Easter Traditions: Jello Eggs

Almost as important as dying Easter eggs is making Jell-O Eggs.  I found the molds for these eggs a few years ago at the local grocery store.  If you bought a couple of packages of Jell-O the molds were free.  We have been using them ever since.  I use the recipe below for the Jell-O Eggs.
The Jell-O Egg mold can be purchased from Kraft here: http://www.kraftcornerstore.com/_e/Molds_Cutters_for_all_Occasions/product/099727/JELL_O_EGG_JIGGLERS.htm  the cost is $3.50.
The instructions below describe making two layers of Jell-O in the egg.  I have a bunch of molds and make a tone of eggs at a time so I usually make 4 layers of Jell-O in each egg (in the eggs pictured above there are only 3 layers)

Jell-O often goes on sale at Easter time, so if you food storage is lacking in Jell-O pick some up while it is on sale. Yes I know that Jell-O is not a nutrition powerhouse food but I still recommend that people have it in their food storage.  It is a fun food with a long shelf life that will brighten your day when you are eating out of your food storage. 

JELL-O  Eggs
1-1/4 cups  boiling water (Do not add cold water.)
1 pkg. (6 oz. each) JELL-O Gelatin, any flavor
Pam Cooking Spray

3/4 cup vanilla yogurt

Spray inside of mold with cooking spray. Snap mold together and place on a cookie sheet, or tray.  Add boiling water to gelatin mix in large bowl; stir 3 min. until completely dissolved. Pour into measuring cup with pour spout. Immediately pour into mold, using 1/2 of the Jell-O.  Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix yogurt with remaining Jell-O, until completely mixed. Remove Jell-O mold from fridge and make carefully pour the next layer of Jell-O. Refrigerate 30 min. or until firm. Tilt mold on slight angle over plate. Using moist fingertips, gently scoop eggs out of mold. Keep refrigerated. 

Easter Traditions: A Jeruselum Dinner

This is my sisters family tradition, but I have been lucky enough to be included a couple of times.  As they Celebrate the week of Easter they try to have a meal that is something that Jesus might have eaten. In doing this they take the opportunity to talk about the life of Jesus and how it was different from out modern day life and how it was the same. 


If you are interested in participating in a similar activity, then here are a couple of suggestions: 

broiled fish & honeycomb Luke 24:42
barley bread, John 6:9 or a form of sourdough
pomegranates
figs
grapes
olives
celery
mint
lamb 

I found a very detailed and insightful description of the kind of food that people at a the time of Jesus at the blog:
Sabath Meals: http://sabbathmeals.typepad.com/sabbath_meals/2006/01/but_thats_ancie.html


A good list of food availabe at the time of Jesus with scriptural tie ins:
http://www.rhinebeck-episcopal.org/2009/03/biblical-foods-potluck-lunch-what-would-jesus-eat/

Easter Traditions: No Bake Nests

A few years a go my cute friend Kim brought me a no bake nest on the first day of spring.  It was so fun.  Ever since then we have been making around easter time.  This is a quick and easy and fun.   The following recipe is the no bake cookies recipe that I use, but I am sure that you could uses any no bake cookies recipe.  I have thought about making them with all bran cereal instead of oatmeal, but my family hates all bran so I never have.  I do think it would make darn cute nests.  

No Bake Cookies Nests
1-cup sugar
 ¼ cup Milk
2 TBS Cocoa
1/4 cup Butter
¼ cup peanut butter
½ tsp vanilla
1 ½ cup oatmeal

1.    Combined sugar, milk, cocoa and butter in a saucepan. Over medium high heat stirring constantly bring to a boil.
2.    2. Boil 1 minute
3.    Remove from heat and add peanut butter, vanilla, and oatmeal.  Stir until well mixed.
4.    Scoop up 1/4 cup of dough and form into a ball. Place on wax paper. Using a spoon form a hollow in the center of the cookies (this is where you will put the eggs). Allow cool.
5.  Place store bought robins egg candies in the center of the nest.

Easter Traditions: Vanishing Breakfast Rolls

I love Easter time. There are so many fun traditions.  We try to have a good mix of fun and religious activities.  Most of our traditions in some way have food involved (are you shocked).  Over the next couple of days I will share some of our traditions.

In a former life I was a FACS (Family and Consumer Science Education) Teacher.  Now if you are thinking "What is that?"  Family and Consumer Sciences is what used to be called Home Economics.  This is one of the recipes that we made in ever year.  The kids loved it.  When I left teaching and had my we started making these rolls for Easter. As we make these rolls we talk about that on Easter Sunday the tomb was empty just like these rolls will be when they are baked. I find that as I am making these with my kids we are able to discuss the resurrection in terms they can understand.

When baked the marshmallows melt.  If the rolls are not sealed well the marshmallow melts out and onto the pan.  I make these with my kids and consequently we get a lot of rolls that are not quiet sealed.  If you are planning on making these with kids I would recommend lining your cookie sheet with parchment paper.  That way you don't have to spend Easter Sunday scrubbing pans.

Ingredients
1 pkg. canned biscuits
2 Tbsp. margarine
2 Tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. cinnamon
5 large marshmallows (cut in half)
Makes 5 servings (requires 2 biscuits per serving)
Instructions
Melt margarine in a custard cup in the microwave. In another custard cup, combine the sugar
and cinnamon. Roll the marshmallow halves in the melted margarine, completely coating the
marshmallows; then roll the marshmallows in the sugar/cinnamon mixture, coating all surfaces.
Wrap each marshmallow in a biscuit, hiding the marshmallow completely inside the biscuit.
Prepare a jelly roll pan or cookie sheet with aluminum foil, shiny side up, being careful to cover
the sides of the pan. Coat the foil with a nonstick vegetable spray. Place the rolls on the pan,
sealed edges down. Bake at 375º F for 11–13 minutes (set the timer). Remove rolls from pan
immediately after removing them from the oven.