Brightly colored,festively decorated eggs are an integral part of an Easter celebration. For children growing up in the Southwest United States, cascarones are an ever growing part of the festivities. These cheerful pastel colored eggs filled with brightly colored bits of paper come from a long tradition born in South America.
Cascarones, Traditional Mexican Easter Eggs:
Other countries around the world have their own version of an egg cracking ceremony; one that symbolizes rebirth, luck and hope. Only cascarones take the solemn ceremony of the egg cracking traditions and turn it into a game that will thrill young and old alike.
To begin your event, eggs are hidden and hunted just like any other Easter egg hunt. The event usually turns to mischief after Sunday dinner has been eaten. Traditionally, cascarones are held in the palm of the hand. You sneak up on your unsuspecting victim (or you pursue them in a chase) and gently smack them on top of the head with the egg causing bits of colored egg shell and confetti to cover your targets head. It is a good idea to do this in the yard if at all possible to save messy clean up.
How to Collect Egg Shells for Cascarones:
If you don't want to have to crack open and empty lots of eggs all at once, it's a good idea to begin saving egg shells in advance. How far in advance you begin will depend on the number of eggs you go through on a regular basis and how many eggs you want to make.
How to Make Cascarones:
To make your cascarones the first thing you will need are the egg shells. As you open each egg, carefully crack the top open at the narrow end making a hole about 1/2" to 1/3" wide. Empty out the egg (at this point These shells can be kept indefinitely.you can freeze the egg for later use). Wash the shell by placing it in a bath of warm water and dish soap, let it soak for about 10 min. Gently swish the water around inside the shell, rinse and let air dry. These shells can be kept indefinitely.
Your next step will be to decorate your eggs. They can be colored using Easter egg colors purchased at a store, with food color and water or even just using crayons or acrylic paint. If fancy eggs are desired, first dip the shells in egg color, allow them to dry then paint flowers, bunnies etc. with acrylic paint. Stencils are a great way to apply cute Easter decorations to your egg without the need for a keen artistic eye.
After your eggs have dried completely, it's time to fill them with confetti. Any type of confetti will work; colored construction paper torn to little bits will do fine or you can buy filling at the store. Fill the shells about 1/3 of the way full.
Next the eggs will need to be capped. You will need tissue paper, scissors and glue. First cut squares of tissue paper large enough to cover the hole at the end of the egg. Draw a small ring of glue around the opening of the egg and apply a sheet of tissue paper. Allow a few minutes for the glue to dry and you're done.
Traditionally cascarones are assembled the Saturday before Easter but if time does not allow, they can be made as far ahead of time as needed.
Jackie Milligan - My name is Jackie and I am a foodie. As a small child, my mother inspired me with the love of good fresh food made from scratch. I ...
