Happy Easter to all Orthodoxy who celebrate it today.
A significant number of people celebrated Easter a week ago, which usually gives me enough time to ponder and choose the most creative technique of coloring eggs. After seeing so many ideas, we have decided to experiment with spices and vegetables this year instead of purchasing the usual colored eggs.
I enjoy experimenting, but I'm not a fan of blue colored eggs.The most hateful thing about purchased colors is the potential for the egg to crack during cooking and for the color to leak inside.
Not yummy at all.
Traditionally, firstly the red egg is dyed, which will also be preserved until the next year and will be the keeper.
Given that all of the spices I'm about to use aren't pigmented enough to provide the same results as bag colors, I'm going to use bleached eggs (like shop purchased white eggs).
I used 1 liter of water, 400ml of alcoholic vinegar, and a tablespoon of salt for 14 eggs.
This mixture will peel the brown covering off the eggs while they cook, but be careful since too much vinegar will weaken the eggshell and you will be unable to compete for the strongest egg.:p
It is important that all the eggs are immersed in the liquid during cooking and that the temperature is not too high, otherwise the running water will cause the eggs to scramble and potentially break.
The most famous way of dyeing eggs since ancient times is with the help of an onion.
For this method you will need onion peel, water, alcoholic vinegar and salt. It would be best to soak the onion peel the night before, to release as much color as possible.
A substitute for red color, the peel of the onion and the pattern of the eggs will give an irregular texture, and if you have enough time and creativity, various herbs are the ideal solution.
One pair of nylon socks, one egg white, a brush and the fun can begin. Cut the nylon stockings so that you can tie the egg in them, and play with the herbs and their shapes, there are countless options.
Eggs dressed in nylon stockings, decorated with herbs, will be dyed in onion peel. Although sometimes the result is not what you hoped for, it's important to have fun :P just fasten the sock well so that the plants stay in place during the cooking time.
(I had no idea will any kind of patter will be visible)
Half an hour after, something is happening! I had to stuck my nose in pot and see are they changing the color, can't help it. After eggs are boiled, pot is covered and left to soak as much as possible for another...until I'm done with the rest.
(overnight them, freely)
Beetroot, we all know how persistent beetroot stains are. I saved one piece of the salad making and grated it, covered it with half a liter of water and one cup of vinegar.
The beets may look very red, but that certainly does not mean that the eggs will be the same color - on the contrary, when this method of egg coloring is used, you are never completely sure of what will you get.
Right on time, albino eggs arrives!
Peel the rest of the brownish color with sponge, rinse them, dry them and that's it - you bleached the eggs!
Plant decorated and in nylon dressed, ready for beetroot cooking adventure.
During that time, I mixed two teaspoons of turmeric with water and vinegar, once I tried to dye eggs with it and I claim that it is the most beautiful ocher yellow color I have ever seen. Therefore, it's on the list again + eggs will smell so nicely!
What is also recommended is to leave all the eggs soaking until the water cools off.
Poor one, looks dry and aged, no worries this is not final look there is one more step, but that requires others to join in.
I know it looks like I just colored them as they were (which isn't far from true), it made me laugh tho, definitely need more beetroot than I had, gently pinkish turned out, plant pattern is at least visible.
Purple cabbage, not so purple apparently, previously finely grated then soaked, this one gave me the least hope that the coloring would work at all as I saw few attempts and disappointing results.
Gave it a chance, and left speechless...
Blue, they turned out blue!
Perhaps his is more of an blue cabbage than purple, pigments are tricky.
A beautiful contrast.
This was my favorite but unfortunately it broke due to cooking... :(
Last step.
Finally, eggs should be polished and arranged.
With a piece of cotton wool and a few drops of oil, watch how the color of the eggs changes while polishing; what appeared to be overly bright now turns darker and the colors become more apparent.
(even the poor beetroot ones)
Easter basket weed is the most annoying thing ever invented, I don't know why I don't like it so much, but I know I managed to hide it under pampas and eggs.
Early Easter morning shot
According to tradition the customary red egg is nestled into its throne to protect the occupants from illness as well as bring good luck.
Will se what's in the basket for us, till the next Easter celebration, stay healthy and creative!