You will need:
-1 cup whole pecans
-1 teaspoon vinegar
-3 egg whites
-pinch salt
-1 cup sugar
-1 large plastic zip bag
-wooden spoon
-mixing bowl
-cookie sheet
-wax paper
-tape
-Bible
-Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important: don't wait until you're half done with the recipe). Place the pecans in the large plastic zip bag and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat Him. Read John 19:1-3.
-Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon of 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. Tell the children that the eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
-Sprinkle a little salt into both hands of each child. Let the children taste it from one hand and brush it from the other hand 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.
-Say: "So far the ingredients are not very appetizing." Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the 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 God sees in those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
-Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto a 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 have them seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
-Go to bed (Make sure the oven is off). 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 given 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.
