Dying Easter Eggs With Food Coloring

Spring is finally here and Easter is coming! And that means it's time to dye the eggs! This is a fun activity for the whole family, although, be sure to provide some guidance with the little ones around the dye.

Fun Fact:
The egg symbolizes new life and our rebirth in the spring time, just like through the sacrifice of Jesus giving us a new life through God's forgiveness of all our sins. But why dye the egg? In history eggs would be dyed red to represent the blood Christ shed for us. The egg can also represent the tomb where Jesus was laid after his crucifixion. The hard shell can be removed like the sealed tomb was opened on Easter morning.

The following is a traditional account of how my family dyes Easter eggs. 

Egg Dye Made With Food Coloring
(This recipe yields one cup of colored dye.)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
liquid food coloring
hard-boiled eggs

In a small cup (we have always used coffee mugs), mix together water at room temperature, vinegar and several drops of food coloring. I used about 20 drops of color in each mug, but you can adjust this however you like for a deeper or lighter color.

Prepare several different colors in this way.

Carefully place one egg in each cup of food coloring. After a few seconds, roll the egg to ensure the it's completely covered with dye equally on all sides. Watch the eggs, then carefully remove them when they reach the desired shade. Use a spoon to remove the egg and place it in an egg carton or on a paper towel to dry.

For extra decoration:
Decorate the eggs with crayons prior to dying.
Decorate the eggs with small stickers.

Cooking Basics: Hard Boiled Eggs

For some unknown reason, I can not remember the steps to make hard boiled eggs. We don't make them too often, which is probably why I can not remember how!
Hard Boiled Eggs are a great protein source and yummy too!

Hard Boiled Eggs

Eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
water
stock pot

Place eggs in a pot; pour enough water over the eggs to cover by 1 inch. Add baking soda to the water. This will make it easier to peel.
Cover and turn stove to high; bring to a boil; turn off heat and place pot on a cool burner.
Let the pot sit with the cover on for 15-20 minutes.
Meanwhile, fill a large bowl halfway with cold water; transfer the eggs from the pot to the cold water.

Replace the water with cold water as needed to keep cold until the eggs are completely cooled.
Chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours before peeling.