SaintElias.com -> Recipes: for Feasting and Fasting

Dr. Turi's Paschal Cookies for Children

Fun, Food & Catechesis for the Kids

To be made the day (or evening) before Pascha.

Baking these cookies is an activity to do with children to help them understand Pascha. We hope all our friends who are parents will use this recipe to teach the children the real reason why we celebrate Pascha.

Ingredients:

1 cup whole pecans

1 tsp. vinegar

3 egg whites

pinch salt

1/2 to 1 cup sugar (depending on taste)

Other items:

zipper baggie

wooden spoon

tape

Bible

Preheat oven to 300°F (This is very important. Don't wait until you're half way done with this recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. (Note: How finely you beat the nuts has a direct impact on how hollow or lumpy the cookies are. Finely beaten nuts yield better hollow cookies; however the cookies will not be as representative of the rocky tomb. Coarsely broken nuts look more like the rocky tomb, but may not produce the desired hollowness. The size of the cookie is also important. A small soup spoon makes about the right size. Small cookies {made with a teaspoon} may dry too quickly to allow for the internal shrinkage that causes the holes. ) "Glory to your long-suffering, O Lord." Explain that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him. At Jerusalem Matins, together with the Theotokos and the Myrrhbearers, we lament at the tomb and venerated Jesus' Body. "Come all things created, let us sing a hymn of sorrow, to honour our Creator." 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, all he was given to drink was vinegar. "He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Tree. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. "How, O Life, can you die? In a grave, how can you dwell?" 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. "With fervent tears, his maiden Mother cried..." Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 cup sugar. "Your voice so sweet, let us hear again..." 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.

Beat with mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. "Hasten. Word, in rising and release from sorrow..." Explain that the colour white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Is 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts.

Drop by teaspoons onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet. "Stone that man has wrought now conceals the cornerstone of Promise..." 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 shut. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. On Great Friday, after the Procession, we too enter the Tomb to be buried with Christ, as symbolized by our bending low and walking under the Plaschenytsa. Read Matt 27:65-66.

Go to bed!! (Or, Go to Church, if your parish has Resurrection Matins at midnight) Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. "When Thou, the Redeemer of all, wast placed in tomb, all Hell's powers quake in fear..." Read John 16:20 and 22.

After the Paschal Liturgy, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow!! On the first Pascha, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. "Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death! And to those in the tombs, bestowing Life!" Read Matt 28:1-9

Ukrainian version
Українська версія

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Fr. Roman Galadza
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