Coloring Eggs Naturally

 The Process

• Place eggs in a single layer in a pot; add water to cover and 1-2 teaspoons of vinegar.
• Add natural dye (see below).
• Bring water to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.
• If you like the color remove eggs from liquid and air dry completely. Refrigerate.
• For more intense color remove eggs from liquid and strain boiling liquid through a sieve. Return eggs to stained liquid and refrigerate overnight in the liquid. Remove eggs from liquid and air dry.
• Natural eggs will have a matte finish.

Colors

• Lavender-replace 1/2 the water with purple grape juice 
• Violet Blue-add the skins of 2 red onions to the water before boiling
• Robin Egg Blue-add 2-3 red cabbage leaves to the water before boiling
• Green-add spinach to the water before boiling
• Yellow-add 1-2 teaspoons cumin or turmeric to the water before boiling
• Red-add one can of cherries and juice to the water before boiling
• Brown-boil eggs in leftover coffee or add instant coffee to the water before boiling; better yet just boil brown eggs
• Orange-add sliced carrots or 1-2 teaspoons of chili powder or paprika to the water before boiling
• Pink-add juice from canned beets to the water or boil in cranberry juice

Good luck!! Your eggs will never come out the same twice. Try other things you find in your cupboard to make new colors. This is a great way to cook and color your eggs at the same time!
Remember that colors will transfer from one egg to another until they are dried completely.
Use white shelled egg.

The eggs in the picture below are the easiest and prettiest colored eggs I have ever had!  My friend Sandy gave them to me from her chickens. Different breeds of chickens hatch different colored egg shells, she must have several breeds. They are so beautiful and fresh.  All I need to do now is boil them.

To learn how to make the perfect hard boiled egg visit my guest post at Plumberry Pie. 

Looks like we will be making tie dye t-shirts instead of coloring eggs this year.  Thanks again Sandy, you helped me take one step out of my Easter prep and gave my family egg-stra time to make cool shirts!

Have an eggstra-special day!

Chef Jackie