Forming Faith in the Kitchen

I believe that you can find God in the kitchen. Specifically, I believe that yeast may be the perfect metaphor for God - always present, working when the conditions are right, and always causing something new to arise. The more I learn about making bread, the more I learn about God.

I also recognize that making bread from scratch is a luxury few of us have the time for these days, much less repeating the task often enough to get really good at it. Still,  it's a great idea to take your kids into the kitchen occasionally and do something that gives you an opportunity to talk about God.

Here are two simplified Easter breads you can make with your children:

Hot Cross Buns 

traditionally eaten on Good Friday

Ingredients:

1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
1/3 cup raisins
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon milk

Directions:

Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 8 regular-size muffin cups with cooking spray.
Separate dough into 8 triangles. Spoon raisins evenly on narrow end of each triangle. Roll up to enclose filling and pinch dough to form a ball; press seams to seal. Place buns, seam side down, in muffin cups.

Bake 11 to 12 minutes or until golden. Remove from pan to cooling rack; cool at least 20 minutes.

In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and milk (icing will be thick). Spoon icing into small resealable food-storage plastic bag. Cut off tiny corner of bag; squeeze bag to pipe icing in cross shape on top of each cooled bun.


Resurrection Rolls
for Easter morning - they will be empty inside!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
16 large marshmallows
1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions:

Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 16 medium muffin cups with cooking spray. In small bowl, mix granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon.

Separate dough into 16 triangles. For each roll, dip 1 marshmallow into melted butter; roll in sugar mixture. Place marshmallow on shortest side of triangle. Roll up, starting at shortest side and rolling to opposite point. Completely cover marshmallow with dough; firmly pinch edges to seal. Dip 1 end in remaining butter; place butter side down in muffin cup.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.


Your child will remember these as very special treats. They will probably be disappointed as adults to learn that they aren't as good as they remembered, but the time spent with you in the kitchen is what will make them taste so good. So make a little time to bake, and chat a bit about God and the true meanings of Easter while you wait for things to bake and cool a bit. You can have them help with the dishes too!