#2 on my list, Cook 15 new dishes (#6)

Rice Lasagna, what? That was the first thing that came to my mind when a friend told me that she found this recipe for me to try; And of course I can have it because it's GF. I wasn't really sure that it was going to hold together very well when I first heard about it but it turned out wonderful. Not to mention that it's cheaper to make than regular lasagna since I didn't have to pay for the noodles, which can run upwards of $6 a box.

So what occasion would warrant me making a lasagna, after all it's only lil' ol me. The occasion was Shannon's Birthday/going away tea that we held last Saturday. Even though they've moved to TX the theme was Italian because that's Shannon's favorite. Italian, as any Celiac knows, is a nightmare food to contend with. Sure they make GF noodles, but they don't make the same delicious Italian fare that I've long been acquainted with (living in Sicily spoiled me). However, it kept all week and made some pretty descent left overs. I dont regularly like the idea of left overs, but this kept really well.

So without much further ado I give you Rice Lasagna.

Rice Lasagna
Serves 8

Ingedients
3c. hot cooked long grain rice
2 large eggs
3/4c. grated parmesan cheese
2c. shredded mozzerella cheese
1c. low fat ricotta cheese
1lb. lean ground beef
1/4c. chopped parsley
1 jar (15.5 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1 Tbsp chopped oregano

Directions

1. Cook rice according to directions on package. Generally it's 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of dry rice.

2. After rice is done combine rice, 1 egg and 1/3c. of parmesean cheese in a bowl.

3. In another bowl, combine 1 egg, the mozzerella and ricotta cheeses, 1/3c. of parmesean cheese, and parsley.

4. In a large skilet brown the beef, stirring and breaking into bits, drain, and add the sauce and oregano. It's probably a good idea to do this while the rice is cooking so as to save some time in the kitchen.

5. Evenly spread half the rice mixtre into an 11 1/2" x 7 1/2" x 2 1/2" baking dish.

6. Top wiht half the cheese mixture, followed by the meat mixture and repeat layers. Sprinkle with the remaining parmesean cheese.

7. Bake at 375 deg. for 20 minutes (that's a lot shorter than regular lasgana) or until hot; and serve with your choice of vegetable.

I dedcided while making it, to use as much rice as I could and so I made the final layer the rice one, which is OK too. Maybe next time I'll follow the direcitons to a "T", who knows. Either way it's delicious:) Enjoy!

#12 on my list, Learn 30 new words (#6)

I'm thinking about changing the name of my blog once my 30 x 30 deadline is up and in searching for a word in the Thesaurus I came across this one.

Convivial
kuhn-viv-ee-uh-l

Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition: Fun-loving, Jovial

#19 on my list, Read 15 new books (#6)

Soon you will all find out about my great Christmas vacation, but for the mean time I will tell you all about book #6 from my list. It ended up being Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris. It's a really good book that takes a look at courtship. Both what it means and how to go about it in the "recreational dating" world that we live in.

A few years ago I read his book I Kissed Dating Goodbye, which was really helpful for my new outlook on relationships. This one was just as insightful and helpful for me. See, as a young child, I always held to a pretty traditional outlook on what boys should do and what girls should do. Dads work and Moms stay home. Boys do the pursuing and girls do the waiting. This outlook wasn't particularly enforced by anything in my family, that I can recall, it's just what always seemed like the right thing.

Of course, as adults know, we tend to make life more complicated as we grow up. Especially if we don't have strong biblical foundations, but I digress. The point is that as I grew up I succumbed to the pressures that this world offers up in the area of relationships. However, after reading both of these books (as well as my Bible), and sitting under sound biblical teaching on this matter it turns out that the very ideals that I thought were right, and held to as a child, were right. Or I guess what I should say is that they match up with what the Bible has to say about relationships, and it's just been nice to read these two books and have those thoughts confirmed.

Anyway, what Josh proposes, in this book is getting back to the basics which is that a man should only pursue a relationship with a girl once he's ready to get married (men that means you must have employment too). I mean Boaz didn't date around until he came upon Ruth (of course I had to reference my favorite book) and he owned an entire field. He definitely came with his A game. Admittedly, in the book, that doesn't mean that just because you pursue a relationship with someone that you will get married to that person, but rather that unless you are willing to be married to someone you should not be entering into random relationships with the opposite sex. Hence courtship enters the picture. The term courting was actually born out of the middle ages when knights of the court would try and woo the ladies of the court. It has, much to societies chagrin, evolved into what we now know as dating (I cringe at the thought of it evolving into "hooking up", but that seems to be were it has started to go).

This book helped me in a couple areas. Primarily since I've only ever imagined what this aspect of life can, and hopefully will, hold for me it gave me some practical information as to what I should be expecting from any potential suitors, as well as what I should be bringing to the table and prioritizing in my own heart and mind. This particular edition of the book also has some ideas/guidelines as to basic conversations to hold with each other as well as some pretty fun "date" ideas that accompany the actual conversations. For example, and this one would be a little difficult for me due to my dietary needs, but one of them suggests discussing and finding a way to get a decent dinner for under $10 while discussing your financial history, present and the future. The other thing I liked about the book, was that it's not just for young people looking for guidance, which a lot of books of this particular genre are, but rather it speaks to older people, like myself. It addresses certain issues that many of us, who received Christ later on in life face.

But one of the things that I loved about reading this book was how relaxing it was. At best it takes me a week or two to read a book, which is relaxing in and of itself, but this was a huge exception. On Christmas Day I was allowed time to just sit read, which was sooo relaxing. Because of this gift, I basically read the book in a day. Which is ironic because the last time I was able to do that I was on a C-130 flying to Japan for a deployment. And what, pray tell, was the book that I read that leads to this delicious irony. Well it was none other than Joshua Harris' first book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye". LOL, I love it:) And I hope that all of you who read this get the opportunity to read the book.

#7 on my list, Have 30 girls nights (#6)

The evolution of a conversation between two females is something of a wonder. When two women are talking we can start off in one subject (like loosing weight) and end up on a completely different one (like home decorating). Such was the girls night that I shared with my dear friend Shannon. It was nothing momentous. There was no personal angst for me to disect through my analytical brain, and the was nothing for me to seek council about, it was just two friends hanging out and talking while her little one was napping. AWE!!! Anyway, it was a few hours well spent between friends, albeit a short one, considering that time always flys when you're having fun! I hope that y'all have friends that you too can share special times with. We need those from time to time:)

#14 on my list, Meet 30 new people (#6 & 7)

This one is moving along in a grand fashion. This past weekend we at Bible Baptist church had the pleasure of hearing one of the missionaries that we support preach.

6 & 7. His name is Bill Richards and he had his wife Brenda with him. Evidently we have been supporting them since they left the BBF missions program 20 years ago, but they had never been to see us before. However this Sunday changed all that. He gave 2 great sermons. I especially enjoyed the one in the evening, about not forgetting what we were prior to salvation. I know it had to be difficult for his to try and preach in English again since he's been doing it in German for 20 something years, but I thought he did an excellent job. Any time the gospel is presented it is a excellent message. I'm glad that I got to talk with them and find out more about their ministry, as well as their sons. For we also support their son Seth's new ministry work in Germany as well. In all honesty I stayed to converse with them way later than I had expected to, but it was well worth it because it's not all that often that we may be able to see them so you have to take advantage of the opportunities that come along.

I especially enjoy getting to talk to missionaries and find out about what they face on different fields. I would love to go to a foriegn field to help and evangelist, but the only request that I have concerning that is, that if it ends up being in the Lords will for me to marry someone that is called to the mission field that it's not in Asia. Don't get me wrong Asia is beautiful, but it's muggy and sticky! I don't mind heat, but humidity is not something that I enjoy for more than a week, if I were on a vacation. I know this because when I was in Japan and Diego Garcia (for about 6 months each) it was like that, and I was there during monsoon season, UGH! Of course I'll go and do whatever he asks of me, but I can always pray and still hold on to the hope that my wishes will meet up with what the Lord desires of me.