For some of us, we just don't need a reason to make good things to eat. But if you need a reason, Easter works as well or better than most! Besides, the theme of Easter makes for some very interesting recipes... So, ENJOY!!

Resurrection Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 c. whole pecans
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch salt
• 1 c. sugar
• zipper baggie
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible

Preheat oven to 300 F (this is important-don't wait til you're half done with the recipe). 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.

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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.

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Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.

Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

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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.

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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.

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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 Isa.1:18 and John 3:1-3.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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On Resurrection morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow!

Explain that on the first Resurrection day Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9.

HE HAS RISEN!

Resurrection Rolls

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1 large egg
• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3 Tbs. sugar
• 6 Tbs. butter
• 3 Tbs. dry milk
• 1-1/2 tsp. yeast
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 Tbs. cinnamon
• 24 marshmallows

Combine first 8 ingredients. Let rise till double. Divide into 24 balls and flatten. Mix sugar and cinnamon together. Dip rolls in melted margarine, then into sugar mixture. Wrap roll around a marshmallow, covering completely. Dip once more into butter, and again into sugar. Place rolls in a large greased pan and allow to rise till double. (approx. 35 min) Bake at 375 for about 15 minutes, or until done. Rolls should be completely empty when cooled...like the empty tomb.

Bird's Nests

Ingredients:

• 1 bag Reeses peanut butter chips (10 oz.)
• 1 TBSP. solid shortening (Crisco)
• 1 large can (5oz.) LaChoy thin chow mein noodles
• 1 bag pastel colored M&M peanut candy

Melt entire bag of chips and 1 tbsp. of shortening slowly in microwave or in double boiler on stove top. If using microwave, heat full power in intervals of 30 seconds at a time and then less as chips begin to melt. You want the chips and shortening to be well blended and creamy and hot. DO NOT OVERCOOK!!! Immediately pour the can of chow mien noodles into the peanut butter mixture and toss lightly to coat noodles. Avoid crunching noodles. Using a spatula can help. Do this quickly, making sure the noodles are evenly coated. Drop by spoonfuls onto WAX PAPER and gently form into the shape of a nest, leaving a hollowed area in the center in which you immediately place three M&M peanut candies for the "birds eggs". Helps to have two people! Each batch makes approximately 14 nests. I made these for my Kindergartners and teachers and everyone loved them! My sis found this recipe years ago and the Nests have become a family tradition! Let me know how you liked them! ENJOY!

Bird Nest Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• Your favorite cupcake mix
• Your favorite frosting mix
• Long strand coconut
• jelly beans (pastel Easter colors)

Bake your cupcakes. When cool frost with white or chocolate frosting. Decorate with coconut around the outside circle of cupcake. Place colored jelly beans in centre. Coconut can be toasted if you prefer a brown nest!

Bunny Cake

Ingredients:

• Cake mix - baked to form two circular cakes
• Frosting (either homemade or store bought)
• Licorice for whiskers - M&Ms for decoration

You have two circular cakes, as though each would normally be one layer of a birthday cake. One is the head. The other is used the make ears and a bow tie. Cut the two ears out of either side of the circular cake, and then the center becomes a bow tie. Assemble the pieces, put frosting on it, and decorate it, making a face on it, etc. We used white frosting for most of it, and pink frosting for the center of the ears. I think we used licorice for whiskers, and put M&Ms all over the bow tie.

Bunny Pudding

Ingredients:

• Cool Whip or other "tub" whipped topping
• Prepared chocolate pudding
• Serving bowls

Spoon whipped topping into bowls; smooth top. Scoop out bunny shape with spoon. Using fresh, clean spoon, carefully fill "bunny hole" with chocolate pudding. Serve asap. Servings: depends on quantities used and sizes of bowls. A small tub of whipped topping with a small box of pudding makes 4-5 one cup servings.

World's Best Chocolate Easter Eggs

Ingredients:

• 1 cup soft butter
• 2 tsp salt
• 4 tsp vanilla
• 1 can condensed milk (Eagle Brand)
• 10 cups icing sugar
• 1 tsp. yellow food coloring
• 1 lb. semisweet chocolate

Beat butter, salt and vanilla until fluffy. Add milk, beat in sugar. Blend until stiff. Dust with brown sugar. Knead til smooth. Set aside more then 2/3 of mixture. To the remaining mixture add yellow food coloring. Blend in well. Divide yellow and white into 16 or 24 pieces. Shape yellow into ball, mould white around yellow to form an egg shape. Dry at room temperature on paper towels for 24 hours. Melt chocolate in double boiler or in microwave until smooth. Dip eggs in chocolate. (paraffin wax may be added and melted with chocolate to prevent chocolate from melting in your hands). Once dipped cool at room temperature. Refrigerate after cool. When sliced these eggs will have a white cream filling with a yellow filling that appears to be the yolk. They look nice sitting in an Easter basket!!