Spring greetings to all! Today’s weather has been particularly fickle, going from blue skies to thunderstorms and back to blue skies within the space of a few hours! It makes it hard to plan sometimes.
But one thing you can always plan on is Pathfinder Produce with our great prices, the friendliest staff, and freshest fruits and veggies. We’re open every Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. at the Village Commons. Don’t forget our online ordering option offers added convenience. Pathfinder Produce … we’re Rooted in Community!
Below, my colleague Martha Spiegel follows up on a timely tip for spring!
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A reader recently wrote to us about natural Easter egg dyes, which piqued our curiosity, so I did some investigating. I was amazed at how many colors you can come up with! It’s a bit of a process, but the results can be really stunning.
First, you’ll need to hard boil and chill some eggs, and gather some mason jars. Then follow one of the two methods of preparing the dye— boil, and no-boil—depending on the base.
To use the Boil Method:
- Bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil.
- Add your coloring agent (see below)
- Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or longer for deeper color.
- Strain liquid into a large mason jar and cool to room temperature.
- Stir in 2 tablespoons of white vinegar.
- Add 3 hardboiled eggs.
- Close the jar and refrigerate overnight.
Examples of coloring agents requiring the boil method include:
- Shredded red beets for purple eggs
- Turmeric or cumin for yellow
- Chili powder for orange
- Red cabbage for sky blue (surprising!)
- Spinach for green
I read some conflicting information about certain color results, such as red onion skins. Some sources say the result is lavender or red, while others said jade green! I suspect there is some element of surprise with the results, but that just adds to the fun of it.
The No-Boil Method:
The no-boil method starts with a liquid, such as grape juice or coffee, which is strained into the mason jar. The procedure is the same from there on.
This article from TheKitchn.com suggests drying the eggs after coloring and putting them back in the jar for another night to achieve a deeper color. You can repeat the process until you achieve the desired hue.
Here is a list of websites with different suggestions for ingredients to use for natural egg dyes:
A word about safety: Of course, one should use caution when pouring hot liquids into glass jars, and young children should be supervised during these activities. Also, you won’t want to waste the beautiful eggs, so be careful to refrigerate them. Eggs are unsafe to eat if they are left out for more than two hours.
Enjoy the colors of spring!
Martha (and Lori)
