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For families with children of all ages
Here's a Lenten cookie recipe that's been around a long time. Making these cookies provides your family a unique way to learn about Christ's death and resurrection.
Materials
• Bible
• 1 cup (.24 l) whole pecans
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• 1/4 teaspoon (1.15 ml) salt
• 1 cup (.24 l) sugar
• 1 large resealable plastic bag
• Wooden spoon or mallet
• Mixing bowl and utensils
• Mixer
• Waxed paper
• Cookie sheet Food-n-Faith Activity
1. Preheat your oven to 300° F (150° C). This must be done or the cookies will not turn out. Cover your cookie sheet with a layer of waxed paper.
2. Explain to your family that you will be making a very special kind of cookie. This cookie will help them learn about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Take turns reading the Bible passages as you prepare the cookies.
3. Fill the resealable plastic bag with the pecans. Ask a family member to beat them with the wooden spoon or mallet. Say, "When Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him just like you are beating the pecans." Read Mark 15:15.
4. Open the vinegar bottle and pass it around for your family to smell. As you pour the teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl, say to your family, "Can you imagine being given this to drink? That's what the Roman soldiers gave to Jesus when he got thirsty while hanging on the cross." Read John 19:28-29.
5. Separate the egg whites from the yolks (save these yolks for another recipe, please). As these egg whites are added to the recipe, explain that eggs are a symbol of life. Jesus gave his life on the cross for us so that we might live. Read John 10:10-11 and 1 John 5:12.
6. Give each of your family members a taste of salt. When we cry, our tears contain a little pinch of salt. Add the salt to the recipe and say that this is a reminder of the tears that Jesus' family and friends cried when he died. Add the salt to the recipe. Read Luke 23:27 and John 20:11-13.
7. Add the sugar to your mix. Explain to your family that the sugar represents the sweetness of God's love for us in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins. Read Ephesians 5:1-2.
8. With your mixer set on high speed, beat the mixture until stiff peaks form, about 12 to 14 minutes. As this happens the mixture will turn white, the color of purity. Because Jesus died for our sins, we are pure in the eyes of God. Read Psalm 103:12.
9. Gently fold the nuts into the egg mixture. Drop teaspoonfuls of the mixture onto the cookie sheet. You are now done making the cookies. Explain that before he died, Jesus said, "Everything is done!" Jesus was saying that the price for our sins was now paid! Read John 19:30.
10. Turn the oven off. Place the cookie sheet in the oven and close the door. Tell your family that this is like Christ's friends placing his body in the tomb. A large, heavy rock was rolled in front of the entrance to the tomb so that his body could not be stolen. Roman soldiers guarded the tomb as added security. Read Matthew 27:57-65. And remember, the oven should be turned off.
11. Now it's time to go to bed. Your family may feel anxious about leaving the cookies in the oven overnight. Tell them that the followers of Jesus were scared, frustrated, sad, and anxious after his death as he lay in that dark tomb. Remind your family that the sadness of the followers of Christ turned to joy. Read John 20:19-20.
12. Open the oven on Easter morning and take out the cookies. Give one to each family member, inviting them to take a bite. Surprise! The cookies are hollow and empty inside, just like Jesus' tomb on that Easter morning so long ago. He is risen! Read Luke 24:1-12.
13. Pray together, "Lord, thank you so much for dying for us on the cross. Our sins are forgiven because of what you did. We can now have a friendship with you forever! Amen" |
