Lasagna Cupcakes

In hopes that summer gives us some heat this August I'm posting another recipe that's a tried and true gem around here during the hot months. It's taking a comfort food that I typically serve in the colder months, and gives it a light, little facelift.
So here they are, Lasagna Cupcakes. I tweaked my recipe a few times a long while back and it now is as close to our version of "so good there will be NO leftovers" as it gets. These will make a friend out of the pickiest of little eaters, (you put anything into a form of a cupcake and it automatically tastes better). It's a gem for any dinner party and also makes a substantial appetizer.


Ingredients-
Makes 24

Saute until tender:
A splash of olive oil
1 small minced onion

Then add to the same medium-high heat frying pan:
2 pounds of lean hamburger or sausage
1 large 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes- (San Marzanos are best, but any will do)
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 tsp dried basil or 1 TBS of fresh basil
1/2 tsp oregano
Let simmer 10-15 minutes on low

Stir together:
15 ounce container of ricotta
2 eggs slightly beaten
1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp of dried parsley or 1 TBSP of fresh parsley
1 package of fresh Wonton wrappers
2 cups of Mozzarella cheese

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray or grease 2 muffin tin pans with olive oil.

In the bottom of the muffin pan: Layer 1 wonton wrap, a small teaspoon of sauce/meat mixture, then a teaspoon of ricotta mixture and 1 tsp. of mozzarella cheese. Build another layer at a 90 degree turn; wonton wrap,sauce/meat mixture, ricotta mixture, then mozzarella cheese. End with a wonton wrapper and a small spoon of meat mixture on top.
Garnish with a basil leaf if you would like, or a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes and let rest for 10 minutes before lifting them out of the pan. If served as an entree, we put a fresh Caesar Salad along side of them.

(Surprisingly, these re-heat well in the microwave which anytime you have an instant Monday lunch in my book is a double bonus.) Enjoy!

Thankful

First off, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone and anyone who supported us in any way for the Run for the Border/Hope for Dinner Campaign. We were honestly humbled by your kind words, texts, messages, prayers and monetary donations given to this campaign.
Collectively as a group of runners, with God's grace and your help, we were able to help raise over 25,000.00 dollars for the refugees of Burma. Our sponsoring church, Cedar Valley Church, collectively raised the total given to the Run for the Border/Hope for Dinner Campaign to right under 100,000.00 dollars! That amount of money sends five huge shipping containers of food to the Thai/Burmese border. We are humbled with the amount of individuals who would do even a small part for people across the globe that they most likely will never meet.

A team is over on the Burmese border as I am typing this post, distributing a shipment of food to the very people group we have been raising awareness and money for in this endeavor.

I am moved again as I look into the eyes of these people and see a glimmer of HOPE.

In the midst of ruins, HOPE rises up......

Isaiah 52:7 "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace proclaiming news of happiness...."

Thank you again for your support to us on a personal level as well, it helped keep us motivated during the really hard times on this journey and helped keep us focused on the reason why we were doing it all in the first place. Your encouragement in this campaign meant the world to Erik and I, your kindness appreciated.

When God asks you to do something hard, it is invaluable to have people in your life that support, encourage and help you to meet your goals- everybody needs that in life.
Below is an article written by a staff member at Feed My Starving Children. It is a fantastic overview explaining the work that is happening there, and specifically where your support is going towards. Worth the few minutes of reading time!
Article Posting Click Here.

Photo Credits: Ryan Skoog and Alicia Davis

Playlist.

I have had a few requests for my playlist during these few months of training. When you are running hours a week you can easily "kill" songs if you overplay them, so this list is pretty fluid. I must warn you there is no rhyme or reason to this playlist, as it's really a hot mess of randomness. I also must admit most of these songs I don't play outside of my training time, they may drive me crazy in "regular life" but somehow you throw a pair of tennis shoes into the mix and they compel my feet to keep moving in a forward direction, so I go with it.

Crazy In Love..... Beyonce
Carry On....Fun.
Don't Stop Believin'....Journey
Girl On Fire.... Alicia Keys- (My "stop dragging- kick it in- you can do better than this" song.)
Good Life.....One Republic
God Is Able......Hillsong Live
Brave.... Sara Bareilles -I pray this for my girls as I've seen what this looks like in it's full grown state in adults-no bueno.
Mirrors.... Justin Timberlake
Hallelujah....Jason Castro
Great I am.....New Life
Halo...... Beyonce
Ho Hey.....Lumineers
I'm Yours....Jason Mraz
It's A Beautiful Day....U2 and Michael Buble's version- impossible not to smile just a little.
What Makes You Beautiful....One Direction-Added for Sophia. (Which is really code for "Me," Yep, I'm still 11.)
Let's Hear It For The Boy.... Deniece Williams- a nod to my junior high days.
Oceans...Hillsong United
We Are Young... Fun.
Who Shall I Fear.... Passion
Home....Phillip Phillips
Brighter Than The Sun.....Colbie Calliat
Stronger..... Kelly Clarkson
Eye of The Tiger...Survior
We Come Running... Youngblood Hawke -Obvious reasons.

I also have been playing the album, "Glorious Ruins" by Hillsong Live. Which also is the term I've coined for my wrecked "summer feet" of 2013...

See? I told you it was random.
The End.

Diane's 40th Birthday- "Forever in Her 20's" Gatsby Garden party

Double-click this photo for a slideshow of all of the fun !

Forever in Her 20's!

To Celebrate or Not to Celebrate

Celebration - definition of celebration by the Free Online Dictionary ...
1. To observe (a day or event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or MUCH rejoicing.

If anyone knows me long enough they'll figure out quickly that I love to celebrate people and occasions. If there is reason to throw a party together, I will find one. I simply love to see something come together from the start and into completion. The benefit I get from the work and efforts is to see those around me smile and have fun.
I even celebrate holidays that have nothing to do with me. Oh, I can become Irish for St. Patty's day... Watch me.

When it was my 40th last month, as those close to me know I agonized over this "event" for the months before- not wanting to mark this part of my life's timeline at all.
Ugh, who wants to mark 40?
With the clock ticking, I decided to chop my husband's MUCH loftier ideas down to an intimate dinner party in our very own back yard. Instead of gifts, requested donations for the Hope for Dinner/ Run for the Border Non-profit in July that Erik and I have been working hard towards- and this is what I came up with.

To celebrate indeed.
Enjoy.

Solitude

The other word that has taken a hold of me these last couple of months is Solitude. Actually my last entry on Solidarity what supposed to be combined with this one, but as I was writing the words kept coming and well, we had a full blog. (I must write how I talk which as my husband can attest, can be a bit "wordy"- whaaaat?!)

During the training for Run for the Border, I've been given this unexpected gift of Solitude. For someone who is well connected to life; her family, her schedule, her friends, activities, and social networking- this was one of the biggest surprises of committing to this run. One thing about running this length of miles is that while it takes a lot of time to run the 50 miles, it takes even more time to train for it.
I underestimated the amount of time this would take out of my normal routine. At first I fought that a bit- but now I've learned to enjoy the purposeful break out of my normal life.

It's there on the long stretch of road that I'm left alone with my thoughts, my feelings, my problems for hours. It's also the very place that God has always shown me things, imparted wisdom and ideas to me, talked to me, convicted me. There, I am disconnected from life; no interruptions, no laundry, no "To Do" list, no phone calls, and no errands.

Most of us have these quiet places, not necessarily for devotions but for just simple communication. For some of us it has just been a very long time since we have lingered there. Maybe this is the gentle nudge needed to make that a normal place. To get away so that you can hear again, so that He can refresh you, heal you, and restore you back. I love that Jesus modeled this himself many times in the New Testament as shown in Matthew 14:23.
I know some people who use their garage time, during gardening, time while doing dishes, when they are driving, and for years when the kids were younger my quiet place was folding laundry- super glamorous huh?

I think God is his goodness would've orchestrated this mini season of life just to have me get time away with Him. I know I've needed this time to process, to reflect, to align, to remove, to prepare me, and to pray for a lot of people. When you have two hours plus on the road at a time you can get a lot worked through. I used to joke that I could solve world peace when I was out on a good run, sometimes I think I came close.

The song that has been a theme for this run for me and as it gets shuffled through on my playlist has risen like a prayer;

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior


"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" Hillsong United

Solidarity

This word has taken on significant meaning`for me these last 6 weeks of training for Run for the Border. Solidarity in the Webster's definition means: unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards.
Erik and I are running this 100 miles with a team. A team of people who have held us accountable, who have similar goals in mind, who challenge us, and who encourage us.
Honestly I had never set out to run anything long distance. Before this, the very longest I had ever run was 10 miles and that was only one, single, time. I like running but make no mistake, I don't LOVE running. In fact I have never gone on a run and it not hurt a little. I almost always at least for the first two miles, want to turn back and set my little bum back in my comfy chair and switch on the remote.
Each and EVERY time I mentally go there.
Needless to say it is a very good thing I have a small community to pull and push me a little. When I am out on a long run, it's just me and the pavement stretched out on the long road before me. I feel very alone in that moment and this is the group that so far has held me accountable to finish the course that has been set out before me.
Solidarity at times has been my sanity. There are many training days when I'm at about 8 miles in, and I realize I'm just over 1/2 way to the end and I have nothing left, I am totally spent. My left hip hurts, my stomach is cramping up on me, I'm hot, I'm thirsty, I've dodged the 3rd car that "didn't see me", and there is a line of sweat that continues to trickle into my burning eye and I want to quit. Total "baby-girl" fit, huh?

That is the moment that I see this person in my mind.
.
At almost every training run I go on, I picture this man and the struggle with in the miles he has trudged, (with out proper shoes), to simply get the food to his camp- to HIS family. Those boxes from Feed My Starving Children weigh 50 pounds each, and he carries 5 of them, through unpaved roads, and through a swamp. Somehow that puts my temporary pain and discomfort into perspective.
I have also realized that the solidarity factor in this run reaches far beyond our running group. I am running a relay of sorts, each of us doing a small part of a very big picture. Some start the race by giving financially, there are others who give up a meal and raise money in very practical ways through Hope for Dinner, then the pass off happens again when another person gives of their time to pack the food at Feed My Starving Children. There are a few who raise money/awareness for Run for the Border by biking or running hundreds of miles through out their training and the final run. Then of course there are countless others who are praying for these precious people along the way, and finally we run along side these missionaries and villagers who finish out this race by trudging these boxes of meals into the villages where hungry mouths are fed.

Solidarity has played a very huge part in this race for me personally. Realizing that we are all working together for a common goal, and relating to one another with in that. I know that God has made our human hearts for relationship not only with Him, but with each other. If relating closer than I have before with someone else's struggle/pain is a goal God had intended for me, then that mission is being accomplished.

This verse I learned years ago in VBS has taken on new meaning these past few months in Galatians 6:2 it says, "Carry each others burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." I have heard God whisper, "there is caring in the carry Diane." Sometimes I have to push the pictures of this man and others I have seen away in my mind. Sobbing and running make for a really messy work out. (I've tried it, super awkward.) I remember the week Paul Hurckman from Venture spoke during a Sunday morning at our church and tears had started to roll down my cheeks, a lump started to fill my throat, my heart decided it was a good time to start racing, and I thought, "Stop talking, you are wrecking me here." I looked around quickly and hoped this was normal, but no one else looked on the verge of running out of the room. So I sat there and let God chip away at the parts of me that needed a little more "Diane" removed, and allowed myself to feel part of God's heart for these people 1/2 way across the globe.

Solidarity summarized in short says, "I'm in this with you."
It says, "I obviously don't live where you live and I don't pretend to really fully grasp all that you deal with, but I want to know more, I want to help where I can, you are not alone."
Not all of us will obviously help with this specific endeavor, but there is a place for each of us to fill in the worlds we live in. I think too often we can live fragmented unto ourselves, when God really wants us to come together and get behind one another whether that is in your neighborhood or across the world.

I was visiting the MLK memorial last summer in Washington DC and this quote struck me again in a new way, perhaps awakening and preparing me for this short season I am now in. Martin Luther King's quote, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." I have been thinking that through for months and am seeing that quote take root in my life. Just about the time when I am putting dinner on my table for my family of five, I think about this woman serving dinner to her family and I am reminded that her lack must affect my abundance. It is, and hopefully we will never be quite the same.

A Little Bit on the "Hope Campaign" from Hayley. In Her Words....

Hey there! This is Hayley Skoog. My mom and “Office Jesus”, (AKA Paul Hurckman), asked me to write something on what I think about the Hope for Dinner campaign for her blog. When I first heard about Hope for Dinner, I got pretty excited and wanted to do something. Last time when I had an opportunity to do something like this, my parents said no because they thought I wouldn’t be dedicated enough. So this time, I kind of wanted to prove them wrong. I decided what I would do to raise money is to bike around Orchard Lake, (which is 4 miles around), and get people to support me. My goal is to bike 200 miles. I also plan to bike alongside those that are running in the Run For The Boarder 100 mile, 4 day run in July. Also, when I’m biking, I wear this shirt that says “Bike 4 Burma” on the back, so people know what I am doing. I also wanted to make a webpage to spread the news and to get some people to support me. I talked this over with my parents and this time they did say yes. So far, I have gone 66 miles. Doing this is really fun, but also it makes me feel great that I can do something to help other people.

When I was younger, I always wanted to help others, but I felt so helpless and thought I was too young. I learned later on in life that you’re never too young or too old to help the Kingdom of God. For me being a young teen, I didn’t know what I could do. I realize you don’t have to just go on a 100 mile run or bike across the state. What Emma and I did was throw a birthday party, and instead of presents we asked for donations for Hope for Dinner. Also for our birthday, we went to Feed My Starving Children, and were able to see and pack firsthand the food that the money we are raising is going toward.

There are so many simple things you can do to help others, sometimes it’s just asking God what he wants you to do and then doing it. These people in Burma and others places in the world have nothing and while they are starving and thirsty, we are “busy” with our friends, schedules, phones, and trying to get the latest upgrade for our phones. We get caught up in the worldly things that our culture says is right, but God’s word does not say the same. It says in Matthews 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Yet we cannot serve both God and money.”

Lately, I’ve just been more aware of what I have and desire to be even more thankful for it. I look at my life and I just think that I am really blessed. I have a great family, great parents, friends, an amazing church, and even though I don’t always enjoy this, a great school. Sometimes you can get caught up in your own life and not enjoy just the simple things. I was thinking about this on Friday night, we were sitting by the bonfire and spending time together as a family. I was really sad thinking about the end of school and I was already worrying about high school. My mom asked what was wrong and I told her. She replied back, “You should be grateful for everyday that God gives you. You are not promised the next month, week, or the next day. So live in this moment right now Hayley.” I learned from her that I should live in the very moment I am in, and enjoy what God has given me for this day.

So what I can do right here and right now, is help in my own way the Hope for Dinner campaign. I can pray for the Burma refugees, I can give what I have, and I can bike- in hopes of raising some funds and awareness to some people in our world that really need it.

Here is some pictures from our birthday celebrations. If you are interested in supporting please click this link right here. Thank you!

Teach Us to Number Our Days....

I love the verse that is the core of this blog in Psalms 29:10, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

That verse has been mulled over in my mind these past few weeks. "Teach us" must mean that this concept doesn't come naturally with in us. It certainly hasn't come naturally from my personal experience. When my little ones were very young I definitely went through seasons and phases that I would wish the days away. Anyone who currently is dealing with potty- training, teething, and 3am feedings may chime in with a healthy "Amen." right about now. There has been seasons of "hard" recently that I have been VERY guilty in wishing a phase or difficult season away, but I may add that I am getting better at all of this.
I am progressing at the counting my days part of this verse too or at least making my days count; in the hard times, in the "stuck" times, in the mundane, in the days of this spring that seems to forget that winter is indeed over. (Minnesota, where is your reset button?) We've all been reminded lately in watching the news that our days are indeed numbered. In light of the massive tornadoes in Oklahoma, the tragedy at Sandy Hook, in hearing of friends with the diagnosis of cancer, to the simple thing of getting our friend's graduation open house invitation for their child which I could have sworn was still in the 7th grade. I'm reminded that our days here on this earth are indeed numbered.
For me it is finding the divine among the ordinary. It is using what is in my hands TODAY, instead of waiting for the hope of more abundance in my tomorrow. Seizing the moment to do good, and taking time to let God interrupt my sometimes frenetic pace. For some of us it is taking a meal to a friend, forgiving a grievance, listening to EVERY story your junior higher relates at the end of a school day, praying for a spouse, rocking that sweet baby just a little while longer, taking time to connect with that person behind the cash register, helping mow the neighbors lawn, believing the best about someone and not listening to the worst, saying yes to a mission trip, or just spending time in simple quiet to allow the truth of God's word wash over the hard and thirsty parts of our souls.

The last part of this verse is profound. It says, "that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Interesting that in counting our days, we gain wisdom. As I've been pondering more and more about that, I was thinking about the contrasting opposite of that verse. In blending our days into a puddle of the ordinary; the "if only I had...., the I'm bored's, the someday when's, the I'm stuck, the let's just get through this" phases-scripture implies that we are binding our hearts up in foolishness. I think the Psalmist wants to remind us that when we don't grasp our day to day ordinary moments and combine them with God's purpose, then waste and foolishness are not too far away. I'm often drawn back to the story in the bible with the Feeding of the 5000, when the little boy stopped, used the very little that was in his hand at that moment, and allowed God to use him to help usher in the miraculous amongst a very ordinary day.

I'm not sure about you, but I could use more wisdom in the world I live in. More than before I am learning to whisper words of prayer through out my day. To pause and to allow God the interruption rights he is entitled to. To allow His divine plans to surround my temporal world.

It makes for a life more exciting to live, inspiring to be around, and if a little more wisdom leaks over into my life in the process, I'll take it. I need it.
Now off to hear some compelling story of what happened at the junior high lunch table this week.
Stay tuned.

You had me at Salted Caramel.

Okay- When I find a good thing, I share it. And when I share it that typically means I "advertise" about it to anyone who will listen, look at it, try it, or buy it. Then it usually dies. My mom used to call me Elmyra because if I found anything squeezable I would love it to pieces, uh literally. We really did have bunnies growing up and once or twice I may have loved a brand new baby "cuddly-wuddly" a little bit too much.


So this is my attempt at killing it.
I found this recipe on line and tweaked it. It's good. Real good. Addictively good. Let's put it this way, I've made three batches of the stuff over the past week to "give away," and it hasn't left the house. It's probably a good thing I've been running or swimsuit season, (if it ever arrives), could have layers to deal with.
Here it is. I'm not sure if I should say "You're welcome" or "I'm sorry."

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper sprayed with baking spray.
12 cups Popped Popcorn- I used non-microwaveable popcorn
Place the popcorn in an extra large bowl.
1 cup Butter
2 cups Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Light Corn Syrup
2 teaspoons Salt
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 cup of lightly salted whole almonds, cashews, peanuts or walnuts

Melt the butter in a medium sauce pot. Add the sugar, corn syrup and salt and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda. Once incorporated stir in the nuts. Pour the mixture over the popcorn and toss to coat evenly. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 50 minutes. Remove and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Break into pieces and serve.

Helpful Tips:
1. Remove any un-popped kernels before you begin.
2. Spray the baking sheet and the wooden spoon with cooking spray before you begin the cooling process.

Click for your viewing pleasure.

Here's to 40.

I am turning 40. These simple four words have been the cause of MUCH angst this past year in my life. I've heard many responses from people in regards to this milestone birthday most of which go like this, "Your only as old old as you feel." or another favorite, "It's really just a number." As you may guess those responses are from my older friends. From my younger friends I hear a lot of, "Wow, what are you gonna do?" (Huh, what AM I going to do about that?)
Honestly, this subject has not only been a bit touchy for me, but for my husband as well. He and I have the privilege of hitting this milestone just a few months apart, and it has hit him hard too. It went from "Oh wow, we are really turning 40." to "If I even see the hint of a black cake or if someone wraps up some dentures for me, I'll show them where they can put those teeth."
See? As I had mentioned, a sore subject.
I guess besides "40 years" just sounding old, (I remember MY parents turning 40 and I thought, "those poor old souls..." ), the age has us both assessing if we have we done enough so far? Have we already peaked? I was talking to our lead pastor's wife a few weeks back and discussing this very subject. Her response was the PUSH I had needed. Her words of advice to me were, "Do something you've always thought about doing but have been too afraid to do. " You see, for the few weeks prior I had been wrestling in my head about the possibility of participating in the Run For The Border with a small group of young people. Essentially it is running 100 miles in the span of 4 days smack right in the middle of summer. We would be running to raise funds and awareness for the 1000's of refugees on the Thai/Burmese border who go with out food and proper nutrition on a daily basis. Our company's non -profit is in partnership with Feed My Starving Children and has successfully delivered a few shipping containers over to the Thai-Burmese border so far with in this last year. The struggle in this decision came mostly from the fact that running long distance has never been something I had done before, nor had a desire to do. For years my husband has begged me to run a marathon with him and each time I have responded no. Not because I didn't think I could do it, but more because I was afraid I would hate the sport of running once it was done. When running has been my only life's exercise that I have had an interest in, or honestly am coordinated enough to do, that's kind of a risk to take. 100 miles in 4 days, or really for me and Erik it would be a tag- team effort and will be 50 miles each over 2 days- MUCH better right? ;)So now, I was approached with the suggestion of running 2 marathons back to back, with just a day in between.

When Hope for Dinner was launched in partnership with Run for the Border during church one week my daughter Emma kept nudging me, "We can do something Mom."
My response was "We can write a check."
Her gentle whisper was something like, "We can do better than that......"
Ouch.
So a child shall lead them. This time the "God nudge" in me wasn't going to allow me to just write a check, (and there is a significant place for that in these situations). This time it was personal, and God had more for me that He wanted to do in and through me. So I am running. I am running right into the face of 40.

To know more about our fundraiser click on this highlighted link.