Thursday, April 10, 2014

Meet Anne's Table!

Here's Anne then and now!
Anne is in 1/3 MOPS and this is her 2nd year as a DGL.  She has 2 kids.

Do you have any Easter traditions?

As for any holiday, I just try to be with family. Growing up we went to sunrise service, the pancake feed, and hunted down our Easter baskets (a tradition that my Dad carried on until we were married). For my kids, I just like to bring the whole family together--grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc--go to church and worship God, eat together, and hopefully play outside a little. Also, the weeks leading up to Easter, Eli and I like to hide those brightly-colored plastic eggs around the house and find them. He likes to play that game over and over and over again. 
 
For Eli's first Easter, I woke up in the middle of the night with a great idea--I would make a onesie for his first Easter outfit. So, while the world was still dark, I got my sharpies out and a white onesie and got to work creating this beautiful He Is Risen shirt for Eli. Only after I spent an hour on it did I realize it stunk! I threw it in the wash quick, but even by morning, it still reeked of Permanent Marker. I had Eli in it long enough to snap a picture but was so afraid I would make him high for Easter, I quickly took it off and stowed it away for a keepsake. 
 
This year, for Lena, I think I'll worry a little less about a cute outfit. Like I said, it's all about bringing family together and making memories while celebrating the huge fact that our whole lives as Christians changed because of what Jesus chose to do on Easter Morn.  




Meet her table!
not pictured: Katie


Each person was asked this question:
Where is the best place to take your kids in the summer?


DGL-ANNE: We utilize all the free programs that the library puts on--so many fun, interactive activities.  Also, spray ground parks around Omaha.


MENTOR MOM-SHALLY


BECKY: Grandma's pool

KRISTIN: Splash pad- 120th and Center(ish), different parks around Omaha, Fontanelle Forest

SHELLI-Splash parks, zoo, mall play area if it's too hot. 

KATIE: The splash park off of 156th and Maple

SARAH: Fontanelle Forest-outdoor/nature playground-Awesome!

AMANDA

Thanks for sharing your table with us, Anne!

Instead of one dinner recipe, I will do three fun ways to eat 3 different vegetables.  ~Anne
 
1) Kale Chips  I do mine on the stove top. Wash kale lettuce leaves and then strip the leaves off the stalk. Scatter them in a skillet and drizzle a good amount of olive oil (or grapeseed oil or small bits of butter (the real stuff) if you prefer) on top. Then add your seasoning. I like salt and pepper, which makes them like salty chips. Garlic salt is also really good. Be generous with the salt and pepper! Cook on medium heat for about 20 minutes until the leaves get crispy. In the end, you have a great side dish that fulfills your craving for a salty snack. 
Note: you can also bake them in the oven to get them crunchier, just be careful because they burn faster. Also, pat dry your leaves after washing them, as baking them wet can leave them soggy.
 
2) Sweet Potato Bites.If you haven't jumped on the sweet potato train, you're missing out. Or, if you only taste them at Thanksgiving under the weight of marshmallow and butter, you are missing out!  I like my sweet potatoes many ways: baked with apples and topped with honey and butter, steamed in the oven as a whole sweet potato, and also mixed with other veggies. But my favorite way is to bake them with Italian seasoning.  (SO QUICK and EASY!)
First, peel and dice the sweet potato and scatter on parchment paper (if you have it). Then, drizzle with olive oil (or grapeseed oil, which in this case I prefer) and then add a generous dose of garlic salt and Italian seasoning. Bake at 400 for 20-30 minutes, depending on how big the pieces are and also if you like burnt ends. I love the burnt pieces of sweet potatoes, which to me, taste like burnt marshmallows.  This side dish, to me, has a pizza quality and maybe satisfies that craving for you as well!
 
3) Cauliflower Popcorn First, wash and cut into bite-sized pieces. Then, drizzle with olive oil and shake some salt on. Bake at 400 for 20 or 30 minutes and you will have a great substitute for popcorn. Makes a great side dish or a yummy snack.
With cauliflower, you can also cut lengthwise so it has a flat surface and then place on the grill after adding seasoning. 
 
The trick with adding more vegetables in your meals is playing with the spices. Don't be afraid to experiment!
 
Note: In case you are worried about adding too much salt in your diet: if you start to eliminate processed foods (anything that comes in cans, boxes, etc), it's amazing how much sodium intake that frees up. 

Friday, April 4, 2014

Meet Natalie's Table!

Here's Natalie then and now!
Natalie is in 2/4 MOPS and this is her first year as a DGL.  She has 4 kids.

Tell us about your messiest mom moment.

My messiest moment lasted much longer than just a moment. My biggest mess began when we were moving - in transition from St. Louis to Omaha. We had 3 kids (a 4 yr old and 1 yr old twins - BOYS!!)  Ben had started his new job w/ the Creighton Bluejays August 1st, and I was alone with 3 toddlers trying to parent and show our home on a moment's notice. I finally decided I couldn't take it anymore, and I packed our van full with 3 kids, 3 car seats, a double stroller, two seasons worth of clothes, house papers and our entire filing system, toys and whatever else that fit. We lived with gracious families across the state moving every week attempting to preserve relationships and maintain a sense of stability for kids, without being disowned. Who in their right mind takes on a homeless, anxious  mother of 3 crazies, (aka the St. Louis McNair 3 ring circus), who has then just found out she is pregnant??? Yep, jackpot BABY!...1 of the maybe 4 nights total that I saw my husband in 3 1/2 months!

Well 3 1/2 months went by, some 75 home viewings later, several trips across the state to view potential homes, a handful (at most) of a few hours (at most) visits with dad, a vandalized car during one of the four attempts to see Dad, a trip to the ER with my son who had blue lips and couldn't breathe! (Me either!) in the added bonus of an OUTSIDE network location, we finally moved into our home only to find out that my husband got called into work the day we were to move in...and then it snowed that first week.

Two weeks later we took in a house guest in our basement (which truly to this day is one of, if not, our greatest family blessing - we love you Bryce (and now Rachel;)!). I proceeded to search for doctors and a dentist for kids, a preschool, an OB for me (grumpy, frazzled and pregnant me!) a church home, oh and friends, anyone?? (Who wants to be friends with a mom who is already SEVERELY outnumbered by her kids AND pregnant with another??) All of this needing to be done at the start of a long winter and a 7 days a week, plus evenings and travel, basketball season.  Overwhelming? Yes.  Lonely? You bet.  Vulnerable and Messy? Absolutely.  But I look back and so tenderly and sincerely THANK GOD for MY MESS!!! To know that if it hadn't been so messy I would not have been broken.  And now I see so much beauty in the messiness of motherhood.  I see mothers (YOU), as BEAUTIFUL.  I have learned and now know that my mess, your mess, is right where God does His best work. I am forever changed because of my mess.  And though I still stubbornly resist upfront, I welcome messy...because I know beautiful is in the making. 



Meet her table!
not pictured: Jen


Each person was asked this question:
If time, money, and responsibilities were not a factor, what is one place you would like to visit? Why?


DGL-NATALIE: Switzerland, Austria, Canada--All 3 intrigue me with God's beauty and creation.  Also, I would love to go to a third world country to serve!!

MENTOR MOM-HEATHER: China--to spend as much time as we could in country for my daughter.  She is from China and I would love to take my family and see where she spent her first two years. 

STEPHANIE: Italy--My husband lived there for 5 years growing up and I would love to experience the country with him. 

JEN: Bora Bora--clear water, soft sand, over-water bungalows.  I'd even bring my kids and a nanny. :)

MEREDITH: Alaska--It would be a fun adventure. My husband and I want to go to hike, see bears and fish for salmon. 

JOCIE: Paris, France or anywhere secluded, really. 

JOY: Philippines--My parents and siblings live there and that's where I'm from! :)

JEN: I'd take our family to an African safari, so we could see all the zoo animals we love up close. 


Thanks for sharing your table with us, Natalie!


Chicken Pot Pie by Natalie

1 box Pillsbury Pie Shells
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup light sour cream
1 bag frozen mixed veggies-cooked
3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
salt, pepper, Cavender's Seasoning, Mrs. Dash-to taste

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients and season to taste.
2. Put one pie shell in pan and fill with mixture.  Top with other pie shell.
3. Cover with foil and freeze.

To Serve:
1. Thaw in refrigerator.
2. Bake at 375ยบ for 45 minutes or until browned (Cover crust after first 15-20 minutes of baking). Cool for 10 minutes before serving.