my kind of easter eggs

we don't do easter, but this year after visiting ohio, i remembered a little something from my childhood that i couldn't wait to make for easter: beet pickled eggs. i haven't downloaded the pictures of my eggs from my camera yet, but here's what they look like (from a site called aeri's kitchen):


they are so pretty and pink-y red that they fit the season perfectly. these are an amish food, and really popular where i grew up because ohio has the largest amish population in the world. i think these eggs are so popular there because northeast ohio is also very eastern european (mainly hungarian, romanian and austrian, with some polish) and these people love them some pickled foods. my grandparents always had these beautiful pickled eggs in a jar in the house. YUM!

i adapted a recipe that i found online at allrecipes.com, and it turned out deliciously. i'll be making them again--even lee thinks they are great! imagine, hard-boiled eggs with a little sweet and sour-ness to them. if you like eggs and you like beets, you'll probably like these. this is a quick pickled version. the one true pickle recipe i found made a gallon of eggs and beets. i just don't think we're there yet... that's a lot of pickled eggs to eat, my friend!

beet pickled eggs

8 eggs
2 15-oz. cans of sliced beets, with liquid (i used the no salt added kind)
1/2 c cider vinegar
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c water
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pepper corns

1. put eggs in a pot of water on the stove to boil. once the water boils, TURN OFF the burner and set the timer to 9-12 minutes (this time depends upon how firm you like your yolks. if you like firmer, use 12 minutes. i like my yolk normally a little soft--about 8 minutes--but for these eggs 10 minutes was a perfect time).
2. after the eggs are done, drain hot water and soak in cold water for about 10 minutes. then peel the eggs and set aside in a GLASS OR PLASTIC BOWL*.
3. in a saucepan, combine beets and liquid with the rest of the ingredients. stir until sugar dissolves and bring to a boil. pour this over the eggs.
4. cover and chill for at least 4 hours or set overnight.

*a metal bowl will make the eggs slimy--it's the metal vinegar reaction thing. the liquid will turn plastics red. i like to use a glass bowl for this.