Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Easter cookie recipe.

Recently (what seems like yesterday and a lifetime ago) I moved 700 miles away from almost everyone I know and love.  One of the things that has made the move less traumatic is our wonderful neighbors.  The grumpy but sweet, nosy, old fella and his compensatory wife remind me of home.  I adore them.  The other couple is only a bit older than us with a little girl between the ages of my oldest and second.  On Easter last year she made these wonderful cookies and sent them down to my kids (my husband ate more than they did, I'm sure.)  They are like sweet puffed air whose ephemeral delight was captured into a crisp, white stasis. They melt back into yumminess when you take a bite.  She was kind enough to share her recipe.  If I did Pintrest, I would pin it; but my life is too absorbed by electronics as it is so I stay away from there!  I think the idea of telling the story while spending time in the kitchen with kids is wonderful, but the cookies are better than any cookie I've ever had and worth making every day of the year!  (And that's saying something from a recovering sugar addict!)

Easter Story Cookies Recipe

To be made the
evening before Easter

You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Wooden spoon, tape, and a Bible

Preheat oven to 300* F (This is important-don’t wait until you’re half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in a zipper baggie and let children use the
wooden spoon to break them into small pieces. 
Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman
soldiers.  He gave Himself to be broken for us.  (Read John 19:1-3)

Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 tsp. vinegar into the mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.  (Read John 19:28-30)

Add egg whites to the vinegar.  Eggs represent life.  Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us
life.  (Read John 10:10-11)

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand.  Let them taste it.  Put a pinch of salt into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of our own sin.  (Read Luke 23:27)

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story
is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. (Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16)

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.  Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.  (Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3)

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. (Read Matt. 27:56-60)

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.  Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.  Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.  (Read Matt. 27:65-66)

Go to bed!  Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.  (Read John 16:20 and 22)

On Easter morning, open up the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty!  (Read Matt. 28:1-9)

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