Resurrection Cookies

Annie's "Resurrection Cookies"
~Also known as Easter Story Cookies~

This is a great recipe to teach your Children the REAL story of Easter. That the Lord Jesus Christ
our Savior is not dead but has Risen. We serve a Risen Savior......

You will need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1 cup sugar
a zipper baggy
1 wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible

Instructions:
These are to be made the evening before Easter. Preheat oven to 300F. *** (this is very important --- don't wait until you are half done with the recipe).
Place pecans in zipper baggy 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

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into 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 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 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

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup 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: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

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: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' 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 and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read: Matthew 27:65-66

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&22

On Resurrection Sunday (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: Matthew 28:1-9

GHOST CHILI

My friend Debbie brought over this wonderful Chili for us for dinner the other night! It was so good I got the recipe from her! I'm making it tonight and wanted to get it posted on our recipe site and share with everyone!


Ghost Chili

1 lb chicken breast cut in 1"cubes (3 breasts)
1 med. white onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
14 oz. chicken broth
1 - 15 oz.cans Great Northern beans
2 - 4 oz. cans chopped green chiles
1 tsp salt
1/2 - 1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne (opt)

Saute chicken breast, chopped onion and garlic powder together in a little oil. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. Then add 1/2 cup milk or cream plus 1 cup sour cream. Enjoy!

Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana Soup

OLIVE GARDEN® ZUPPA TOSCANA

This recipe originates from the original recipe adapted to serve just 6-8. It is soooo yummy and since I have some fresh Kale growing in my garden right now I'm going to make it for dinner!

It is a very good soup and hits the spot on cold winter days. In my opinion, making these recipes at home makes them even better than the ones you eat at the restaurant! :)

Makes: 6-8 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb ground Italian sausage
• 1½ tsp crushed red peppers
• 1 large diced white onion
• 4 Tbsp bacon pieces
• 2 tsp garlic puree
• 10 cups water
• 5 cubes of chicken bouillon
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes
• ¼ of a bunch of kale

1. Sauté Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.

2. In the same pan, sauté bacon, onions and garlic over low-medium heat for approximately 15 mins. or until the onions are soft.
3. Add chicken bouillon and water to the pot and heat until it starts to boil.

4. Add the sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.
5. Add the heavy cream and just cook until thoroughly heated.
6. Stir in the sausage and the kale, let all heat through and serve. Delicious!

Bon appetite'

Paula's Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

Dough:

• 1/4-ounce package yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup scalded milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter or shortening
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

• 1/2 cup melted butter, plus more for pan
• 3/4 cup sugar, plus more for pan
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup raisins, walnuts, or pecans, optional***

Frosting:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Milk, added one tablespoon at a time until frosting reaches desired consistency

Directions

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside. In a large bowl mix scalded milk, sugar, melted butter, salt and egg. Add 2 cups of flour and mix until smooth. Add yeast mixture. Mix in remaining flour until dough is easy to handle. Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 5 to 10 minutes. Place in well-greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled in size -- 1 1/2 to 3 hours.

When doubled in size, punch down dough. Roll out on a floured surface into a 15 by 9-inch rectangle. Spread softened butter all over dough. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over buttered dough. Sprinkle with walnuts, pecans, or raisins if desired. Beginning at the 15-inch side, role up dough and pinch edge together to seal. Cut into 12 to 15 slices.

Coat the bottom of baking pan with butter and sprinkle with sugar and flour. Place cinnamon roll slices close together in the pan and let rise until dough is doubled, about 45 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until nicely browned.

Meanwhile, make the cream cheese frosting. Cream together the butter and cream cheese, mix in powdered sugar, add vanilla, then gradually add milk until desired consistency is reached. Let cinnamon rolls cool slightly before frosting.

Chili

1 lb hamburger

1 green pepper diced

1 onion diced

1 pkg McCormick chili seasoning

1 can baked beans

2 cans kidney beans

2 cans garbanzo beans

1 can pinto beans

1 can chili beans

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 can tomato paste

1 can diced tomatoes

2 cups water

1 can tomato sauce(15 oz.)

Here's my twist on a recipe given to me by my good friend Jen Johnson.

Cook hamburger with the onion and green pepper, and a little salt. When finished add all the rest of the ingredients to the pot and simmer for 2 hours. I like to rinse off all beans in a strainer except the chili and baked beans. That way you don't get all that sodium and preservatives the beans have been sitting in. Top the chili with sour cream, cheese, and some fresh onion and green pepper if you like!

This is the yummiest, easiest chili ever!!!

Homemade Bread

Mix 2 Tbsp Saf Instant Yeast with
1 Tbsp of sugar
Into a bowl with 1/4 cup warm water.
Set Aside.

In breadmixer, Mix:
2 Cups warm water
2 Tbsp Lecithan (buy in bulk at Maceys)
2 Tbsp Gluten (buy in bulk at Maceys)
1 1/3 Cup of Sugar
1/2 Tbsp. Salt

Then add Yeast and Around 6 cups of flour. (He uses Lehi Roller Mills from Costco)
Mix until the dough balls up and then mix an additional 5 minutes.

Turn oven to 350 and turn on for 1 minute then turn off.

Put dough in bowl to raise inside turned off oven. Let raise 20 minutes.

Punch dough down and pan it into two loaf pans.

Return to oven to raise another 20 minutes.

Take out of oven and turn oven on 350 degrees, when heated place loaves in oven and bake for 18 minutes.