Resurrection Cookies

There are so many fun activities to do with your kids during Holy Week.  I like to make these with my youngest daughter, Catherine.  We've made them several times and they are very easy to make. Make sure you have a bible handy!

Resurrection Cookies

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar, plus some for your children to taste
3 egg whites
pinch salt, plus some for your children to taste
1 cup sugar, plus some for your children to taste


Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. It is very important to preheat the oven before you begin.

Jesus is arrested and beaten by the soldiers. Mark 43 & 65
Place pecans in a plastic baggie and crush them up with a rolling pin or whatever you have. beat them with a rolling pin or wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Jesus was given vinegar to drink. Matthew 27:34
Taste and smell the vinegar. Add vinegar to a mixing bowl.

Jesus gave his life for our lives. John 10:10-11
Add egg whites to vinegar.

Tears were shed by Jesus' followers. Luke 23
Tears are salty. Add the salt to the bowl.

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.  Isaiah 1:18


So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add the sugar to the egg whites, and give some for your children to taste. 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.   John 3:16


Jesus was laid in a rocky tomb. Matthew 27:57
Fold in the broken nuts and drop by teaspoonfuls into little mounds on a parchment or wax covered cookie sheet.

The tomb was sealed. Matthew 27:60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

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.

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. Mark 16:6

Holy Week and Veggie Gardening in Houston

Yesterday was Palm Sunday and like any good Catholic Mom you are probably waking up to a table  full of palms. Hmmmm. Can't toss them, they are blessed aren't they? Hmmmm.... I have the answer for you! Below is a website (not Catholic, but gets the job done) that shows how to make palm crosses.  I like to make them and tuck them into a bible or adhere to a cross somewhere in the house.  

http://www.kingofpeace.org/palmcrosses/

Now that problem is solved! 

Today is tax day.  We had to pay :(  For the first time in years, since before kids, we had to pay.  My husband had a job change last year and our income went down $5,000 this year but we still had to pay.  Hmmmmm....  It's going to get worse before it gets better, I guess, so I wake up this morning more determined than ever to try to simplify our lives.  Here's my challenge this week: no eating dinners out.  I am going to make up the amount I sent to the IRS in two weeks by skipping 3 meals for my family out.  That should save around $90.00, just enough to cove our bill.  

Next problem solved!  On to something more fun!  A garden update.  I am posting pics of how my garden has grown in the weeks since I put everything in.  The zucchini I was so worried about is blooming but I think I need bees to get the zucchini's to form. Anyone have any insight into this??  I am desperate to get zucchinis this year. 

See the blooms!

Little cucumbers are already forming!

This is the herb garden, closer to the kitchen door, for easy access.  The bloom belongs to a pumpkin, I hope it produces a pumpkin for fall!

This is malabar spinach which is very similar to the spinach we buy in the grocery store.  I think it needs thinning out because it is supposed to grow taller, like a vine.  I really have no idea what I am doing, I just try to look stuff up on the internet and give it a try.  I hope this works, we LOVE fresh spinach leaves in our salads.   Well, it's off to get ready for work. Have a great week!

Catholic Resurrection Eggs

Since my kids were little we've been using a set of Resurrection eggs that I purchased from Walmart years ago.  The eggs were great and my kids LOVED using them every year.  This week I ran across this version that a Catholic mom crafted for her kids.  They are really good, as is her blog on Catholic projects.  If you have kids I recommend you make a set of these today, Palm Sunday, and use them all through Holy Week! Tomorrow I will post another idea for families and Holy Week.
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