Easter Story Cookies

My friend Ellen just sent me this. I think I have it, or something like it, in my stash of calendar research. What's coolest to me, is that my friends so know me that they think of me when certain things come their way.

This is a great hands-on tradition for the kids - it's another Eating History thing (I mentioned this in the Seder post). Kids or no kids, I suggest we do it for OUR inner-child......

EASTER STORY COOKIES
To be made the evening before Easter.
You need:
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces (I have a wooden meat pounder I use for doing this). Remember 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 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Remember 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. Remember 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. 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 1c. sugar. 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. 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. With each mound imagine the rocky tomb where Jesus' 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. Remember that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
(Read Matt. 27:65-66.)
GO TO BED! Feel sad about leaving the cookies in the oven overnight. Remember Jesus' followers were sad when the tomb was sealed.
(Read John 16:20 and 22.)
On Easter morning, open the oven and help yourself to cookies. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! Remember that on the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
(Read Matt. 28:1-9)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16