easter cookies

Okay, we were talking about these cookies last night at our MOPS@ group and then Anna found the recipe online. They are a great way to teach your children about what happens on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Although, I don't think we'll be making these cookies this year (Naomi just won't get it yet) I do plan on saving the recipe to use in the future. But, I wanted to share it here with y'all in case you may be interested in using it now! Enjoy, and if you make the cookies, let me know how they turned out...oh and do you think I could use something other than pecans? I know everyone here in Texas LOVES pecans and they are easy to come by, but I'm not a big fan! Anyway, here's the recipe!

Easter Story Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
duct tape
Bible

Directions

Begin on Easter Saturday.

Preheat oven to 300*F
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19: 1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon 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 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 and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus's followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23: 27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar to the bowl. 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 sheets. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus's body was laid. Read Matt. 27: 57-60.

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' followeres were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16: 20 and 22.

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

HE HAS RISEN!

(This recipe is by Wanda Long and appeared in Home Life magazine.) And I found it here.