Ok, my mother-in-law came today to teach the kids the story of the tongues of fire when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Shavuot.  Just to keep the kids quiet, she brought strawberries to keep their attention while she spoke.  Which, after a few minutes and the lightbulb flashing on in my head, I thought of a quick but cute dessert for the big feast this weekend!

Ok, here's what you do.  Go to Elana's Pantry website and make this coconut cream frosting: http://www.elanaspantry.com/coconut-cream-frosting/

Then, take some orange juice (for coloring the frosting orange).  If you are pressed for time I guess you could use orange food coloring, but the first suggestion is the healthiest alternative.  

Now that you have your icing, put it on some healthy cupcakes.  If you need a recipe, click here: http://www.egglesscooking.com/2009/06/08/low-fat-vegan-cupcakes/  Just replace the brown sugar with stevia and it should be fine!  Taste test it, if need be.

Afterwards, cut the green tops off of some strawberries and make several slices starting from the bottom of the strawberry almost to the top.  Finally, place the strawberries, bottom side up in the frosting and then squeeze some frosting in between the slices to make it look like fire.  And if you don't wanna bake, then just use the icing and the strawberries...Super simple, memorable, and healthy!  Have fun with it!

(Photo courtesy of http://happyheartsmom.typepad.com/sweetness_and_light/2009/05/dont-miss-the-lovely-pentecost-cupcakes-at-catholic-cuisine-today-these-are-so-easy-and-beautiful-mary-always-has-the-best.html)

I was surfing around the internet today and saw that a mother celebrating Pentacost made a salad inspired by the fruits of the Spirit.  Wouldn't that be catchy for a Shavuot Feast?  

Simply pick nine of these fruits: tangerines, apples, grapes, blueberries, raspberries, pomegranate, strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, bananas, and raisins then combine altogether for a salad with heavenly wit thrown in to blend the ingredients well!  

More Shavuot/Pentacost recipes to come!

Here is a way to incorporate a healthy dessert that is just so pretty to look at as well!  Edible fruit arrangements!  It's not hard to do.  

Here's the link for the how-to: http://www.ehow.com/how_8092331_do-yourself-edible-fruit-arrangements.html

Make this year's meal one that is body (aka "temple of the Ruach haKodesh")  friendly and cute as a button too!

(Photo courtesy of http://blog.dollhousebakeshoppe.com/2011/05/flower-fruit-pops.html)

Tonight I was just pondering how next weekend is the end of our counting up to the Feast of Shavuot!  One of my favorite things to do is decorations and crafts.  So I stumbled upon this website tonight where another mother, known as the "Creative Jewish Mom" lists many adorable crafts to do quickly and easily for your upcoming celebration.  

So check it out: http://www.creativejewishmom.com/holiday-shavuot/

We also love to purchase sparklers to remind us of the tongues of fire that fell upon the believers in Jerusalem.  The kids really love that one!

The crocheted garland can be viewed at this blog: http://www.annemariesbreiblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/holy-stitch.html

Enjoy your preparation time!  Remember, this is like a mini-Jubilee.  So be jubilant!  (I'm just overjoyed I've actually succeeded in counting the Omer this year!  Woohoo!) Remember: The more fun, the better!