Its Easter Time- Egg Dying & Gift Basket

Here are ways to help you get ready for Easter:

Color Eggs:
Coloring eggs was always my favorite thing to do with my mom. Once Easter was over we ate them. Most of the dye kits use vinegar, so as long as they are distilled vinegar you should be fine. Here is Paas website. http://www.paaseastereggs.com/products.htm

Here is directions on how to make natural dye for coloring eggs:

Here is the preferred method for using natural dyes:

1- Place the eggs in a single layer in a pan. Add water until the eggs are covered.
2- Add approximately one teaspoon of vinegar.
3- Add the natural dye. Use more dye material for more eggs or for a more intense color.
4- Bring water to a boil.
5- Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
6- If you are pleased with the color, remove the eggs from the liquid.
7- If you want more intensely colored eggs, temporarily remove the eggs from the liquid. Strain the dye through a coffee filter (unless you want speckled eggs).
8- Cover the eggs with the filtered dye and let them remain in the refrigerator overnight.

Naturally-colored eggs will not be glossy, but if you want a shiny appearance you can rub a bit of cooking oil onto the eggs once they are dry.
You can use fresh and frozen berries as 'paints', too. Simply crush the berries against dry boiled eggs. Try coloring on the eggs with crayons or wax pencils before boiling and dyeing them. Happy Easter!

Natural Easter Egg Dyes
Try both fresh and frozen produce. Canned produce will produce much paler colors. Boiling the colors with vinegar will result in deeper colors. Some materials need to be boiled to impart their color (name followed by 'boiled' in the table). Some of the fruits, vegetables, and spices can be used cold. To use a cold material, cover the boiled eggs with water, add dyeing materials, a teaspoon or less of vinegar, and let the eggs remain in the refrigerator until the desired color is achieved. In most cases, the longer you leave Easter eggs in the dye, the more deeply colored they will become.

Color Ingredients
Lavender: Small Quantity of Purple Grape Juice
Violet Blossoms plus 2 tsp Lemon Juice
Red Zinger Tea

Violet Blue: Violet Blossoms
Small Quantity of Red Onions Skins (boiled)
Hibiscus Tea
Red Wine

Blue: Canned Blueberries
Red Cabbage Leaves (boiled)
Purple Grape Juice

Green: Spinach Leaves (boiled)
Liquid Chlorophyll

Greenish Yellow: Yellow Delicious Apple Peels (boiled)
Yellow: Orange or Lemon Peels (boiled)
Carrot Tops (boiled)
Celery Seed (boiled)
Ground Cumin (boiled)
Ground Turmeric (boiled)
Chamomile Tea
Green Tea

Golden Brown: Dill Seeds

Brown: Strong Coffee
Instant Coffee
Black Walnut Shells (boiled)
Black Tea

Orange: Yellow Onion Skins (boiled)
Cooked Carrots
Chili Powder
Paprika

Pink: Beets
Cranberries or Juice
Raspberries
Red Grape Juice
Juice from Pickled Beets

Red: Lots of Red Onions Skins (boiled)
Canned Cherries with Juice
Pomegranate Juice
Raspberries

Treats:
Making the Easter gift baskets can be tricky, so the easy way is to have someone that can put together one for you. All Occasion Planning Services knows how to make you that special Gluten Free basket. You can reach her at 616-531-7770.

If you are scared, you can always just put toys in the basket (but not playdough)

Here are some of the brands of candies that are gluten free:


Just Born: MARSHMALLOW PEEPS Chicks and Bunnies, Strawberry, Vanilla and Orange Creme Flavored MARSHMALLOW PEEPS Eggs, MARSHMALLOW PEEPS Inside a Milk Chocolate Egg, MIKE AND IKE Easter Treats, JUST BORN Jelly Beans

Wonka/Nestle EASTER: Wonka Gobstopper Eggbreakers; Wonka Runts Freckled Eggs; Wonka Large Golden Egg (Milk Chocolate hollow egg with SweeTARTS candy inside); Wonka SweeTARTS Candy Canes; Nestlé Baby Ruth Crème Eggs; Nestlé Butterfinger Nesteggs and Crème Eggs; Nestlé Caramel Nesteggs; Nestlé Milk Chocolate Nesteggs; Nestlé Turtle Crème Eggs
Jelly Belly are gluten free.