I hope you find some fun things to try this Easter. There are so many wonderful ways to celebrate. I've tried to provide so many ideas that your bound to find something you'll enjoy - unless your Jewish but no worries I'll have a Seder Dinner post coming soon. ;)
Hope you have a wonderful Easter.
A friend introduced me to bunny day a few years back. Bunny day is the day before Easter. You ask the Easter Bunny to come a day early so you can do all the fun Bunny things and then you can spend Sunday thinking about Christ's resurrection. It worked well for us. :)
Easter Symbolism
Bunny symbolized new life and rebirth. In ancient Egypt they considered it a symbol of the moon as the moon determines the date of Easter.
Egg The shell can be seen as a nurturing, life giving tomb. The hatching chick represents Christ emerging from the tomb.
Lamb Jesus is associated with the paschal lamb in the Exodus story. The blood of the Passover lamb caused the angel of death to "pass over" the Israelites. John the Baptist calls Jesus "The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
Easter lily: Purity This flowering plant was brought to the United States in the 1880s from Bermuda. At first, these plants were not associated with Easter, but since they bloom near Easter time and the Bible mentions lilies as symbols of beauty (Luke 12:27), a connection seemed natural.
Sand dollar: The markings on this sea creature, also known as the Holy Ghost shell, represent aspects of Christ's birth and death. The five-point outline on the front of the sand dollar represents the star of Bethlehem. The five holes in the sand dollar represent the pierced hands, feet, and side of Christ. Finally, when the sand dollar is opened, it yields five small objects that look remarkably like doves in flight, thus representing the Holy Spirit.
Palms: They represent the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem (John 12:12-15). Many churches refer to the Sunday before Easter as "Palm Sunday." In Catholic and some Protestant churches, palms are burned and their ashes saved until the following year's Ash Wed-nesday—the day marking the first day of Lent.
Wearing new clothes It may have originated from the old practice of having newly baptized Christians wear new white clothes for the Easter celebration. Like many other Easter symbols, the new clothes represent the new life offered through the death and Resurrection of Jesus.
EGGS
Natural Easter Egg Dyes
Color Ingredients
Lavender
Small Quantity of Purple Grape Juice
Violet Blossoms plus 2 tsp Lemon Juice
Red Zinger Tea
Violet Blue
Violet Blossoms
Small Quantity of Red Onions Skins (boiled)
Hibiscus Tea
Red Wine
Blue
Canned Blueberries
Red Cabbage Leaves (boiled)
Purple Grape Juice
Green
Spinach Leaves (boiled)
Liquid Chlorophyll
Greenish Yellow
Yellow Delicious Apple Peels (boiled)
Yellow
Orange or Lemon Peels (boiled)
Carrot Tops (boiled)
Celery Seed (boiled)
Ground Cumin (boiled)
Ground Turmeric (boiled)
Chamomile Tea
Green Tea
Golden Brown
Dill Seeds
Brown
Strong Coffee
Instant Coffee
Black
Walnut Shells (boiled)
Black Tea
Orange
Yellow Onion Skins (boiled)
Cooked Carrots
Chili Powder
Paprika
Pink
Beets
Cranberries or Juice
Raspberries
Red Grape Juice
Juice from Pickled Beets
Red
Lots of Red Onions Skins (boiled)
Canned Cherries with Juice
Pomegranate Juice
Raspberries
Leaf Print Eggs
Naked egg
Egg Science
Green Easter ideas
Squidoo
parenting our children
NON CANDY EGG FILLERS
Healthy Easter Treats - Basket Fillers
Create a Healthy Easter Basket
Watch for chocking hazards use these based on age of kids ;)
Fun band aides
Barbie outfits
Bunny Money - good for specific things Movie night etc
Game tokens to Chuck E Cheese or other game place
Jewelry
Hot Wheels cars (without any detachable parts)
Hair barrettes/bows for girls.
Magnets - alphabet / numbers
Erasers
Animal Crackers
Teddy Grahams
almonds - nuts
raisins
mini pretzels
stickers
pom-poms, pipe cleaners and other arts & crafts kind of supplies
money (like quarters for a state collection)
loving notes (”You’re somebunny special to me!”)
lip balm or lip gloss
seeds to plant
EGG HUNT
In order to keep things some what fair...I hide dozens of plastic eggs empty. Once the kids find all the eggs they turn them in for a special bag of goodies. It doesn't matter how many or how few of eggs the kids find...they all get the same amount of goodies. This really prevents them from getting upset at the end of the hunt if a cousin happens to find more eggs than another because they all know they will still get the same amount of treats. .
Nighttime Egg Hunt
Egg Hunt in the dark with flashlights for adults or older kids. It's a blast!
TREATS/Baskets
Place a plastic egg with a clue inside, under your child's pillow. Let it lead to 3 or 4 more clues, before finally finding the Easter Basket of goodies.
or
Leave a trail of jelly beans from the bedroom door to the Easter Basket.
Using tape or paper, make tiny little rabbit foot prints from the back door to run to the refrigerator, to the couch, to the fireplace, to the bedroom, all over, until they finally run out the front door.
We often use our summer bucket hats or our beach buckets for Easter baskets. You can also use a paper bag. Fold the top of the bag down until you have a nice basket. Staple a rectangle of paper for the handle. Any size works you can use lunch bags or full size bags. Recycle when you're done. ;)
other basket ideas
Real Grass Easter Basket
Knotty Rabbit Instead of a stuffed animal you could make this little cutie! You could use a towel or washcloth.
Bunny Basket from milk carton
Nature Basket - I thought this one was soooo pretty
Peeps in the microwave - smores This is one of our traditions.
More peep experiments
GAMES
Bunny Tag
you pick a person to be it and everybody hops around ....if you run your atomically it.
Bunny Bunny Hop
This game is just like duck duck goose, with 2 changes.
1. Obviously, the words change to "bunny" as you tap each child, and "hop" when one child is selected.
2. Instead of running around the circle, players hop with their feet together.
We found these results to be more fun than duck duck goose. When you start with a great original game which kids already know and like, it doesn't take much to explain the new rules and see their excitement soar!
Bunny May I?
Played just like Mother May I? The child and parent stand at opposite sides of a room. The child asks if he/she may: take so may step forward. i.e. "Mother may I Please take 3 baby steps forward?" the answer would be either, "Yes you may", or "No you may not." The child wins when they reach you. Encourage the use of descriptive words, such as little, big, huge, tiny, and giant. You can also play this with a group of children. The winner would be the one who reaches you first.
Chubby Bunny
Chubby bunnies have guests put marshmallows in their mouths and say chubby bunnies the preson who can fit the most marshmallows in their mouth and still say chubby bunnies wins.
Egg Roll
Egg Roll Here is another Easter game my children love. We also do this at our church's children's egg hunt. Mark off a start and stop point anywhere from 5 to 10 feet apart. Using a hard boiled egg ( can be decorated or plain) have the kids down on hands and knees. Roll the egg across the floor using only there noses. The first one to the finish line without touching the egg with their hands is the grand champion nose roller. Roll the Egg Lol, I'm Laughing already!!!! This one is sooooo fun. If you have more than one child it can be a race, or for one child you can time them. Here goes... place masking tape on the floor for the start and finish lines. Place one plastic egg on the starting line for each child. Explain that the object of the game is to roll the egg to the finish line with YOUR NOSE. If they get too good, add a few obstacles, such as a chair to go around, or tape a line for them to try to follow, be creative.
Easter People Bingo
A potentially hilarious ice breaker submitted by a reader to this site.
Here is a fun idea for an ice breaker. Before your party make up a grid sheet or list with varied personal characteristics in each square or line. Characteristics might be: sings in shower; been to Asia; never had a speeding ticket; watches a soap opera; has met a famous person; wears thong underwear; plays the lottery; speaks at least three languages; etc. Distribute copies of grid sheet to your guests and have them go around and collect unique signatures of guests who have those characteristics. The first person to get all (or the most) squares filled in wins a door prize.
Egghead You take three eggs and hard boil one and leave two raw. Put them in a bowl, have someone pick one out and smash it over their head. If they get the hard boiled one out of three people, they get a prize.
Egg Relay Race The way you play this game is to have at least 15 kids and/or adults.If you were playing with 15 people you would need 5 hard-boiled eggs because there are 3 people on a team and you get the point.Well,you put the egg on the spoon and run with it to the next person in the line(you need to put the three people in a line about 10 to 15 feet apart.)If you drop the egg then you have to go back to YOUR starting point and run with it again.
What is in the Egg? Place different objects inside plastic eggs. Have the children shake the eggs and try to guess what is inside. Open up the eggs:)
Spoon Walk Put an egg (can also use a marshmallow) on a spoon and walking across an area; make an obstacle course if you like. Can also play where you have to pass it to a partner to go back to the beginning is fun. If the egg is dropped, you have to start over. Grown ups have to put the spoon in their mouths. You can also play hide and seek: all of the people who are hiding must balance an object on a spoon as they dash for a hiding spot. If it falls, that's where they have to hide.
Barnyard Each child (blindfold) is given the name of an animal with three children having the same name. No one is allowed to tell another which animal he is. At the signal each child makes the noise of the animal that he has been given. The first group of three animals to find each other and sit down are the winners.
Guessing Game Every year I take a jar filled with various types of Easter eggs, jelly beans, malted, chocolate etc. I count them as I fill the jar add a $5 bill at the top and tape it shut. I leave a piece of paper next to the jar and everyone guesses how many are in the jar...even grandma & grandpa. The person who is the closest without going over is the winner. They win the jar, eggs and the $5. Fun for all.
Pin the tail on the bunny
Just like the donkey birthday game, we played the bunny version, and blind folded the kids , (good for 4's and 5's) spun them around, and using a cotton ball with tape on it, they tried to put the bunnies tail on. We didn't do any type of reward to the one getting the closest, just had fun watching the kids try to put it on!
Bunny Games
Bunny Buzz To Play: All players sit in a circle. Players take turns counting off numbers in turn: 1,2,3,4.... When the number seven is reached, that player must say, "I love the Easter Bunny", instead of seven. When she fails to do so and says seven, she is out of the game. The game continues until only one player is left to be declared the winner. Bunny Flop Equipment: 10 stiff paper rabbits. To play: This game may be played individually or in small teams. Cut 10 rabbits, about 8 cm in size, from stiff paper. Leave about a 3 or 4 cm tab at the bottom so the rabbits will stand when the tabs are bent. Space the rabbits out in a long row on the floor. Each child gets on her hands and knees and sees how many rabbits she can blow over with one breath. Button Bunnies Make paper rabbits with numbers on their stomachs and cover with clear adhesive plastic. Pass out rabbits to children and have them put as many buttons on the stomach as shown by the numeral. Pass rabbits to the left and repeat. Number Guess Say "I'm thinking of a number that tells me how many ears a bunny has....a number that tells me how many paws a rabbit has....." Have children answer the questions Matching Baskets Set out baskets filled with straw or grass, clipping a number on the front of each basket. Children place appropriate number of plastic eggs in each basket. Bunny Game (like Cootie) Make bunny faces for four children out of construction paper. The bunny needs a white head, two white ears with pink inside, and two eyes made of any color. The nose is a black circle on a pink oval with black whiskers drawn on. The mouth is a black smile shape with two large white teeth. You can make a bow tie for each bunny out of yellow. Laminate all pieces. The object of the game is to make a bunny face. Using a die, for each number rolled you get a piece of the bunny's face. For example, roll a one and get a head, roll a two and get an ear, roll a three and get an eye, roll a four and get a nose, roll a five and get a mouth and roll a six and get the tie. Keep rolling until all have created a bunny.
Egg Games
Chant Eggs Have enough plastic eggs for each child in the class and one for yourself. In each egg, put a small rubber or plastic animal or insect that hatches from eggs. ie. fish, snake, turtle, ant, bee, chicken, spider, etc. At circle time, give each child an egg and ask them to open it secretly and see what's inside but not tell anyone. Next begin chanting in rhythm with the children helping you: An egg, an egg, what kind of egg? (still in rhythm say what kind of egg you have) A spi-der egg. (Everyone echos this) A spi-der egg. Continue chanting: An egg, an egg, Jenny, what kind of egg? (Next child says: a chick-en egg (everyone echos) a chick-en egg. Well, I think you got the idea. Continue chanting, inserting childrens' names until all the children have shared the contents of their egg. Hide-An-Egg My big thing now is to hide a plastic egg full of jellybeans (1 egg for each child) around my home. The little ones get the easiest eggs to find. When the child finds his egg, he can eat the jellybeans inside. I plan to do this nearly each day, until Easter. Match the sounds Put the same object in two or more eggs. Put them all in egg cartons. Let the children match the sounds and put them near each other in the cartons. Basketful of eggs Have a big basket full of large and small plastic egg halves. Set it on a table. Let the children put the eggs together and take them apart. After several days collect small objects that will fit inside the eggs. Put them in a container and set them next to the basket. Let the children mix and match the objects and eggs as they choose. Later, add several empty egg cartons to the activity. Get several large spoons. Use masking tape to make start and finish lines. Let the children put eggs on their spoons and walk as quickly as they can from one line to another.
Easter Bunny "Skipping Game"
Materials needed: 1 Easter Basket (A lightweight, DEEP basket works best)1 Dozen Plastic Eggs (The fillable kind, but leave them empty)1 Bunny Ears Headband (I make a white headband, and attach 2 pink "ears" made from construction paper)1 Record or Tape of any Easter Bunny song (such as "Here Comes Peter Cottontail") How to play the game: All children stand in a large circle. Choose one child to be the "Easter Bunny". This child puts on the "ears", and gets the Easter basket which is filled with the plastic eggs. While the record or tape is played, the "Easter Bunny" skips around inside the circle of children, and hands out the eggs. As a child receives an egg from the Bunny, he/she joins the Bunny in skipping in the circle . The Bunny continues to pass out eggs,and is joined by the recipients, until the record is over. If the Bunny passes out all of the eggs before the song is done , the Bunny and egg holders just keep skipping to the music until it is over. The children love playing this simple game , and it is great for practicing the gross motor skill of skipping. The Bunny could also hop, if you prefer to practice that skill, but the egg recipients should skip to keep the game moving. Variation: This same game can be played for other holidays as well. Only the record/tape and the props have to be changed to fit the new holiday theme.
CRAFTS
Resurrection Eggs
Save an empty egg carton to store these story eggs so that you can tell the story of Jesus in the weeks prior to Easter.
1 – Leaf: Triumphal Entry/Palm Sunday
2 – Soap chip & piece of towel: Anointment
3 – Penny/dimes: Betrayal
4 – Cracker: Last Supper
5 – Twine: Jesus Arrested
6 – Felt: Color of Jesus’ Robe
7 – Cross (toothpicks glued together): Carried cross/Sentenced
8 – nail: crucified
9 – sponge: drinks on cross
10 – gauze: Jesus wrapped for burial
11 – rock: sealed into tomb
12 – empty: resurrection
Clothespin Bunnies: You need: Old fashion style wooden clothes pin (The one piece style) Paint (white, pink or light brown tempera) Googly eyes Have the children paint the clothes pin. After the paint is dry they hay add the eyes to the pin. The pin will be upsidedown so that the bunny will have ears.
Easter Hat Parade Give everyone a white baseball cap.(can be found at any craft store) Give many materials such as ribbon,elastic,colored fabric,etc...... then,after they're done have them walk in a sort of parade to show off their Easter hats *Optional-have judges to pick winners such as prettiest,scariest,most original and so on.
Bonnets & Bunnies
invitation/card
Thumb Bunny Invitation/card
Sugar and string ornaments
Handprint Lilies
Decorations
Plastic Posies
Carrot Tableware - napkin, fork, spoon etc This is such a cute way to put the silverware on the table!
Wonderful Eggs Inflate a small balloon for each child. Have the child glue tissue paper to the outside of the balloon. There should be at least two complete layers with no gaps. Allow to dry by hanging the balloons up by the tied knot. When dry, cut a slit in the balloon and remove the balloon, leaving a beautiful tissue paper egg. You may fill the balloon with a special gift for mom and dad (be sure it isn't too heavy) or use them for decoration.
FHE
FHE Lesson on Easter #1
Song: Did Jesus Really Live Again? Children's Songbook pg 64
You'll need: 12 large plastic easter eggs labeled on the outside #1-12 and put the following item(s) inside:
#1 sacrament cup
#2 three dimes
#3 small rope or twine
#4 soap chip
#5 red cloth, thorns
#6 cross (made from a toothpick), small nail
#7 dice
#8 sponge, stick
#9 rocks
#10 white linen cloth, round stone
#11 spices (bay leaf & clove)
#12 Leave empty
Lesson: Read the following scripture and then open the egg
#1 Matthew 26:39
#2 Matthew 26:14-15, thus fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 11:12-14
#3 Matthew 27:1-2
#4 Matthew 27:24-26
#5 Matthew 27:28-30
#6 Matthew 27:31-32, And he was crucified, and nailed to a cross.
#7 Matthew 27:35-36
#8 Matthew 27:46,48
#9 Matthew 27:50-51,54
#10 Matthew 27:57-60,62,64,66
#11 Matthew 28:1 (bringing sweet spices, that they may anoint Him) 2, 5
#12 Matthew 28:6 "HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN, AS HE SAID"
Refreshment: Angel food cake
FHE Lessons on Easter #2
.Song: Beautiful Savior (Children's Songbook pg 62)
You'll need: plastic eggs, small sheets of paper, pencils, crayons
Lesson: Have each member of the family draw a picture that reminds them of Easter.
Story: Our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us. He gave us the opportunity to come to this earth to receive bodies and to be tested. We knew it would not be easy, but we knew it would be worth all the trials and pain we would go through. We also knew one day that we would die and eventually be resurrected and have a beautiful and glorified body like our Heavenly Father.
Some of us that are born come to this earth with healthy bodies, free of handicaps, while others do not. Philip was one of these special spirits who came here with a body that was not perfectly formed. He had what is called Downs Syndrome. He had trouble learning. His time here on earth my be short. Nevertheless, his parents were delighted to have the privilege of raising him.
It was not easy for for Philip. From the time he was very small, he had to work twice as hard as most children just to learn to walk, talk, and feed himself; hopefully preparing for the day he would go to school.
Because he looked different and was slower than most of the other children in the neighborhood, they were afraid of him and did not want to play with him. I'm sure Philip's parents saw his struggle to be accepted and prayed often that Heavenly Father would guide them to be the kind of parents Philip needed.
Philip went to church with his parents and love to go to Primary. His teacher loved all the children in her class, but noticed how they would laugh and make fun of Philip. Philip knew he was different from the other boys and girls and so anxious to become a part of them, but nothing seemed to work until one Spring.
His teacher had asked that the class would bring something the following week that they felt represented "new life". She was going to give a special Easter lesson and wanted each of them to help. She passed out large plastic eggs; a different color for each child to put their drawing in.
As the week passes, Philip's mom asked him several times if he needed help with his drawing and always the answer was "no". He seemed to know exactly what he was going to do with his small colored egg.
The following week, the teacher was delighted to see the drawings in each of the children's eggs. Sarah (blue egg) had drawn a small basket. She was excited that the Easter bunny was going to fill it with eggs and candy. John (purple egg) had drawn a small baby; feeling like babies represented "new life". Elizabeth (pink egg) had drawn beautiful little flowers. Michael (yellow egg) had drawn some crosses and placed it inside his egg. (At this point, you can open the eggs that your family has prepared.) One by one as each egg was opened, she complimented the children on the beautiful ideas they had shared concerning Easter. As she opened the last egg everyone noticed that it was empty. The children cried, "That's not fair" and "that's dumb". At this point she felt a tug on her sleeve, it was Philip. "That's mine!", he said. "It's empty---the tomb was empty". The class was silent. A miracle had happened. Even though he was not as "smart" as the rest of the children, he had helped teach them about the resurrection!
Philip died last summer. His body could not fight off the infection like other bodies can. For the funeral his friends brought a basket full of colored eggs and placed them close to Philip. They knew that they would miss this special friend, and like Jesus, some day he would be resurrected with a beautiful, perfect body!
Author unknown
Refreshments: Pastel Cookies
3/4 c. butter
1/2 c. corn starch
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. flour
Heat oven to 325. Mix butter and sugar, then add cornstarch and flour. Shape dough into balls** and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-13 minutes (light brown around edges). Cool completely. **we try to make ours oval to look like eggs.
Icing
1 1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
2-3 tbsp milk
food coloring
Mix pow. sugar, butter, vanilla. Add milk to thin it out, so you can drizzle it on to the cookies. Separate into bowls, and add one color of food coloring to each one. Pour icing over cookies.
Recipes
Eating Well Easter Recipe Collection
Weight Watchers Easter Ideas
Resurrection Rolls
These rolls are a perfect way to help us focus on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The marshmallows placed inside the rolls before baking disappear after they have been baked. See the cute Visiting Teaching gift idea with tag below.
Ingredients & Symbolism
* Large Marshmallows - body of Jesus
* Melted Butter - oils of embalming
* Cinnamon & Sugar Mix- spices used to anoint the body.
* Crescent Roll - the wrapping of Jesus’ body or the tomb.
* Oven – the tomb
* Cavity in bun – the empty tomb or the empty cloths
Directions:
1. Take a marshmallow. This represents Jesus.
2. Dip the marshmallow in melted butter. This represents the oils of embalming.
3. Now dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar which represents the spices used to anoint the body.
4. Then wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical crescent roll up but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside.) This can either represent the wrapping of Jesus’ body after death or the Tomb. Matt. 27:57–61; John 19:38–42
5. Place in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes or as directed on the package of the crescent rolls. (The oven can represent the tomb if the roll is representing the wrapping—pretend like it was three days!) Take the role of the guards at Jesus’ tomb. Stand guard at the oven.
6. Let the rolls cool slightly. Open your crescent rolls and discover that Jesus is no longer there, HE IS RISEN!!!! (The marshmallow melts and the crescent roll is puffed up, but empty.)
7. Jesus is Risen! Now read Matthew 28:5-8; Mark 16:4-8; Luke 24:1-6; John 20:1-18; Isaiah 25:8
Visiting Teaching Gift Idea: To make this into a gift simply gather all of the ingredients place them in an Easter Basket, Cellophane or a brown paper baggie. Print the 2 pages double-sided, cut out each tag, punch a hole and attach it to your Basket or baggie with ribbon or a staple if you’re using the brown baggie. Click the images below to download the PDF files for printing, there are 4 on one page to save paper.
Happy Easter card
print out instructions
Hot Cross Buns
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Ready In: 3 Hours 30 Minutes
Servings: 12
"An Easter tradition, these lightly sweetened cinnamon yeast buns feature tender little currants strewn throughout. An egg yolk wash gives these buns a browned, glossy finish, making a canvas for the namesake cross, a painting of milk and sugar icing."
Ingredients:
3/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45
degrees C)
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon instant powdered milk
1/4 cup white sugar
3/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 egg white
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
3/4 cup dried currants
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons milk
Directions:
1. Put warm water, butter, skim milk powder, 1/4 cup sugar, salt, egg, egg white, flour, and yeast in bread maker and start on dough program.
2. When 5 minutes of kneading are left, add currants and cinnamon. Leave in machine till double.
3. Punch down on floured surface, cover, and let rest 10 minutes.
4. Shape into 12 balls and place in a greased 9 x 12 inch pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place till double, about 35-40 minutes.
5. Mix egg yolk and 2 tablespoons water. Brush on balls.
6. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and cool on wire rack.
7. To make crosses: mix together confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and milk. Brush an X on each cooled bun.
GUMDROP FLOWERS
1. Flatten gumdrops with rolling pin on surface or sheet of waxed paper sprinkled with sugar. Roll until very thin (about 1/16-inch thick), turning frequently to coat with sugar.
2. Hold flattened gumdrops at center; overlap edges slightly to give petal effect, pressing piece together at base to resemble flower. For open blossom, bend gumdrop petals outward from center. Insert small piece of gumdrop in centers with wooden pick to attach flowers to cake if necessary.
Easter Story Cookies
(to be made the night before Easter)1 c. whole pecans ~ I would omit this part. I have a violence phobia.1 tsp. vinegar3 egg whitespinch of salt1 c. sugarzipper baggiewooden spoon or wooden rolling pintapeBible1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait until you're done with the recipe!)2. 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 19:1-3.3. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl, and let children smell how unpleasant it is. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given venegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Explain that eggs represent new life, and Jesus gave His life to give us life Read John 10:10-115. 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 23:276. Add 1 c. sugar. Explain that so far the ingredients are not very appetizing, but the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus diedbecause H loves us. He wants us to know Him, love Him, and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 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 3:1-38. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-609. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and TURN THE OVEN OFF!10. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-6611. 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 2212. 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
Leftover Ham and Egg Ideas
Left-over Ham & Eggs
Ham and Pasta Salad
3/4 cup ranch dressing
1 1/2 cups tomatoes, chopped
1 medium cucumber , seeded and chopped
1/4 of a red onion, sliced very thin and separated
1 and 1/2 cups diced ham
3 cups cooked macaroni, or large shells, 2 1/2 cups dry
Combine, toss and chill for 4 hours. Serve with rolls or a nice quick bread and raw vegetables.
Egg Salad with Arugula Stuffed Tomato
A stuffed tomato makes a quick and easy, nutritious lunch. This recipe is also a great way to use leftover Easter Eggs.
6 hard boiled eggs, peeled
1/4 C mayonnaise (or light mayonnaise)
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/4 lb. arugula
salt and pepper to taste
4 large tomatoes
lettuce leaves for garnish
Serves 4
Cut the top off a large tomato, about 1/3 of the way down. Scoop out the seeds, leaving a hollow shell.
For a more decorative tomato, you can cut the top using a zig-zag design, using a special knife like in the photo, or using a paring knife to make the cuts.
Finely chop eggs and stir in remaining ingredients. stuff into the hollowed tomatoes. Serve on a large lettuce leaf.
Make egg mosaics with the kids - glue broken shells in patterns to make fun pictures.
Create egg shell candles- insert a tea light into an egg shell half, or create a candle by pouring in melted candle wax into the egg shell and adding a wick. Very pretty.
Crush and plant them in your roses - they loved broken egg shells!
Compost them (as long as you're just using food coloring on the egg shells, they should be fine in the compost pile).
Create egg shell candles- insert a tea light into an egg shell half, or create a candle by pouring in melted candle wax into the egg shell and adding a wick. Very pretty.
Chia egg shells: plant chives or grass seed into egg shell half for the "hair", draw face on the egg for a chia egg shell "person".
Ham Minestrone
1 cup diced ham
1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped
2 small summer or zucchini squash
1 diced or sliced carrot
2 cups cut up cabbage
1 can white beans, northern or cannellini
1/2 small onion,chopped
1 cup tomato or spaghetti sauce
6 cups beef broth, or water with proper amount of bullion
1 cup small pasta, such as ditalini or tiny shells
2 Tablespoons oil
Heat oil, sauté onion, and garlic for about 2 minutes, add cabbage carrot and squash, sauté 5, stirring. Add water, beans, sauce, and ham. Simmer 10 minutes, bring to boil, add pasta, cook 10 more minutes at medium heat, stir a few times while cooking. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve with parmesan cheese to sprinkle, and french bread or bread sticks.
Spicy Ham and Rice
2 cups diced ham
1/2 cup diced onion
1.2 cup chopped green pepper
2 cloves garlic
1 14 1/2 ounce can Mexican or Cajun Tomatoes
1 10 3/4 ounce can chicken broth
1/2 tsp.. dried thyme
8 drops your favorite hot pepper sauce
1 cup white rice
In large skillet, or 3 quart saucepan, sauté onion, green pepper and garlic until soft, the last minute add the diced ham. Add tomatoes, broth, thyme, and hot pepper sauce. Bring to boil, stir in rice. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Make 6 servings. Serve with raw carrots and green peppers. If your family likes it less spicy leave out the hot pepper sauce.
Ham and Pasta Salad
3/4 cup ranch dressing
1 1/2 cups tomatoes, chopped
1 medium cucumber , seeded and chopped
1/4 of a red onion, sliced very thin and separated
1 and 1/2 cups diced ham
3 cups cooked macaroni, or large shells, 2 1/2 cups dry
Combine, toss and chill for 4 hours. Serve with rolls or a nice quick bread and raw vegetables.
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