Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs

It's that time of the year again! Spring is on its way and so is Easter with its pastel colors, chocolate bunnies and, of course, colored eggs!

Coloring eggs is a wonderful Easter tradition, enjoyed equally by grownups and children. Children especially love to help prepare them as well as use them for egg hunts. However, if you are worried about the synthetic dyes that are commonly used, you can make your own colors using natural foods such as beets, parsley, raspberries, orange peels and chili. Colors may not turn out to be as spectacular as with the commercial synthetic dyes, but you will have no second thoughts about letting young children enjoy the eggs. Plus, the colors might actually be more original and unique.

You can also go the extra mile and make this Easter tradition even healthier by using organic eggs.

Remember that white eggs work the best when it comes to coloring them.

Colors

For red eggs, you will need beets (they should be boiled separately before used)

For purple eggs, you will need violet blossoms (yes, blossoms!)

For yellow eggs, you will need orange or lemon peels

For green eggs, you will need parley and/or spinach leaves (spinach leaves should be boiled separately before used)

For orange eggs, you will need chili or paprika powder (yum!)

For blue eggs, you will need canned blueberries

For pink eggs, you will need raspberries

Instructions

Leave the eggs outside the fridge for a few hours, so that they don't break when boiled.

Pour water in a (preferably) old pan. That way you will avoid getting a brand new pan stained.

Add the natural dye of your preference in the water. Adjust the amount of dye according to the number of eggs you have and how bright you want the color to be.

Bring water to a boil for a couple minutes.

Remove pan from heat and let cool down before placing the eggs in the water.

Add approximately one teaspoon of vinegar.

Return the pan to the heat and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the eggs promptly and dry them on parchment paper or aluminum foil.

When the eggs are dry, you can rub them with a cloth dipped in oil to make them shinier.

More colors you could use: red cabbage leaves, purple grape juice, boiled carrots, cranberry juice, red grape juice, red or yellow onion skins, the list is endless!