PLANT-DYED EGGS
For a pretty Easter decoration, make your own plant dyes to transform eggs into shades of blue, pink, green and orange, then decorate them with pressed flowers.
YOU WILL NEED
• ½ red cabbage, chopped, for blue and purple shades
• 1 tablespoon turmeric for yellow and orange shades
• 1 grated beetroot for dark pink shades
• Vinegar
• Skewer
• Eggs
• 3 jars with lids
• Pressed flowers
• PVA glue or glue made from 1 tablespoon flour and 1 tablespoon water
• Paintbrush
1. For blue and purple dye, put the chopped red cabbage in a pot and add enough water to cover it. Boil for half an hour. Once cool, strain the liquid through a sieve to separate the cabbage from the liquid. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to the liquid to set the dye.
2. To make an orange dye, add the turmeric to a bowl and pour over 1 cup of boiling water. Leave it to sit for two hours, then add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
3. To make a pink dye, add the grated beetroot to a pot, cover with 2 cups water and bring to the boil for half an hour. Once cool, strain the liquid through a sieve to separate the grated beetroot from the liquid. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
4. Pour your dyes into jars, screw on the lids and refrigerate until you’re ready to use them.
5. If you’d like to eat your eggs as hard-boiled eggs, bring eggs to the boil in a pot of water and boil for 8 minutes. Alternatively, if you’d like your eggs to last longer, you can remove the insides first. Place a skewer or kebab stick right through the top and bottom of the egg then gently blow out the insides into a cup. Wash out any remaining egg gently under the tap and pat dry with paper towel.
6. Add the eggs to the jars of dye, gently pressing them down until submerged. Screw on the lids and refrigerate (if using boiled eggs) or place on the counter (if using blown eggs) for at least eight hours. The longer you soak your eggs, the darker they’ll be, so for lighter colours, soak your eggs for a shorter amount of time.
7. If you’d like to decorate your eggs, brush some PVA glue or homemade water and flour glue onto your eggs, then add your dried flowers. Petals also look pretty. Keep hardboiled eggs refrigerated and eat them within one day. Blown, dyed eggs can be put out on display and will last a few months before they start to disintegrate.