Natural Easter Egg Dyes

- Using the foods and flowers found in nature to color eggs is better for you, your family and the Earth. The colors will muted and lighter than synthetic commercially prepared dyes.

- Pick four colors and corresponding botanicals from the list below. Your stove probably only has four burners, and that is why we are limited to 4 colors.

- If you want to use a white crayon to make designs or write names on the eggs, do it a this time. - Place the uncooked white eggs in a single layer in a pan. Add water until the eggs are covered.

- Add 1 teaspoon of vinegar and the natural dye. Use more dye material depending on the amount of eggs or for a more intense color.

- After water comes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

- If you are satisfied with the color, remove the eggs from the dye solution. The color will lighten once the egg dries.

- If you want the color to be more intense, you can soak overnight. Remove the eggs from the liquid. Strain the dye through a coffee filter, let the dye solution cool to room temperature. If you want a speckled effect, skip the straining step.

- Cover the eggs with the dye solution and let them soak in the refrigerator overnight.

- Naturally-colored eggs will not be glossy, but if you want a shiny appearance you can rub a bit of olive oil onto the eggs once they are dry.

Colors

Lavender: Small Quantity of Purple Grape Juice, Red Zinger Tea

Violet Blue: Hibiscus Tea, Red Wine

Blue: Blueberries, Red Cabbage Leaves

Green: Spinach Leaves, Liquid Chlorophyll

Yellow: Orange or Lemon Peels, Ground Turmeric

Orange: Yellow Onion Skins, Cooked Carrots, Paprika

Pink: Beets, Cranberries or Juice, Raspberries, Juice from Pickled Beets

Red: Lots of Red Onions Skins, Canned Cherries with Juice, Pomegranate Juice, Raspberries

Juicy locally grown tomatoes

Thank goodness for Olowalu Nui Farm, who are supplying the delicious Maui grown Hydroponic Tomatoes. The farm was started 10 years ago by Jon Applegate. He owns and operates different restaurants with Italian menus. He was having a hard time finding good tomatoes for his dishes, especially green for fried green tomatoes. After one greenhouse went up in Hana he soon realized that other restaurants around the island were interested in purchasing his tomatoes. In response, two more greenhouses were built. Five years ago Jon sold the property in Hana and moved his farm to Olowalu to be closer to his restaurants, which include Basil Tomatoes Italian Grill, Giovannis Tomato Pie and Jonny's Burger Joint. The farm then added an orchard with apple bannanas, papayas, mangoes, citrus, melons and cucumbers. Recently, a fourth greenhouse has been added to keep up with the growing interest for our tomatoes.

Maui grown Turmeric

Buy the fresh root while you can, because this week, we are getting the last of the Olena (turmeric) harvest from Olinda. 
Olena, is one of the "Canoe Plants" that Polynesian voyagers thought important enough to bring with them on their journey to Hawaii. Olena's botanical name is Curcuma domestica. It is best known throughout the world as Turmeric, and is a member of the ginger family.

The vibrant orange color of the juice is what gives curry it's unique color and is guaranteed to stain your fingers, counter top and cutting board, so use caution (an gloves) when handling! In addition to it's culinary uses, Turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic healing for it's antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Currently, there are over 19 clinical trials underway.

Wild Carrot Herbals

The best quality and yummiest products come form Wild Carrot Herbals. I personally love the "Lord My Hands Are So Dry" lotion, their longest running product. This one has seen them all! Drummers, gardeners, mechanics, sculptors, painters, and builders have all experienced the dermal revival this lotion can provide. Contains distilled water, organic aloe vera, organic coconut oil, organic olive oil infused with St. John's wort flowers, raw shea butter, virgin cocoa butter, vegetable-based emulsifying wax NF, vegetable glycerin, lanolin, non-GMO tocopherol vitamin E, rosemary oleoresin extract, potassium sorbate, and essential oils of peru balsam, vanilla, frankincense and myrrh.
In addition to this lotion, we have 2 facial toners, a cardamon cleanser, borage butter, vanilla bean skin cream, wild rose eye cream and the playful Firefly Sparkle Lotion.

The best traveling beach hat ever!

This plaited raffia visor is lightweight and Packable. It breathes really well under the hot sun. Interior soft cotton sweatband. 100% genuine natural raffia.A portion of the sales are contributed to Hope For Madagascar, a charitable non-profit organization which aims to reduce poverty and improve the well-being of the Malagasy people while preserving the unique biodiversity of Madagascar's environment.

Stylish hats and Hope for Madagascar

Madagascar Hat Company is a wholesaler of fair trade crafts made of high quality natural raffia fibers from Madagascar. They work with native artisans in Madagascar and a portion of sales are contributed to Hope For Madagascar, a charitable non-profit organization which aims to reduce poverty and improve the well-being of the Malagasy people while preserving the unique biodiversity of Madagascar's environment.

Plant Seeds of Change

Spring has sprung and it's time to plant a garden! We have an amazing selection of organic and heirloom seeds from Seeds of Change.

For over 20 years, Seeds of Change has remained true to their original vision by offering the largest selection of organic seeds in the industry, including heirloom, traditional, and rare seeds. Their seeds are produced through a network of certified organic family farms and professional growers. Through these partnerships, they continually cultivate study and develop seeds with the goal of producing the finest certified organic, open-pollinated varieties to share with our fellow gardeners and farmers.

Spring Cleaning

1. Declutter: have a clothes swap or garage sale. Donate unwanted items to a local charity or thrift shop.

2. Use nontoxic environmentally friendly cleaning products. If you have some extra time, you can even make your own with simple ingredients like baking soda and vinegar. Check out this blog for tips and recipes

3. Use rags instead of paper towels

Fourth Friday tonight!

SPRING! In like a lion (and we’re hoping) out like a lamb. On Friday, March 23, 2012 from 6-9pm, the whole town is celebrating the arrival of a new season. Music, Food, Shopping and Fun for everyone! Check in to www.paiamaui.com for a full listing of events, and like the Paia facebook page for up to the minute updates @ www.facebook.com/paiatown

Happy Spring!

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"  ~Robin Williams

Nana's Sodabread recipe

A great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! I pair my soda bread with Kerry Gold butter and Smoked Salmon. Ingredients: 3 1/3 C whole wheat flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cream of tartar, 1 pint buttermilk (add a bit at a time)

1.Preheat oven to 400 F
2.Sieve Flour, Salt, Baking Soda and Cream of Tartar
3.Make a well in the center of the flour ingredients
4.Pour in Buttermilk and mix to make a soft dough.
5.Turn dough on to floured table.
6.Knead to make a smooth ball.
7.Press into a round flat, about 2 inches thick.
8.Place on to floured baking pan.
9.Cut a cross on the top.
10.Bake for about 30 minutes.

Wet Fire Hot Sauce demo today!

Rudy from Rudy's OG Wet Fire Hot Sauce will be sampling out the goods today at Mana Foods from 12-4 at the bamboo demo bar. Made with Aloha  and organically grown ingredients on Maui, Rudy is donating 100% of profits to charity: SAM Sustainable Agriculture Movement.