Divas on a Dime: Monster Deviled Eggs

By Patti Diamond

Bewitchingly Bold Deviled Monster Eggs: A Spooktacular Treat for Halloween!

As Halloween approaches and the ghosts begin to roam, why not conjure up a wickedly delicious twist on a classic treat? Let's take deviled eggs and dress them up for Halloween! Deviled Monster Eggs -- a delightfully deliciously dreadful addition to your festivities!

These wickedly delicious Monster Deviled Eggs are the perfect treat this Halloween! PHOTO CREDIT: www.JasonCoblentz.com

After a night filled with sugary treats, your guests will be thrilled to sink their teeth into these wickedly delicious eggs, perfectly dressed for the occasion. Ideal for little witches and wizards alike, these colorful creations are sure to be the highlight of your haunted gathering. To counterbalance the sugary indulgence and prevent the kiddies from transforming into real monsters with a sugar meltdown, serve these delightful deviled eggs, brimming with protein.

This technique is easy. Start with hard-boiled eggs, gently cracking the shells all over with the back of a spoon. Then immerse the cracked eggs in food coloring to create mesmerizing web-like patterns, transforming them into eerie edible delights.

As I did recipe tests with my family, we were spellbound with every egg we peeled. Each egg was like opening a present. The vibrant crisscross lines and colorful spider web designs emerged like magic, using only black coloring. It's like Halloween, Easter and a spooky Christmas all mashed up into one hauntingly good treat!

DEVILED MONSTER EGGS

Yield: 12 deviled eggs

Prep & Cook Time: 30 minutes

Dye Time: 4 - 24 hours

• Special equipment: a gallon-size plastic zip-top baggie

• One dozen eggs

• 1 teaspoon gel food coloring, black

• 1 1/2 cups water

• 1/2 cup white vinegar

• Your favorite deviled egg recipe or try mine below

To boil eggs: Place eggs into a saucepan, cover with water and heat over medium-high heat, bringing to a full boil. Boil for 5 minutes and remove from heat. Cover the saucepan and let eggs sit in hot water for 12 minutes. Drain the eggs and place in ice water for about 10 minutes, remove from the ice water and place in the refrigerator until ready to color.

To color: Place gel food coloring, water and vinegar in the zip-top bag and smoosh it together. Be careful, as the gel coloring will stain. Use foil to protect surfaces and wear old clothing. I even used latex gloves to save my mani. Using the back of a spoon, lightly smack the eggshells to make cracks. Lots of cracks. Place the eggs in the baggie with the color and smoosh it around to cover the eggs. Place the bag into a glass casserole dish and pop it in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or better, overnight. The longer it sits, the more intense the color will be.

To make deviled eggs: When ready to prepare, peel the eggs. This is fun, so invite the kiddies. Slice eggs lengthwise; place yolks in a bowl and the fabulously colored egg whites on a platter cut side facing up.

EASY DEVILED EGGS

• 12 hardboiled eggs

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise

• 1 tablespoon mustard

• 1 teaspoon vinegar

• Salt and pepper

Mash egg yolks with a fork. Add mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste to the yolks. Mix thoroughly. Place mixture in a piping bag or plastic bag and snip the end with scissors. Pipe into cavities of egg whites.

Remember, this technique isn't just for Halloween -- save it for Easter to create pastel tie-dye eggs or use strong tea for a beautifully subtle brown design known as Chinese Tea Eggs. No matter the occasion, these Monster Deviled Eggs will leave your guests saying "oooh and aahh!" in delight.

***

Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime -- Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com

(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.