The Easiest Way to Decorate Easter Eggs with the Kids

 

I was kind of dreading decorating the eggs with the kids this year until I discovered a new technique. The old technique involves a dipping process which is messy and time consuming, and you have to add vinegar to the dye to make deep colors. The vinegar inevitably makes the eggs taste awful. 

Even with newspapers, towels, and everything else you can think of, the process is a mess.

But this year I found a new way.

       First, start with eggs that are blown out. The process to create these involves poking two small holes in each egg, one at the top and one at the bottom. Make the bottom hole slightly larger. Then blow the egg innards into your favorite recipe (like STMJ), and rinse out the egg shells. Let them dry. It can be helpful to do this well in advance of decorating day.

     Then get some small, sandwich-sized plastic bags from the dollar store. They do not need to be locking like those ziploc-style bags. And while you are shopping, pick up a variety of pack of food coloring from the baking section.

     Next, put a drop of food coloring of your preferred color in a plastic bag, and add the egg. Smear the coloring around the egg as desired. Do all of the eggs and use all of the colors. A single drop of food coloring goes a long way.

     Let the eggs dry and enjoy.

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread: A Delicious and Easy Recipe for the Breadmaker

 Lemon poppy seed bread is a delicious and easy-to-make treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is perfect for breakfast, snack time, or dessert. This recipe can be made in a breadmaker, which makes it even easier to prepare.

This recipe accomplishes two things: it uses up extra lemons from the garden and extra eggs from the ducks.

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3 tablespoons poppy seeds

2 teaspoons lemon juice

2 teaspoons lemon zest

1 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

Instructions:

Breadmaker Instructions:

Put all the ingredients in your breadmaker's bowl and place in the breadmaker. Program your machine for the Quickbreads setting.

Oven Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, poppy seeds, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, and sugar until well combined.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips

For a sweeter bread, increase the amount of sugar to 1 1/2 cups.

For a more moist bread, add 1/2 cup of sour cream or yogurt to the batter.

To make a lemon poppy seed cake, bake the batter in a 9x13 inch pan for 35-40 minutes.

To make a lemon poppy seed muffin, bake the batter in 12 muffin tins for 15-20 minutes.

Variations

Add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to the batter for a chocolate lemon poppy seed bread.

Add 1/2 cup of dried cranberries to the batter for a cranberry lemon poppy seed bread.

Add 1/2 cup of chopped nuts to the batter for a nutty lemon poppy seed bread.

Serving Suggestions

Lemon poppy seed bread can be sliced and served with butter or cream cheese.

It can also be used to make sandwiches or French toast.

Lemon poppy seed bread can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Discover the Delicious and Nutritious Indonesian Drink: How to Make STMJ

STMJ is a traditional Indonesian drink that is known for its rich flavor and nutritional benefits. The name STMJ is an acronym for the four main ingredients that make up the drink: susu (milk), telur (egg), madu (honey), and jahe (ginger). This popular beverage is commonly consumed for breakfast or as a pick-me-up throughout the day, especially during cold weather.

To make STMJ, you will need to start by boiling a piece of fresh ginger in water until it becomes fragrant. Then, you will need to strain the ginger water into a blender or food processor along with a raw egg, honey, and condensed milk. Blend the mixture until it is frothy and smooth. You can also add a pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg to enhance the flavor. Serve the STMJ hot or cold, depending on your preference.

STMJ is not only delicious, but it is also packed with nutrients that are beneficial for your health. Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties, while eggs provide a good source of protein and healthy fats. Honey is a natural sweetener that is rich in antioxidants, and milk is a great source of calcium and vitamin D. This drink is a perfect way to start your day off on the right foot or as a nutritious snack anytime you need a quick energy boost.

Egg Suzette

     One day I went deep diving into my antique cook book collection to try to find out some more interesting recipes to cook eggs, as I had a surplus of duck eggs to deal with. We had been loving the scrambled eggs and egg salad sandwiches. But honestly, I was getting tired of it. 

     But check this out, the finished picture is on the bottom left.

     Yep, you got it. It's deviled potatoes made with eggs and sour cream. The kids also love this recipe. I like to scoop out the cooked inner potato, give that to the rabbits, then pour the eggs mixture into and around the potato shells. Then add cheese and bake in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes until the eggs are cooked.

     The internet says Princess Diana used to love this recipe and would eat it every morning for breakfast.

Imitation Starbucks Egg Bites

• 3 cups egg whites or 8 large eggs
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, diced
• 1 cup spinach, finely chopped
• 1 cup monterey jack or cheddar cheese, shredded

Blend the eggs and cottage cheese together, then add this and the rest of the ingredients to the greased silicone molds. Bake at 325 for one hour or until egg whites are set.

     While I was making this recipe I realized that I no longer had any muffin tins for some reason. So I had to use the use the silicone molds, and cook and eat the rest of the mix immediately, which wasn't bad at all. I didn't have any spinach or peppers, so mine were just duck eggs, cottage cheese, and shredded cheese. And it was surprisingly good.