New tradition

Easter is that one holiday that we haven't quite gotten our bearings on our family traditions. Oh we have the basics; egg hung, decorating eggs, and the bunny leaving "tracks" on Easter morning leading to each child's basket. But I wanted something as physical as those things but to teach them of Christ, and I found a great one.

Easter Story Cookies

Ingredients:
1 C whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch of salt
1 C sugar
ziplock bag
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't do it halfway through)
2. Put pecans in ziplock bag and let the 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
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar the drink. Read John 19:28-30
4. Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11
5. Sprinkle a little salt into eah child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest 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
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add one cup of sugar. The sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and love Him. Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16
7. Beat with a mixer on high for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. The color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt 27:57-60
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven off. Give each child a piece of tape and have them seal the door. Explain that Jesus tomb was sealed. Read Matt 27:65-66
10. Go to bed! The children may feel sad to leave the cookies there overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22
11. 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, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt 28:1-9

Ok, so it seems like a lot of work, but I did it with my 3 and 5 year old and it went great! Ok, so not great. But I thought it was really cool. Jayce was a little dissapointed because I prefaced the event with the word 'fun'. It did turn out pretty cool. This may just be my new Easter tradition.