Spring is here and with spring brings the Easter celebration. My youngest child is in college now but one activity that the whole family has enjoyed doing since they were little is getting together to dye Easter eggs. Not only did they enjoy it as kids but it is still a fun activity for the whole extended family!
Here are a few things to remember when handling eggs safely.
- Make sure that everyone washes their hands before handling the eggs and make sure that the counter is covered to keep dye from staining it.
- After cooking and cooling the eggs put them in the refrigerator unless you are dying them immediately. Eggs should be out of the refrigerator for no longer than 2 hours.
- Use a food safe dye if you are planning on eating the eggs.
- To make your own dye with food coloring to ½ cup of water add 1-2 teaspoons of vinegar and 20 or so drops of food coloring. Add more if you want a darker color. Leave in the water mixture until it is the desired color. (For additional tips on making your own natural dyes look for out April 2nd blog post!)
- Try wrapping rubber bands around your eggs before placing them in the dye. Just be sure the egg is dry before removing them!
- Use a crayon to draw a design on the egg. The wax will keep the dye off the design while the rest of the egg will be colored.
If you plan to hide your eggs remember that they should be out no longer than 2 hours. According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service don’t eat eggs that have been lying on the ground. If there happen to be cracks in the shell, bacteria can contaminate the eggs. They should be hidden in places that are protected from dirt, moisture, pets and other sources of bacteria. If you follow all of these rules the “found” eggs should be washed, re-refrigerated and eaten within 7 days of cooking.
If you want to keep your eggs from one year to the next, or if you want to use them for decorating you will need to blow out the eggs.
- Make sure that the eggs you are using do not have any tiny cracks in them.
- Use a long needle to make a small hole in the small end of the egg and a larger hole in the large end.Carefully make the hole larger (on the large end) so that you are able to stick a needle into the yolk to break it.
- Shake the egg over a bowl until the contents come out. Rinse the shell in cool running water and stand it on end to let it drip and dry.
- You can also press the bulb of a kitchen baster (that has been squeezed to expel the air) in the larger hole made in the egg. Release the bulb to siphon out the shell contents. Rinse and let dry.
- Remember the eggs will be very fragile so you might want to save an egg carton to store them in!
- Try making your own Easter grass by shredding or thinly cutting colored paper. Crush it in your hand to give it the correct grass texture. It makes the perfect nest for your blown out eggs or for the inside of an Easter basket!
Enjoy the fun times spent with your family! With our family these are memories that last a lifetime!
