Rub a Dub Grub

See these ugly ties? Definitely not good for wearing around your neck...they are just not very good looking. But, I have a great use for them. I learned this trick a few years ago from Martha Stewart (who I adore), she learned it from one of her TV staff members. At any rate...it's a really great thing to do with all your really ugly ties. Here is the equipment you will need:
1) Ties (they MUST be 100% silk) 2)plain white cotton fabric squares (I cut up an old sheet) 3)a pot that is either ceramic or glass (metal will react with the vinegar, speaking of which) 4) white vinegar and 5)a twisty tie.

first step: cut a piece of the silk tie big enough to wrap around an egg...then wrap it around an egg (did I mention that these are uncooked eggs?)

Next you are going to wrap a square of plain white cotton fabric (in my case, an old sheet) around the silk that is around the egg. This fabric is going to help hold the silk in place, and hold it tight to the egg's shell.


Use the twisty tie to secure the white fabric tightly on. This is what they will look like when you are done wrapping:


Okay...now take your pot, fill it about 3/4 with water and put it on your stove top and bring the water to a boil. And don't go judging me on this pot. I picked it up specifically for this egg project at my local thrift store. Which, I should point out, is also where you can pick up some ties for 99 cents a piece. Not bad, hmmm? This pot is actually pretty nifty. In addition to being super heavy (cast iron, I believe underneath all that ceramic, it also has a very nifty "stay cool" wooden handle. And besides..what is not to love, I ask you, about that avocado color?

Ok....back to the task at hand. Is your water boiling yet? Go add at least 1/4 cup of vinegar. This is not an exact science. Some people will say you can get away with less, but I am always afraid I will unwrap those eggs and find a plain white egg, so I err on the side of excess.

Next set your eggs into the water

Now set your timer for 20 minutes. and let those eggs boil away. and leave the kitchen if at all possible, because the smell of boiling vinegar is just plain not a good smell. Very yucky, in fact.
As soon as your timer goes off, remove those eggs from the stove, and rinse with cool water. You want to be able to touch the eggs, so rinse as long as necessary (a few minutes will probably do.) Then begin unwrapping!



Don't they look amazing?

nothing like the ugly ties your started with.

And there you have it people. This is my kind of playing with food! ;) Now I better get busy...because I went a little overboard and now I have to figure out what to do with 3 dozen hard boiled eggs....