades
are more vibrant.
Try these foods to dye your eggs:
Red - Pink -- lots of red onion skins, cranberry juice, or
frozen raspberries.
Orange -- Yellow onion skins
Brown -- Red beet skins or grape juice (produces a beautiful
sparkling tan), coffee.
Yellow -- Saffron, tumeric or cumin, orange or lemon peels,
or celery seed.
Green -- spinach, or carrot tops and peels from Yellow
Delicious apples for a yellow-green.
Blue -- Red cabbage leaves make the most incredible
robin's-egg blue.
Deep Purple -- Red wine makes a beautiful burgundy color
Tips for successful results:
* Use filtered or distilled water. Chlorine and other
chemicals will work against the dye, making it less intense.
Buy distilled water or use your own filtered water.
* For deeper colors, use more dyestuff or let the eggs soak
longer.
* For even coverage, cook eggs in a pot large enough to hold
enough water and dyestuff to completely cover the eggs, even
after some of the liquid has evaporated during the 15 minute
of boiling.
* Again, for even coverage, if you continue to soak the eggs
in the refrigerator after cooking, make sure the eggs are
completely covered with the dye liquid.
* Blot the eggs dry or allow them to air dry, as for some
colors the dye will rub off while still wet. On the other
hand, if you wish to make a white pattern on the egg, you
can rub off some of the dye for some colors immediately
after cooking.
* Make sure eggs of different colors are completely dry
before piling them up in a bowl together, as wet dye from
one egg can transfer to another.
Read more about natural dyes for Easter eggs at
http://www.debraslist.com/food/aboutcoloringeggs.html.
About the Author
Hailed as "The Queen of Green" by the New York Times,
Debra Lynn Dadd has been a consumer advocate for products
and lifestyle choices that are better for health and the
environment since 1982. Visit her website for 100s of links to 1000s of nontoxic, natural and earthwise products, and to sign up for her free email newsletters. http://www.dld123.com
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| _Additional Resources ... |
|
Baby Clothes for Your Baby Shower Gift
Baby clothes are one of the most popular types of gifts for new and expectant parents at a baby shower. Shopping for baby apparel and baby stuff is something a lot of people especially new parents enjoy. Baby boutique clothing is one of the most...
Engaged, Now What?
Three websites make wedding planning quick and easy. Recently gotten engaged and now the excitement, or should I say anxiety of planning a wedding has kicked in? Three sites with unique services can help any bride to-be plan a wedding with ease,...
“When’s Sarah Coming Home?” Helping Your Child Understand Death
For most children, their first experience with grief comes with the death of a beloved family pet. When Zoe the eight-week old puppy dies of parvovirus or Tweety the budgie stops singing his morning song, a child experiences profound and lasting...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
