Tea Dyed Easter Eggs

Using tea to dye your eggs is not only natural, it is also inexpensive. I bet you probably have tea in your pantry that you haven't drank in years...Just use that and then it will be FREE!!! To get a light green color use green tea, for a natural brown color use black tea. Use hibiscus to get a pinkish hue, rooibos for a reddish tint or chamomile for a subtle yellowish tone. Be creative and use what you have in your pantry...

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 3 tea bags (1 tea bag/2 eggs) or 1 gram loose tea per 2 eggs
• 1.5 tsp distilled white vinegar
• Optional, for more color add 1/4 - 1/2 tsp Powdered Alum, an aluminum sulphate product used for pickling or baking powder
• Optional, for shine: Vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. Place unshelled eggs in saucepan of cold water – water level should be at least 4 cm (1-1/2") higher than eggs, add vinegar and cover with lid. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, add tea (see different tea options from above), then simmer for 5-6 minutes with lid on. Reserve the tea water to use for step #3.
2. Remove eggs and blanch (place in ice bath) to cool.
3. Add Alum and ice ice to tea water and cool for 10-15 minutes. Place eggs back into tea water, put in refrigerator over night.
4. Remove eggs and dry with paper towel.
5. Option: Rub with vegetable oil to make them shiny.

These eggs are not only pretty, they are safe to eat, and are naturally healthy filled with protein.

Can you think of any other natural ingredients you can use to dye Easter Eggs, (i.e coffee, turmeric, beets, paprika, cranberries, blueberries, Liquid Chlorophyll)...check out this website for more ideas...

Did you know?

Gunung Mas Tea Plantation in Jakarta, Indonesia

To make 1 tonne (= 1,000 kg ~ 2,2046 lbs) of dried tea requires approximately...

- 4.5 tonnes green leaves 450 kW electricity

- 500 litres oil (or other fuel), depending on process

- 250 man hours of work

- 23 tea chests (or alternative packaging)

- 3 kg nails (if used with tea chests)

- 2000 tonnes of air! - WOW that is a lot of air...

Air is used for several purposes in tea manufacturing: 1. To remove moisture during withering at relatively low temperatures.

2. To supply oxygen to the leaf during fermentation.

3. To control the temperature of leaf during fermentation

4. To supply heat to the fermented tea for enzyme inactivation and to remove moisture during drying, at relatively higher temperatures.

If you do the math, 4.5 tonnes yeilds 1 tonne ~ 22.22%...

I don't know about you, but it makes me think twice about how much I should appreciate each cup of tea. The next time I take a sip of my tea I will make sure I savor the moment and pay homage to all the work required in making it to my cup and into my belly.

Flat Bread Pizza

Ingredients:

• 2 pieces Climber's High Naan, grilled
• 1 cup Edamame, shelled
• 1/2 cup white kidney beans
• 1 avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1 jalapeno, seeded optional
• 1 TBS miso paste
• 1 lemon, juice & zest
• 2 cup spinach, chopped
• 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup goat cheese
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• salt & pepper to taste

Preparation: Watch video below.

For Climber's High Naan recipe, visit : The Tea Spot Blog

Roasted Green Tea Frico toped with Smoked Salmon Tartar

An easy-to-make appetizer to celebrate Earth Day...

Ingredients: Salmon Tartar

• 12 oz smoked salmon, diced
• 1 1/2 cup creme fraiche
• 1 TBS Dijon mustard
• 1 lemon, zest and juice
• 2 TBS capers, washed & diced
• 2 shallot, small diced
• 1-2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 TBS BOULDER BLUES Tea-soning
• Garnish: 1/4 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped

Preparation: Salomon Tartar

1. Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine. Place in refrigerator until ready to use.

2. Visit steepitloose.blogspot.com for Roasted Green Tea Frico recipe.

Part II: 'TEAS' Your Food: Tea + Seasonings = Tea-sonings

As I mentioned last week, one of the most creative and fun way to use all the tea in your pantry is to cook with it. In my opinion, the easiest way to get started cooking with tea is to make a Tea-soning. Last week I posted my famous Boulder Blues Tea-soning and this week I am posting another one of my favorite Tea-soning...

I created this Tea-soning specifically to season and sear salmon. The MATE LIMON CHA Tea-soning has very few ingredients, making it easy to make. You don't have to add many other ingredients when using a tea with great depth and various flavors, like our MATE LIMON CHAI.

Ingredients: MATE LIMON CHAI Tea-soning

Yields ~ 8 TBS

·  3 TBS MATE LIMON CHAI, finely grounded

·  2 TBS Salt

·  1 TBS Sugar

·  1 tsp pepper

·  1- 2 tsp cayenne pepper

Hand blend the above ingredients and store your Tea-sonings in a metal or glass container, away from light & moisture, until you are ready to use it.

Next week, my favorite recipe with this Tea-soning...

And The Next Food Network Star Is......

Too busy to make dinner? Not enough time in the day to spend with your spouse?

If you plan, prep and pre-make a few things in advance you will find the time to do both...

Watch, as I coach you how....

I'm here to help...

I want to hear from you....

Comments, feedback & questions welcomed...