annals tributary grosset

Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand."–Mark Twain

Before I do another thing, it is my DUTY to show you the Easter Bilby Chocolate thingy:

Try as I might I just can't think of this opossum wannabe as cute.  So sorry to my Aussie friends, I really AM trying...

Woman with Easter Eggs — Niko Pirosmani

(see how these eggs were dyed!)

The eggs above were dyed with onion skins, the traditional way the Armenian ladies do it that obtains a maroon/brown egg that, if polished, could pass for mohogany--- at least until the party-goes get to the egg game where they try to crack each others picks.  Winner is the guy who has one intact end on his egg.  Everybody has their own particular strategy but I have seen the mighty fall in this game.

Here are more natural dyed eggs;

Courtesy of Jen Altman:  Step inside your pantry, open your refrigerator, survey your garden, or stop by the market to pick up dye bath materials. Fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, partnered up with a bit of vinegar, provide all of your raw materials. The dye bath agents you select will be based on both what color you’d like to achieve, and how deeply you want the color to appear. The rule of thumb is to use more dye bath material and infuse longer to achieve the deepest colors. My naturally dyeing process involves both a hot stovetop boil and a room temperature infusion. Over the years I’ve found this achieves the best overall end result color, in terms of intensity.

Here’s a sampling of colors offered by dyeing agents:

Spinach=Pale Green (you can also use chlorophyll extract)

Orange marigold leaves=Pale Yellow

Turmeric=Golden Yellow

Cranberries=Pale Purple

Blueberries=Blue-Purple

Raspberries=Lavender

Pomegranates=Light Red (juice or seeds)

Beets=Pale Pink

Red Cabbage=Dark Pink/Dark Blue (a longer infusing time will create a deeper colored egg)

Coffee Grounds=Dark Brown

Onion Skins=Copper

The Deal:

1) After you’ve selected your dyeing agent(s), place it in a large pot. Add a quart of cold water and 2 tablespoons white vinegar; bring to a boil (you’ll need separate pots for each color, so you might have to do your dyeing in shifts if you want more than four colors). Reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes

2) Add however many raw eggs you’d like to dye to each dye bath. Boil for 30 minutes.

3) During this time, use a wooden spoon or spatula to periodically turn the eggs over so as to help the dye adhere to all sides of the egg. You can drain off the dyeing agents before you simmer the eggs, but be aware that the dye colors won’t be as intense. On the other hand, boiling the eggs and dyeing agents together can create a mottled, rough texture and appearance on the egg’s surface. I enjoy that aspect of the end product, but if you think you won’t, then you may want to drain off the solids first.

4) Using a slotted spoon, carefully transfer the eggs to glass jars, using one jar for each color. Strain off the dye bath solids and pour the infused liquid into each jar. Cover with lids and allow to infuse at room temperature overnight.

5) Remove the eggs from the dye bath. Blot gently with a paper towel or cloth. If you’d like them shiny, buff them up with a little bit of olive or vegetable oil.

If you're not into boiled eggs, I found this handy device:

Vertical Cooking Technology

(I love it when they 'flop')   OK, tell me, how many senseless cooking devices do you have to fall for?  Please tell me the benefit of having your egg in a tube, and how cleaning out the little machine with a brush tool is SO much easier then wiping out a skillet-  Then of course you have to clean the cleaning brush-  bet you didn't fall for that old trick, didja?  If you did, stick it in the garage next to the George Foreman grill and the hot-dog maker that also toasts your bun, or the complete set of popcycle makers with 406 pieces.