Hunger has two different meanings to me: when one has an empty stomach, and when one has a hunger for God.

I have been blessed to live a life where I never have gone hungry at the dinner table. My mom and dad made sure we always had food, even when they struggled to feed 4 growing children. As very young parents, who divorced when my brother and I were 12, they both had to live on strict budgets. My mom created easy recipes that were cheap and appealed to our picky appetites when we were young, some of which we still love to this day.  One that we all enjoy is called, “Ham Ring-Around.” Anytime we get together and get to choose which recipe she makes us, it’s always that meal (although her recipe was not beef, see my version at the end of this article that replaces the ham with your favorite meat). My dad loved Hamburger Helper, another easy and cheap way to feed us with beef to keep us happy and full!

I get to eat some amazing food, whenever and wherever I want. I, myself, take that for granted and know we all do this sometimes. Knowing how many people struggle with hunger, lack of proper nutrients, protein and the joy of eating a delicious meal, is heartbreaking to me. I feel like food is an experience where families come together; when a mom teaches the daughter to cook and the dad teaches his son how to grill. It’s when we get to go on first dates and feel butterflies and make sure not to order a salad because it’s unattractive to eat in front of boys. It’s saving some for your favorite dog and it’s grandma always asking if we want more to eat even though we are stuffed. It’s our favorite holidays and football games. Some of our favorite moments in life revolve around food. Unfortunately, some people: small children, a single parent, a struggling addict, etc., can’t concern themselves with the frivolous notion of creating memories, they have to figure out where their next meal will come from. I’ve been fortunate to never have to sacrifice those experiences.

However, I have constantly been hungry for God. A need that will never be satisfied. I believe we find him through what we do for others, for serving and having a giving heart. We must find a passion in giving back; my hunger for God, and for helping others is fulfilled with an organization that I learned about a couple years ago- Holy Cow Ranches is fighting hunger through God and Beef.  With over 50 million Americans hungry, and the population growing, we must find ways to feed them the nutrition they need, and Holy Cow Ranches hopes to do just that.

For more information on how you can get involved, or what they are all about, visit Holy Cow Ranches and join us on this journey with God to help families put quality, nutritious protein on their tables.

May everyone’s stomach always be full and their hunger for God never satisfied.

To turn the aforementioned recipe into a “Beef Ring-Around,” follow the instructions below! Not only is ground beef cheap and lean, but it’s also very easy to prepare. In fact, the entire recipe is simple. All you need is:

1 can crescent rolls
1 cup green beans
1 tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp diced onion
1 cup ground beef
6 oz jack cheese
2 tbs parsley flakes
1 tbs melted butter
2 tbs mustard

• Cook the ground beef until brown
• Mix all ingredients in a bowl
• Unroll the crescent rolls and fold in half to make triangles
• Stuff the triangles with the mix and set in a ring on a baking pan
• Set oven at 350 degrees and bake for 25-30 minutes then serve!