One thing, as a mother, that I have tried my best to make as my mission is to create memories and traditions with my kids that hopefully someday they will pass on to their own kids. I always love to do hands-on activities with my kids especially cooking! A dear friend sent me this recipe a few days ago, and I cannot wait to try it out with my kids on Saturday! It looks very simple, and as you add each ingredient, you will be telling the story of Easter to your kids! This would be a great tradition to start with your kids on the eve of Easter, and that is exactly what I plan to do! So, don’t forget when buying stuff for the Easter Bunny to deliver on Sunday to buy these ingredients for Saturday night to have an Easter Story Baking Good Time! Your little ones will love making, listening, and learning!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Whole Pecans
- 1 Wooden Spoon
- Snack size baggies
- 1 teaspoon of Vinegar
- 3 Egg Whites
- A Pinch of Salt
- 1 cup of Sugar
- Wax Paper
- Tape
Story and Directions:
Step 1: Turn your oven on and set to 300 degrees. Give each kid some pecans (1 Cup) in a snack size baggie. Give each kid a turn with the wooden spoon beating the pecans into small pieces. Explain to them that Jesus was arrested and beaten by the Roman Soldiers. Then, read John 19:1-3.
1Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. 2 The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. 3 “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face. (NLT)
Set the pecans aside for now.
Step 2: Next, let each kid smell the vinegar. Explain how when Jesus asked for a drink and was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Now, read John 19:28-30.
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (NIV)
Put the 1 teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl.
Step 3: Add 3 egg whites to the vinegar. The eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life! Read John 10:10-11. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (KJV)
Step 4: Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand and let them taste it. Then, brush the rest into the mixing bowl. Explain that this salt represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers and friends when Jesus died on the cross. However, it also represents the bitterness of our own sin. Next, read Luke 23:27. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. (NIV)
So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing, right?
Step 5: Add 1 cup of sugar and explain that the sweetest part of the story of the cross is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants to know us and wants us to belong to Him. Now, read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16-17.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (NIV)
Step 6: Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color of white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. We are washed clean and white as snow once we ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (NIV)
1There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (NLT)
Then, fold in the broken pieces of pecans from step 1.
Step 7: Drop mixture by teaspoon onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid after they took him down from the cross. Next, read Matthew 27: 57-61.
57 As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, 58 went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. 59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. 60 He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. 61 Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching. (NLT)
Step 8: Place the cookie sheet in the oven and close the door. Turn OFF the oven! Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that just like Jesus’ tomb was sealed by a stone, you are sealing the oven. Read Matthew 27: 65-66.
65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it. (NLT)
Step 9: Go to BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight, but that is exactly how Jesus’ friends felt when they had to leave him in the tomb. Read John 16: 20 and 22.
20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. (NLT)
22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. (NLT)
Step 10: On Easter Morning, open the oven! Give each child a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and have the kids take a bite of their cookie. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb OPEN and EMPTY! Read Matthew 28: 1-9.
1Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. (NLT)
HE HAS RISEN!
