Meet Alexa's Table

Here's Alexa then and now!

Alexa is in 1/3 MOPS and this is her 1st year as a DGL.  She has 2 kids.

Tell us about your messiest mom moment.

When my son was 2 years old I reached out to my local school district for speech therapy because he had less than 10 words.  From the first 10 minutes the "specialists" were in my home, I had that Mommy gut feeling that this was not going to work out. However, I stayed with the program for various reasons, primarily because my son really needed help and I was no expert in this field. I really don't want to go into the details of what my son and I experienced in our own home, but let's just say that it wasn't a pleasant experience and it made me extremely skeptical when searching for a preschool. Thank God I prayed and listened to that gut feeling that told me to try a private therapist, which took forever to find. By her second visit, the private specialist had more of a relationship with my son than the eight months he was with the original one.  My son has come a long way and last month he even said the pledge of allegiance over the loud speaker at school. If you had a child with speech delay, believe me, this is a pretty big accomplishment.  I strongly believe that through prayer, perseverance and that natural Mommy instinct you can overcome messy moments like this one.

Meet her table!

not pictured: Felicia

Each person was asked this question:

What type of legacy or values do you want to instill in your children?

DGL-ALEXA: To love and seek God with all their heart.  To value family.  To be secure with themselves and their goals and aspirations.

MENTOR MOM-MARTA: I pray that my boys would be men of integrity, ethics and honor.  I pray that they are hard-working and kind, compassionate people who are guided by Biblical values, especially Proverbs 3:5-6.

AMANDA: That they would learn to know, love and follow Jesus more everyday and make good choices.

REBECCA: To love and follow God

JESSICA: I desire my children to be courageous.  I'd like them to open doors, show kindness to the poor, cherish their wives to display the truth about God.

MELODY: To love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind & that they have a clear and solid understanding of their identity in Him.  To love Jesus, Others, & and then Yourself. 

FELICIA

Thanks for sharing your table with us, Alexa!

I enjoy cooking so I have lots of recipes. Here is a 15 minute go to shrimp one which I enjoy over yucca or cassava from my Latin roots, but it goes well over pasta too...

Ingredients:

Pasta (fettuccine, linguini or spaghetti)

Shrimp (I use tail-on, uncooked, deveined)

Minced garlic

Olive oil

Butter

Sliced green olives stuffed with pimentos

Cilantro

Parmesan cheese

Salt

Red pepper flakes (a little goes a long way unless you like it spicy)

Optional: crab meat and/or scallops

Boil your pasta or cassava in salted water. While that's cooking, sauté minced garlic and olives in olive oil and a nice slice of butter, add diced cilantro leaves and red pepper flakes.  Add shrimp and all optional fish and season with salt. Not much salt is needed because olives and Parmesan cheese have salt in them. Drain and serve pasta. Pour sautéed shrimps over pasta. Add more diced cilantro leaves. Grate Parmesan cheese over dish and toss all to combine. 

Meet Kirstin's Table!

Here's Kirstin then and now!

Kirstin is in 2/4 MOPS and this is her second year as a DGL.  She has two kids.

Can you tell us about your best or worst Valentine's Day?

My best Valentine's Day was the first Valentine's Day with my boyfriend, who is my husband now.  He knows his way to my heart.  He took me out to a very nice restaurant.  It was very romantic. 

Meet her table!

Each person was asked this question:

What is your favorite time of day with your kids?

KIRSTIN: My favorite time of day would be first thing in the morning when my kids wake up so happy to see me and are in a very good mood. 

MENTOR MOM-JAN: Anytime I see them.  When they were small I'd say "nighttime," and they'd say their prayers as I rubbed their backs. 

KATRINA: Morning-I love seeing her wake up and just "being" with her in the early moments. 

Katie: After school when the girls tell me about everything they did. 

Tara: When we get out of the house-mostly mornings.

Amanda: Spending time with Hannah, making her laugh by making weird face expressions-especially in the mornings. 

REBEKAH: In the evenings when my husband is home and we have family time. 

Thanks for sharing your table with us, Kirstin!

Green Bean Casserole

3 cans of green beans (french cut/drained)
1 can cream of mushroom
1/2 c milk
1 package of fried onion

Put green beans in mixing bowl, then cream of mushroom and milk. Mix. Pour into a casserole dish, sprinkle with french fried onions.

Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. 

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Meet Kelly L's table!

Here's Kelly then and now!

Kelly is in 1/3 MOPS and has been a DGL for one year.  She has two kids.

Can you tell us about your best or worst Valentine's Day?

My favorite Valentine's Day was my first one with my husband Bob. At the time we had been dating for 8 months.  Bob managed to combine his love of boxing with my love of teddy bears (my favorite childhood toy) for my gift. He went to build a bear and made me a teddy bear with red boxing gloves and white satin shorts with red hearts. I still have that bear today over 10 years later. 

Meet her table!

not pictured: Margie and Shantel 

Each person was asked this question:

If you could have a super power, what would it be and why?

DLG-KELLY: Mary Poppin's magic power- poof & everything is cleaned up and the kids are well behaved!

MENTOR MOM-MARGIE: to be with my kids (adult) whenever I want

ANGIE: Speed of light. Get everything done super quick-cleaning, shopping, etc...relax when I want

AMANDA: The ability to fly, so I could visit anywhere I wanted quickly

SHELLY: I would be able to teleport so I could visit my family and different countries whenever I felt like it.

SHAUNA: Invinsibility-So nothing could take me down and I could be an unstoppable force for a good cause.  

SHANTEL: X-ray vision so I could know who actually started a fight, hit first, or colored on the furniture.

Thanks for sharing your table with us, Kelly!

Peanut Butter Chip Banana Cookie Bread

by Kelly

Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup peanut butter chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease your loaf pan (like an 8 x 4" pan) with shortening.
In a bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside.
In a large bowl stir together bananas, peanut butter, oil, egg and sugars.
Pour dry ingredients into bowl with wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Batter will be lumpy (do not over-stir).
Fold in peanut butter chips and spread batter into prepared pan.
Bake for about 1 hour or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then loosen the edges of the pan with a knife and remove from loaf pan, transferring bread to a cooling rack.

Meet Alicia's Table

Here's Alicia then and now!

Alicia is in 1/3 MOPS and this is her third year as a DGL.  She has three kids.

What do you like to do with your kids in the winter to beat the winter blues?

Get out of the house and go play somewhere like Bounce U, Omaha Children's Museum, and the malls. We also get out the summer sand toys and play in the snow. 

Meet her table!

Each person was asked this question:

What is one of your fondest memories you have as a mom and raising your children?

DGL-ALICIA: When all 3 kids laid together and were loving on each other. 

MENTOR MOM-RENITA: Sitting on the bedroom floor at bedtime reading books

SHANNON: One of my favorite times of the day is getting ready for nap time and having that quiet time with them when they sit in my lap, and we read a book together, then cuddle while they fall asleep. I love rocking them, holding them, and just enjoying that time together as they fall asleep.

JERILYN: Probably the first time Fiona said "momma" or the first time she said "I love you."

TIFFANIE: Taking the kids camping and watching them play.

DANICA: Playing with my kids, reading books, and singing songs to them at bedtime.

LIZ: One fun memory is going on a hike with my son Sam, daughter Noelle, and my husband.  It was so cute to see my kids "running" ahead on the trail, squatting down to explore bugs and leaves, and then carrying them the majority of the hike.  Precious!

SARAH: One of my fondest memories is when my daughter was old enough to talk, she said that she wanted to be a mommy when she grew up. What a happy mommy moment!

KIM: When my children randomly hug me and say with the sweetest voice, "Mom, I love you."

Thanks for sharing your table with us, Alicia!

Quick Chicken Chili by Alicia

3 chicken breast halves, diced
1 can (14.5 oz) Diced Tomatoes with garlic/onion
1 pkg chili seasoning mix
1 can (15.25oz) corn
1 can (15oz) kidney beans, drained
Combine chicken, undrained tomatoes and seasoning mix in medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until chicken is done.
Add undrained corn and beans, simmer 5 minutes or until heated through.

Meet Mary's Table!

Here's Mary then and now!

Mary is in 2/4 MOPS and this is her third year as a DGL.  She has a little boy.

What do you like to do with your son to beat the winter blues?

We play a lot of hide and seek, chasing each other around and wrestling. We also get outside every day, even if it's for only 5 or 10 minutes. Finally, the library is one of our favorite places to go to spend time reading and then check books out and bring them back home.

Meet her table!

Not pictured: Kerri

Each person was asked this question:

Which housekeeping chore do you wish you never had to do again?

DGL-MARY: Washing dishes by hand

MENTOR MOM-MELANIE: clean toilets

KERRI: hanging up laundry

JILL: cleaning up the kitchen after each meal

RACHEL: Emptying the dishwasher.  Particularly anything with silverware. 

ANDREA: Clean the bathroom

EMILY: Clean the bathroom

KIMBERLY: Laundry-Folding it and putting it away!

HILARY 

DEBORAH: Ironing... I will avoid it at all cost unless it's a special occasion ;)

Thanks for sharing your table with us, Mary!

"Mom's Chicken Enchildadas" by Mary

One of my favorite recipes is: "Mom's Chicken Enchiladas" from the Eating For Life cookbook. We tailor it a little to our liking. For example, we don't use cooking spray, but instead we butter the baking dish. We also use both corn and flour tortillas and make a double batch. The corn tortillas may seem to fall apart when they're being rolled and placed in the baking dish; it's okay, they will cook just the same and be so delicious. Here's the recipe:

Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:
4 portions chicken breast (about 1 lb)
4 green onions, sliced
2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
3 cans (10 oz each) green enchilada sauce
8 corn tortillas
1 cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese, shredded
2 cups lettuce, shredded
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup light sour cream
1 tomato, diced
1 can (2 oz) ripe olives, sliced

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9" x 13" baking dish with cooking spray. 

2. Place chicken breasts in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly. Shred cooked chicken by pulling apart with 2 forks; set aside.

3. Lightly coat a large skillet with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add green onion, cilantro and jalapeño; sauté for 2 minutes. Add shredded chicken and 1 can of enchilada sauce. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes.

4. Pour the 2 remaining cans of enchilada sauce in a medium bowl and microwave until warm, about 2 minutes. Dip each tortilla in the heated sauce and fill with about 1/8 of the chicken mixture. Roll up and place, seamside down, in the prepared baking dish.

5. Pour remaining heated sauce over enchiladas and sprinkle with cheese. Bake until enchiladas are heated through and cheese is melted, about 15 minutes.

6. Divide lettuce onto four plates and place a portion of enchiladas on top. Top with a spoonful of salsa, a dollop of sour cream, tomatoes and olives. Serve and enjoy!