Staff and residents at Kane Glen Hazel undertook a colorful project on March 31 in preparation for the upcoming Easter celebration.

The group dyed 24 dozen eggs by using the traditional food coloring technique in order to make the eggs brighter. Ten residents from each of the three floors joined staff members during the project, which utilized 288 eggs.

“We spread out the work,” said Kathi Lindsley, Therapeutic Recreation Manager at Kane Glen Hazel. “It was a complete success. Using food coloring to dye the eggs makes the eggs so much brighter.”

The colored eggs were stored in a cooler in order to be placed on individual residents’ trays during breakfast on Easter Sunday. Any cracked eggs didn’t go to waste. Instead, those were used to make egg salad based on a recipe provided by one of the Glen Hazel residents. An egg salad social was held.

“We typically discuss residents’ memories of a ‘favorite’ recipe to use to make the egg salad and then make and taste one,” Lindsley said. “The basic recipe is the same but we have variations on the add-in ingredients that make it ‘their’ recipe whether these include relish or chopped pickles, yellow mustard, garlic salt, a splash of vinegar to thin the mayo and a little sugar to tame the vinegar.”

The experience also can be educational. Lindsley said staff and residents discussed how previous generations used to dye their eggs by using different materials such as grass or red onion skins boiled in the water.

“Everyone involved truly enjoyed this project,” Lindlsey said.

For more information contact Kathi Lindsley,Therapeutic Recreation Manager at Kane Glen Hazel , at 412.422.6919.

---