EASTER EGGS
So, for the eggs... I just finished hard-boiling a dozen eggs (good thing we like egg-salad sandwiches, and deviled eggs - if I find the motivation to make them!). I put them in a pot, covered them with water, stuck them uncovered on the stove, and brought them to a hard boil for one minute. Then I removed them from the heat, covered them and let them sit for 18 minutes. After the timer went off, I put them in the sink and ran cold water on them to cool them quickly. Now I need to stick them in the fridge until we're ready to colour them.
My favorite and I think prettiest way to colour them is with food colouring, oil and vinegar. Pour some 1 Tbsp vinegar in a bowl, add a splitch (is that a word?) of vegetable oil and a couple drops of food colouring. Top up the bowls with water. Make up a couple different colours in a few different bowls. Then place an egg in a colour, roll it around with a spoon, remove the egg, dry it with a paper towel, and dip it in another colour.... You get this very pretty marbled effect. The vinegar does the job of setting the colour so that after its dry it shouldn't rub off on your hands.
The other thing I'm going to do with my daughter tomorrow (Saturday) is make resurrection cookies. This is a really cool way to walk your child through the events of Jesus' journey to the cross and the tomb, so that they can experience it with their senses, and have it explained at a level they can understand. I struggle with knowing how much to say to my 4 year old about the how and why of Jesus' death and resurrection. He died because he loves us, but she doesn't even really grasp what death is! At preschool she's been learning the song "God's not dead", and it is so cool to hear her walking around the house singing "God's not dead, NO! He is alive!" Yes, he is alive, and that is SO exciting! He conquered death! He's bigger than that! And he chose to humble himself so that he could show me the incredible depth of his love for me. I am so blessed.
Anyways... the cookie recipe is as follows...
RESURRECTION COOKIES
Read the whole recipe before beginning. Try to do together Saturday night before Easter Sunday.
You need: wooden spoon, Bible, zipper baggie and tape
Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
3 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vinegar
Pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place pecans in zipper baggie 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.
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 c. sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know this and how to 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.
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 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 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
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know this and how to 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.
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 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 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! HALLELUJAH!
Hmm, I've never added oil before when dying eggs. Does this help with something? We're dying our eggs today- except I only have brown eggs...I wonder how different the colors will look this year. So, I've always thought you could use the eggs after for egg salad or something, but people have told me that would be unhealthy- eggs sitting out on a counter for days, and all. I assume from your post, Carmen, that you've never come down with salmonella poisoning or anything...? ;)
ReplyDeleteJen =)
Those sound like awesome things to do. I'm going to tuck the in my mind for next year when Makayla is a little older! Thanks for sharing the recipes.
ReplyDeleteThe oil just makes a cool marbled effect Jen H. I don't know how brown eggs would turn out! They will probably just end up darker. I keep my eggs in the fridge, and only put them out at mealtimes... thus reducing the likelihood of poisoning! I also adapted the recipe above after you posted, because I had WAY too much oil in my bowls, and instead of being swirly looking, it just coated the eggs and the colour couldn't get to them!
ReplyDelete