EGGS-TRAVAGANZA

Marilyn Lopes
Extension Specialist, Family Life Education
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
University of Massachusetts

Copyright/Access Information

SAFETY FIRST!

STORAGE

• Refrigerate at 40 degrees F. or below (do not freeze)
• Store eggs in original carton, away from strong odors, in the main section of the refrigerator
• Rotate eggs - first in/first out

HANDLING

• Wash hands, cooking utensils and work area with hot, soapy water
• Use only clean, uncracked eggs

PREPARATION

• Cook eggs thoroughly, until yolks and whites are firm, not runny
• Hold cold egg dishes below 40 degrees F.
• Hold hot egg dishes above 140 degrees F.
• Leave eggs or egg dishes at room temperature no more than 1 hour (including preparation and service)

HARD COOKED EGGS

• Use older eggs, as these will be easier to peel and will not discolor around the yolk.
  
• Place whole eggs in saucepan and cover them with cold water. Put pan over medium heat and bring water to boil. Lower heat and simmer gently for 12 minutes. Rinse eggs immediately in cold water to stop cooking.
  
• To shell, crack the shell on a hard surface, and then roll the egg between the palms of your hands to free the thin membrane from the egg.

EGG DECORATING

The egg symbolizes new life in both Easter and Passover traditions. Children of all ages enjoy decorating hard cooked eggs.

To dye eggs, add 1 teaspoon vinegar and a few drops of food coloring to 1/2 cup hot water. Let the eggs soak in bowls of hot water with different colors in each. Spoon them out when the shells are the desired color. An empty egg carton makes a good drying and decorating stand.

Non-toxic markers could be used to add more decorations to dyed eggs. Other decorations could be made by gluing ribbon, rick-rack, cotton, etc., to the eggs.

EGGSHELL COLLAGES

Save the shells from a number of dyed eggs or dye shells with food coloring. Set out small containers of dyed eggshells and liquid glue. Give each child a Q-Tip or a small brush and a piece of construction paper. Have the children paint designs or pictures on their papers with the glue. Then have them sprinkle the dyed eggshells on their papers and shake off the excess.

Variation: Have the children glue plain white eggshells on pieces of colored construction paper.

HAPPY EGGS, SAD EGGS

For each child, cut two large egg shapes out of construction paper. Draw a happy face on one egg shape and a sad face on the other. Give a pair of the egg shapes to each child. Then have the children hold up their happy or sad egg faces in response to such statements as these: "I played with a friend today; I fell and hurt myself; It's my birthday today." Let the children take turns making their own statements for the others to respond to with their happy or sad egg faces.

MEMORY EGGS

Place two or three different colored eggs in an empty egg carton. Show the eggs to the children, and then close the lid. Ask the children to name the colors they remember seeing. Open the lid to show the children the actual eggs. Continue the game, adding a different colored egg each time.

COLOR CUPS

To make this game, you will need an empty egg carton and several different colored eggs. Mark the bottom of each egg cup with a color corresponding to one of the eggs. Then let the children take turns placing the eggs in the matching colored cups.

Purchase plastic eggs from a craft store; have the children paint styrofoam eggs a variety of colors; or paint blown eggs with tempera, then shellac.