Looking for a “green” way to dye your eggs this Easter? Look no further! With this clever trick, and a few common household items, you won’t need to look any further than the produce isle.
What you need:
- Red Cabbage (or other vegetable based on your color preference)
- Large pot
- Water
- Vinegar
- Real daisies/foliage/or your favorite flower
- Pantie hose
- String or twist ties
- Eggs (hard boiled)
- Paper towels
- Bowl
- Strainer
- Knife
- Cutting board
Pick a color:
Blue (JMG chose this one)
Cut 1/4 head of red cabbage into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar. Let cool to room temperature and remove cabbage with a slotted spoon.
Jade Green
Peel the skin from 6 red onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.
Faint Green-Yellow
Peel the skin from 6 yellow apples. Simmer in 1-1/2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer 4 oz. chopped fennel tops in 1-1/2 cups of water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.
Orange
Take the skin of 6 yellow onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.
Brown
Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup strong coffee.
Pink
Faint pink: Chop 4 oz. amaranth flowers and simmer in 2 cups water; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer the skins from 6 avocados in 1-1/2 cup water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Mix 1 cup pickled beet juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.
Dark pink: Cut 1 medium beet into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar and let cool to room temperature; remove beets.
Lavender
Mix 1 cup grape juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.
Steps:
1. Follow steps above in selected color recipe. After creating your dye, separate the dye from the vegetable or fruit by straining it into a bowl. Let the dye cool.
2. While your dye is cooling, hard boil your eggs if not already completed.
3. Ice the boiled eggs to cool them. While they are cooling, gather your hose, eggs, string, and flowers or foliage.
4. Design your eggs by pressing the flowers or foliage face down where you want on your egg. Tightly wrap the hose around the egg in order to keep your design in place. Tie the hose with the string so the flower or foliage won’t move while soaking in the dye.
5. Repeat step 5 with remaining eggs.
6. Soak all eggs in your dye for a minimum of 3 hours. The longer you leave the egg soaking, the more intense the color will be. I soaked 2 of my eggs for 6 hours and 3 eggs for 15 hours.
7. Remove hose and flower from your egg once you have reached desired color.
8. Let your eggs dry for a few hours. Once dry to the touch, its time to decorate your house with naturally dyed eggs!
TA-DA!
JMG got these natural color recipes & first saw this genius idea on http://www.bhg.com/holidays/easter/eggs/natural-easter-egg-dyes/
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