21 | April | 2011 | 4 little Fergusons

There are certain foods that come to mind when I think of Easter. The obvious, HAM, which by the way, is best cooked in the crock pot on low all day with a can of coke. No kidding! Best ham I’ve ever had.

Mini recipe:

5 lb. Cooks bone-in butt-cutt ham (needs to be bone in for this to work properly)

1 can coke

Shove ham in your crock pot, or cut to fit, whatever floats your boat. Pour Coke over ham, shut the lid and 8 hours later, its carmalized to be the best darn ham you’ve ever tasted. I’m not kidding! I hate Coke so I had some serious doubts, but it’s easy and delish!

That was a bunny trail (ha ha, get it?) so on to the other Easter recipes I actually got on here to share with you:

Green Bean Haystacks, so unique and so yummy!

This is taken before they were cooked because I, of course, failed to take an after, but they were beautiful and delicious! Trust me!

Green Bean Haystacks

1 pound Bacon, Cut In Half

2 bags (16 Oz. Bag) Whole Green Beans, Thawed

½ cups Butter

1/2 teaspoons Garlic Powder

½ cups Brown Sugar

1/2 teaspoons Black Pepper

Prep early in the day: thaw bacon, cook slightly, pull from pan while still soft. Bundle 10-12 green beans together and wrap with half a slice of bacon. Lay side-to-side in a 9×13 pan with bacon ends down. Place butter, garlic powder, brown sugar and black pepper in a saucepan and heat on low until sugar dissolves. Pour over bean stacks. Refrigerate for 4-6 hours.

Bake at 350ºF for 25-30 minutes.

AMAAAZING! And so pretty too!

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These cookies have become an Easter tradition at our house. I love the Bible verses associated with each step, and the kids love to help make these!!! The end result is a meaningful Easter story and a yummy snack (breakfast treat?) for the next day.

RESURRECTION COOKIES

*Plan ahead, this recipe sits over-night.

1 cup whole pecans

1 teaspoon vinegar

3 egg whites

pinch salt

1 cup sugar

ziplock bag

wooden spoon or a wooden meat hammer

Masking tape

Bible

Important: Preheat oven to 350*F before starting.

Place pecans in baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon or hammer to break them into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon of vinegar into the 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 the vinegar. Eggs represent life.

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

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste. Then put a pinch of salt in the bowl.

Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’s followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing! Add 1 cup sugar to the bowl.

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 John 3:16 & Psalm 34:8

Beat with a mixer on high-speed for 10 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form.

Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’s 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 to seal the oven door.

Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66

Leave the kitchen and go to bed. Acknowledge that the kids are feeling sad that they’ve worked hard to make these cookies, and now have to leave them in the oven overnight.