Easter Meringues

Every year for about five years, I've wished I made these special Easter cookies with a story inside the recipe. Last night we did it at long last, as a family, a bit old for it maybe (with kids now 15 & 12), but still fun and delicious. They bake overnight in a hot oven that has been turned off.

One is supposed to bake them the night before Easter, and eat them on Easter morning, but we won't be home on Easter weekend, so we went ahead a little early. Which means YOU can make them at the right time, knowing they've been tested :-) Or have you already made these? What's your story? I think our kids most enjoyed smashing the pecans with wooden spoons, and were most surprised by the strong taste of a few tiny grains of pure salt. I think the pecans MAKE the recipe. Without them, the cookies would be most insipid.

Easter Story Cookies
To be made the evening before Easter.
     1cup whole pecans                       
   Ziplock bag 
   Wooden spoon
   Bible
     1tsp vinegar                                 
     3 egg whites                                
     pinch salt                                  
     1 cup sugar
   Masking tape

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait till you're half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in ziplock bag and let 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 vinegar 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 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 cup 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 Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes 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 Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.  Read Matthew 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 Matthew 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 Matthew 28:1-9.

Posted via email from K's Café