PROJECT : To Dye For

The Estonians were dyeing eggs this way before it was cool, long before Martha Stewart discovered the kirjumunad (“variegated egg”) technique. It’s onion skins that give the eggs their mosaic-like patina. And the colors are amazing--yellow, gold, rust and red--every egg turns out different. Who needs food coloring?

Well, actually, you could add color to the eggs after the pattern is set, but we like the fact that we can cook the eggs and make them beautiful in one easy step, without fussing with dyes and vinegar.

You will need:

1 piece cheesecloth

Skins from 3 onions

1 dozen eggs, room temperature

String

1 large saucepan

1 small bowl, optional

1 tablespoon vinegar, optional

Food coloring, optional

Paper towels, optional

* Cut the cheesecloth into 12 (8-inch) squares.

* Tear the onion skins into small pieces and sprinkle some onto each piece of cheesecloth.

* Place an egg in middle of each piece of cheesecloth. Bring each corner of the cheesecloth together, covering the egg, and tie the bundle with string.

* Place the wrapped eggs in a large saucepan. Add cold water to cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and let the eggs simmer 12 minutes. Run cold water over eggs and let them cool. Cut the strings, then remove the eggs and rinse well.

* To add optional color, wait until the eggs are cool before dyeing. Bring 1/2 cup water to boil for each color used. Place 1/2 cup water for each color in small bowl and add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 5 drops of food coloring for pastel shades. (For more intense color, use 10 to 12 drops of food coloring.) Dunk the egg into the bowl and let it sit 1 to 2 minutes or until you like the color. Drain on paper towels.

A 14-Carrot Centerpiece

We thought bunny thoughts when we put together our Easter centerpiece this year. Fresh carrots show through the glass vase, and the tops make great greens to set off spring tulips. To get the best results, buy the carrots the same day you plan to do the arrangement--and don’t refrigerate them (the temperature can make the tops go limp).

You will need:

3 bunches fresh carrots

1 clear glass vase

8 tulips

1 bunch mustard green flowers or other small flowers

* Rinse the carrots and place them in the vase, letting tops spill out from vase.

* Trim bottom of each tulip and mustard green flower. Arrange flowers in greens of carrot tops. Thin out carrot tops by trimming until arrangement looks right to you. Fill vase with cold water.