Egg-sperimenting with a Classic

Now for all you deviled egg lovers, I'm sure you have your tried-and-true favorite recipe, but have you ever put your deviling skills to the test? Here are some fun, crowd-pleasing ways to present your eggs beyond the classic cut. Colored Deviled Eggs: Who said egg dyeing had to stop at the shell? Go one step further by coloring your deviled egg whites for the easiest way to elevate your appetizer game. While you can do this with food coloring, you can just as easily color them with beets. Beets are a natural dye and leave the eggs a bright pink, perfect for an Easter gathering. To dye your eggs, first cook and peel them. Simultaneously, add sliced beets, 2 cups water, ½ cup apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp salt to a pot and simmer over medium heat until the beets are tender. Once the beets are tender, set everything aside to cool before transferring to a large bowl. Then submerge your peeled eggs for at least two hours or overnight. (The longer they are submerged, the bolder the color will be.) Once dyed, cut your eggs lengthwise. The center should remain a bright white, contrasting the bold color of your dye. Note: you can also dye your eggs by cutting in half and removing the yolk first before submerging the halves. This will allow your eggs full color. If you'd prefer to do this with food coloring, follow the same process, but mix together 1 cup water, 1 tsp white vinegar and 2 to 3 drops of food coloring. Dyeing with food coloring will take less time so be sure to keep an eye on them. Deviled Egg Tulips: If you're adverse to dyes, or looking for a more artistic presentation, look no further than these deviled egg tulips—they're almost too charming to eat. With a few knife cuts, a Ziploc and a handful of green onions, you can turn an easy, sometimes uninspired appetizer into a beautiful floral finger food. To make this bouquet, cook your eggs as usual, but instead of cutting lengthwise, cut a criss-cross along the top and slightly down the sides—almost as if you're carving a pumpkin. Use a small spoon to slide the yolk out of the white. Once you have your egg yolk mixture, use a piping bag (or a Ziploc bag with a corner snipped off) to pipe the whites with filling. To finish, I simply laid the green onion on a platter and placed the "tulips" on top; however, some have gone far enough to poke a hole in the bottom of the eggs to stick the green onion through. There are so many possibilities for switching up this longtime favorite whether through its taste or presentation. With a bit of inspiration, you can turn an already crowd-pleasing dish into something egg-ceptional.