Easter Story Cookies!

Ingredients; 1 cp. whole pecans, 1 t. vinegar, 3 egg whites, 1 cp. sugar, zipper baggie, wooden spoon, tape and bible.

Our Easter family tradition is making Easter Story Cookies. The night before Easter Sunday we make the cookies and in the morning when they wake up they get to see the hollow cookies all ready to eat. I forget how I found this idea but I love it and it has become something we do with the kids to remind them of the sacrafice the Savior made for us and the miracle of his Resurrection and the gift that He gave to us of Repentance and Eternal Life. For anyone who would like to try this with their children, here is what you do;
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break 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 tsp. into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30

Add egg white to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10 and 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' followers and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cp. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us and so does Heavenly Father. He wants us to know him and return to Him and His Father.
Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 10-12 min. until stiff peaks form (I let each child have a turn with the mixer). Explain that 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

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons (I let the kids do one or two each) onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents 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 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 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. HE HAS RISEN!

I am so blessed to have the knowledge and a testimony of the Saviors sacrafice and to share it with those I love most. It all boils down to that one day in history where a king, the prince of peace, our Savior, our brother was resurrected. He is risen, He is risen...SHOUT IT OUT TO ALL THE EARTH!