April 13, 2022 Issue, Page 9 of 10

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April 13, 2022 9 Make Easter “‘Eggstra’ Special FAMILY FEATURES aster is about traditions, both old and new, as well as celebrating family and creating lifelong memories. In fact, nearly 8 out of 10 Americans will celebrate the holiday this year, according to the How to Hard Cook Eggs National Retail Federation, which often includes egg decorating amongst the fun. Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that dates back to the 13th century. Eggs were once viewed as a forbidden food to some religious entities, so people would paint or decorate them Hard-cooked eggs are best when you want a sturdy egg for to highlight the end of penance and fasting, hiding and to eat when you're done. They are also easier for Yet still today, coloring eggs can help bring younger children to handle. Eggs can be hard-boiled or baked the whole family together and inspire simple to achieve tender eggs perfect for dyeing. Consider these tips moments of connection and creativity, From from the Easter egg decorating experts at PAAS to cook eggs dunking eggs in neon dyes to embellishing them with paint, glitter and more, PAAS® brand — for decorating: named after the Dutch word for Easter, “Passen” = offers these expert Easter egg dyeing tips Hard Boil Directions based on its 140 years of experience. 1m Place eggs in saucepan large enough to hold them in single layer. Keep It Clean — Wash your hands in hot, = Add cold water to cover eggs by 1 inch. soapy water before and after handling eggs, = Heat pan over high heat until just boiling. even if they've already been cooked or = Remove pan from burner. decorated. This helps protect you from any bacteria that may be on the egg and protects the = Cover pan. ‘eggshell from oil on hands that may make the = Let eggs stand in hot water about 15 minutes for large dye not adhere properly. Make sure an adult eggs. Time may need adjusted for smaller or larger eggs. supervises all projects to ensure food safety = Cool completely under cold running water or in bowl precautions are observed. of ice water. Hard Cook, Don’t Hard Boil ~ Although the © Refrigerate until ready to use. cooking water must come to a full boil, the pan Baking Direetions should be immediately removed from heat so 1m Preheat oven to 325 F. the eggs can cook gently in the hot water. This = Place eggs individually in muffin tins to prevent them method produces tender, not rubbery eggs and from rolling while cooking. minimizes cracking. ® Cook 30 minutes. Banish the Greenish Ring — This harmless but ® Fill large bowl with ice water. Set aside. unsightly discoloration sometimes forms around = Remove eggs from oven, hard-cooked yolks as a result ofa reaction m= Transfer eggs carefully, one-by-one into ice water between sulfur in the egg white and iron in the using tongs, yolk. It occurs when eggs have been cooked for = Remove from water after 10 minutes. too long or at too high a temperature. Cooking = Refrigerate until ready to use. eggs in hot, not boiling water then cooling immediately helps minimize this discoloration. Make Them “Apeeling” — To ensure easily peeled eggs, buy and refrigerate them 7-10 days in advance ofcooking. This brief “breather” allows the eggs time to take in air, which helps separate the membranes from the shell. Store Eggs Safely —In the shell, hard-cooked Egg Decorating Kits to Make Egg Dyeing Easy ‘eggs can be refrigerated safely for up to one week. Refrigerating them in their original There’s more than one way to dye an egg. To meet various needs and carton prevents odor absorption. Once peeled, interests, PAAS offers a variety of kits, including: eggs should be eaten that day. Piercing shells = Traditional Kits — Deluxe, Classic and Color Cup kits allow families before cooking is not recommended. If not sterile, the piercer or needle can introduce to create a full spectrum ofcolored eggs, bacteria into the egg. Also, piercing creates = Craft Kits — Craft kits help users create their own one-of-a-kind works hairline cracks in the shell through which ofart, such as color whipping eggs, adding sparkles or speckles, or bacteria can enter after cooking. creating neon tie-dyed eggs. Tap Into Your Creative Side ~ You don’t have = Eggsperiment — Active Volcano ~ This kit allows users to dye eggs by to be highly creative to create an “eggceptional” lowering them into an overflowing volcano, egg. Use your imagination to create appealing ™ Craft-A-Scene — These kits, which come in multiple versions, offer not eggs by gluing on fun materials found at craft only dyes and decorations to create character eggs, but also different stores, like fake gems, sequins, trims and ribbons. backdrops that can be used in stop motion movies using a free app. You can also use paint, including gold or silver metallic paint, to make eggs special. An option = Themed Eggs — These include Dino Eggs, Forest Friends, Rides and like PAAS egg decorating kits can help make the Superheroes kits that allow families to bring characters to life. process more convenient and fun. Find more tips and ideas to bring your family together this Easter at paascastereggs.com.