Saturday, April 23, 2011

Colourful Healthy Eggy Easter


The glass painting in the picture is done by my sister when we were kids... This is to say... Sister... you're missed.... Come back for your birthday... May's Daring Baker will be for you :) Back to Easter...
Last year for Easter I had made Bunny shaped cookies for the kids and Zesty Orange Chocolate Brownies for the adults. Having breakfast with friends makes the weekend a much nicer weekend..... Making a healthy and colourful breakfast for Easter this time.... Crunchy Muesli and Soft Boiled Eggs coloured with Vegetable Dyes...

Isn't my little peep so sweet :)

Crunchy Muesli
Muesli made with Whole Wheat n Corn Flakes, Honey, Almonds and Raisins are perfect for a healthy easter breakfast. Toss the ingredients with a small spoon of butter(I'd prefer Olive Oil), Salt and some honey. Bake in a tray lined with parchment paper for about 45 minutes, stirring with a spoon a few times to ensure that the Muesli cooks evenly. Let it cool, Store in an air tight jar.


I saw this Video Podcast on Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs by Curbly.com and just had to make these coloured eggs....
Materials
• Free-range eggs
• Alum powder (available at the supermarket in the spice aisle)
• White Vinegar
• Vegetables and spices, see step one
• Cooktop
• Saucepan
• Measuring spoons
• Wooden spoon and slotted spoon
• Vegetable oil, wax, electrical tape, leaves, stickers, etc (optional)

Method:
1). Choose which colors you’d like to dye your eggs.
• For blue, use red cabbage
• For red, try whole beets (not canned), cherries, or cranberries
• For light green, use spinach or fresh green herbs
• For tan, brew some strong coffee, tea, or a handful of cumin seeds
• For yellow, try turmeric (a spice) and yellow onion skins
• For olive green, use red onion skins (the color is produced by a reaction with the vinegar)
• For purple, grape juice or frozen blueberries

2). For each color, fill a saucepan with at least three inches of water. Add in your vegetables or spices. It’ll take a lot…around two cups, packed. (I used 2 table spoons for 1 egg)
3). Bring the water to a boil, and add two teaspoons of alum powder – UNLESS you’re using onion skins, as it creates a funky reaction.
4.) Boil for thirty minutes.
5). Remove the pan from heat and allow it to cool slightly. You don’t want to add the eggs to boiling water, because the shells will likely crack.
6). Return to heat, and stir in two tablespoons of white vinegar. Add the eggs, and bring the mixture back to a full boil. Reduce the heat slightly, and cook for 10-12 minutes. Take the pan off the heat, and let the eggs cool in the dye.
7). Remove the eggs from the dye. If you’re satisfied with the color, then allow them to dry. For deeper, richer colors, strain the liquid, and allow the egg to continue to soak for up to eight hours. (Any longer, and the vinegar will start to disintegrate the shell.) If you plan to eat the eggs, put them into the refrigerator.


Using 1 of the eggs I drew a few flowers on 1 of them with a mini candle(the only form of wax I could find at 2am at night) to see if the wax design works... Well it does... So go ahead experiment with your creativity :)

No comments: