Easter Cookies

My mother-in-law, Nan, gave me this recipe. She received it from a friend in Laurel. This recipe came from a very old rural Baptist Church in Jones Co. and they use this every Easter with the children. Enjoy!

Easter Story Cookies

To be made the evening before Easter

1 c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 c sugar
1 zip lock bag
Wooden spoon
Tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Place pecans in zip lock bag 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 10:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into a 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’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 c sugar. 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 the egg whites and other ingredients on high speed 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 teaspoonsful onto a waxed 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 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’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20-22.

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.

Amazing Grace

Last night I went with a friend to see the movie Amazing Grace. Although I am not sure how historically accurate the film is...it tells a great story of two redeemed sinners. The movie is based William Wilberforce an Englishman in the House of Commons and his quest to have the English slave trade abolished. As the title suggests, John Newton's song Amazing Grace is an important part of the story. Newton was a childhood pastor of Wilberforce and encourages his life of faith and his quest to abolish slavery as an adult. Newton had been the captain of a slave boat and was saved while on the boat. He left the slave trade shortly there after and become a priest. His redemption and reflection on his previous life led him to write the words of Amazing Grace.

I would love to give you every detail of this movie, but I won't ruin it for you! Hal and I have trouble finding movies that we want or care to see and this is one I would recommend. The gospel is presented in this movie....although not as strongly as I would have liked. :) However, it did allow me to have a conversation with my friend about what Amazing Grace really is. If you haven't seen it already I encourage you to see it. It was good for me to be reminded of God's grace and to remember what He saved me from. Although I wasn't a slave trader who had participated in the death and slavery of many...I too am Chief of Sinners apart from the grace of God. It was also good for me to see someone who passionately pursued to abolish something that he saw in contrary to God's character. I think sometimes I give up to easily....or I don't care enough to do something about it when God's name and character are defiled or called into question.

So go see Amazing Grace this weekend!

Chicago

After three weeks of being on the road, Hal is glad to be home this week and next. Last week I was in Milwaukee with him. We enjoyed a cold,snowy week in Milwaukee! Hal laughed at me when we drove into a parking lot and I was in amazement by the huge mounds of snow they had made to clear the lot. I mean....we get snow in NWA....but not like that! On Friday of last week, we headed for Chicago where we quickly learned why it was the windy city! Even though it was cold and snowy we had a great time walking around the city. We had great Chicago deep dish pizza, saw the Magnificent Mile, ate a Ghirardelli chocolate sundae, and did just a little shopping. We headed home on Saturday afternoon....and were glad to be back in 80 degree Houston weather.