Ozark Living

Coloring eggs is a beloved Easter tradition. Eggs long have been symbols of fertility and rebirth, making them fitting icons for spring. One story links eggs to Easter as well. According to some religious scholars, Mary Magdalene, the woman who was the first person to see Jesus Christ aer His resurrection, was holding a plain egg in her hand while waiting for the emperor to share the good news. e emperor then told her that Jesus' resurrection was as improbable as that egg suddenly blushing. e egg then turned red. Dyeing eggs is an entertaining activity, but one that also may have some religious significance. Many families will color eggs this Easter, and these guidelines can make the process go smoothly. • Wait until just before coloring to hard-boil eggs. Good Housekeeping recommends boiling eggs for 11 minutes for a hard boil. Do not chill the eggs aerward; warm eggs absorb color more effectively for more vivid results. • Egg dye can stain furniture, clothing or tablecloths. erefore, dress in clothing that you're not worried about staining. Also, cover work surfaces with an old tablecloth and newspapers to soak up any spills. • Make a drying rack to ensure that eggs will dry evenly. is can be a rimmed cookie sheet lined with layers of paper towels to absorb any excess dye that runs off the eggs. Or push pins into thick foam board and place the eggs on top to allow air to circulate. • Consider using glass bowls or ceramic mugs to house the colored dye solutions. ese vessels are more sturdy than plastic cups, and less likely to be overturned by eager young hands. • Scissor-style tongs are ideal tools for retrieving eggs from the dye. Eggs tend to slide off of the spoons or wire rings provided in kits, leading to splashing and kids dunking their fingers in to grab eggs. • Stir dyeing cups o en to guarantee consistent color. • Use electrical tape to make patterns on Easter eggs. Dip the eggs and let dry. Aerwards, remove the tape to reveal the designs. • If food coloring-based dyes seem too messy, use watercolor paint sets and allow everyone to get creative. While some people may want to use Easter eggs for recipes later on, it may be safer to boil up a fresh batch of eggs for that purpose, even if it seems wasteful. According to Emily Rubin, RD, LDN of the omas Jefferson University Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "hard-boiled eggs should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking and discarded if le out for more than two hours at room temperature." Chances are it may take two hours or more for children to find hard-boiled eggs hidden by the Easter bunny. tips for dyeing Easter eggs 8 Easter trees makes festive spring decorations Easter is coming and it's time to put up the tree. For those thinking right now that trees are for an entirely different Christian holiday, you are both right and wrong. Even though trees may be more widely associated with Christmas, Easter trees are an increasingly popular and festive tradition that trace their roots to Germany. e Easter tree is known as Ostereierbaum in Germany and is a centuries-old custom. Eggs are hung on outdoor tree branches and bushes or are placed on cut branches displayed inside. While the tradition is traced to Germany, German- influenced locales like Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and the Pennsylvania Dutch region of the United States also are popular places for Easter trees to appear. For 50 years, one person branched out with his own Ostereierbaum tradition. Volker Kra decorated an apple tree on his property in the town of Saalfeld, Germany, adding more eggs each year as the tree grew larger. e tradition came to an end in 2015. At one point the tree held 10,000 eggs, all hand-cra ed by Kra and his family. However, a tree in Rostock, Germany held the Guinness World Record for tree with the most eggs - a display of 80,000. While Easter trees are typically more modest than Kra 's tree, the displays can be as large or as small as one desires. Many Easter trees consist of a few branches placed in a vase decorated with flowers, ribbons and Easter eggs. Pussy willow branches work well, though any branches can stand in. When decorating Easter trees, families can use plastic eggs or even real ones. Using a sharp knife or needle, make two small holes in a raw egg. Blow out the inside of the egg until the shell is hollow. en decorate the egg and thread a ribbon through the holes so it can be hung on the tree. If desired, place sweet Easter treats, such as chocolate eggs or pastel-colored cupcakes, under the Easter tree. Decorating an outdoor tree also is possible and very visible. It can be a great way to share Easter blessings with others in the community. OZArK liViNG • April 2021 • 15

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