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. 

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