USE CAUTION WHEN SELECTING EASTER EGGS

COLLEGE STATION – A few minutes hunting the right eggs and cooking them right will ensure your Easter holiday is safe.

With Easter Sunday approaching on April 23, Dr. Sarah Birkhold, poultry specialist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, said, “Easter egg hunt is a time-honored tradition in many families, and children look forward to it with approaching excitement.”

“Eggs also have been used to celebrate spring festivals for centuries, and they represent rebirth and renewal of life to many people.”

Birkhold said when using real eggs for decorating and hiding, Grade A eggs should be purchased seven to 10 days in advance.

“Store these eggs in their original carton on the shelf in your refrigerator until you are ready to cook them. This will help them to peel easily,” Birkhold explained.

Eggs should be inspected before purchase to make sure they are not dirty or cracked.

“Dangerous bacteria can enter through a crack in the shell,” she said.

Eggs must be hard-cooked before decorating.

Perfect hard-cooked eggs are simple, she said. First, place eggs in a single layer in a saucepan and add enough cold tap water to cover one inch above the eggs. Cover and quickly bring to a boil; immediately turn off the heat and allow the covered pan to stand for 15 minutes. If necessary, the pan should be removed from the burner to prevent further boiling.

Next, run cold water over eggs or place them in ice water until completely cooled. Dry and refrigerate, or decorate the eggs right away.

Do not decorate cracked eggs, she advised. These can be refrigerated and used as ingredients in holiday recipes.

Decorate Easter eggs using one of the many egg dyeing kits available. However, she cautioned, use the manufacturer’s directions for dyeing eggs.

After decorating, return eggs to the refrigerator until time for the hunt.

“Do not hide eggs where they may come in contact with pets, wild animals, birds, reptiles or insects,” she advised.

“Be especially careful when planning April applications of lawn chemicals,” she said.

Also, do not hide eggs when and where they can come into contact with lawn fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.

Gather eggs as soon as possible after they are hidden. Do not allow them to remain hidden for more than two hours.

After the hunt, eggs should be inspected and cracked eggs discarded, Birkhold said.

“Any uneaten eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week,” she said.

Here is a recipe for using gathered Easter eggs:

GOLDEN CANAPES

½ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon chopped chives, ½ teaspoon prepared mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon hot liquid pepper seasoning, 6 hard cooked eggs, chopped, ½ cup (2 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup chopped pecans, 16 slices cocktail-sized rye bread

In medium bowl, stir together mayonnaise, chives, mustard, salt and seasoning until well blended. Stir in eggs, cheese and pecans until well combined. Dollop each bread slice with 1 rounded tablespoon of the egg mixture. Broil about 6 inches from heat until lightly browned and bubbly, about 1 to 2 minutes.

(Recipe by the American Egg Board)

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