People talk about curiosity killing cats, but really, curiosity keeps us alive. We can’t numbly stumble through the motions of life when we’re hunting for the way “I wonder…” ends or the answer to “What would happen if…?” There’s no chance be dead-ended in the mundane when the world is cracking open with new ways of seeing the every day.
Yup, I started getting all philosophical while making appetizers out of refrigerator rejects. A little extra goat cheese, some leftover turkey bacon and a side of “Aha!” moment.
But really, bear with me. It’s easy to get caught in a routine, especially one you don’t particularly love, and not even realize it until the monotony of your day-to-day life crushes down on you one afternoon when somebody asks, “What have you been up to?” And you find a tingling panic in the back of your mind as you struggle to come up with something more than, “oh, you know, the same old, same old” while trying to play it off like you’re totally cool with the same old, same old. It’s a surefire sign you need to add some “why not?” to your life, and even the littlest changes to your routine can be refreshing, like skipping ordering pizza and opting to throw something together with whatever you can find in your fridge. Or semi-humiliating yourself in a Bollywood dance class. Or agreeing to foster parent a litter of kittens.
Just try whatever interests you, and even if it goes horribly (ahem, Bollywood dance class, where I was a good three steps — and a lot of swagger — behind everyone else), you’ll at least have some awesome stories.
And if it goes really well?
Well, then you have Turkey Bacon-Goat Cheese Flatbread.
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- 4 slices turkey bacon
- ¼ onion, sliced
- 2 flatbread pitas
- 1 log goat cheese (4 ounces)
- Dried cranberries
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- As the oven heats, pour the balsamic vinegar into a pot, and heat it to medium-high. The liquid should reduce to half its original volume (after about 10 minutes). Stir occasionally. It should be a bit thicker and syrupy. Set aside.
- Finely chop the turkey bacon and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until lightly crispy and thoroughly cooked. Set on a plate lined with paper towels to drain off any excess grease.
- Place the onions in the frying pan and splash with a little balsamic vinegar. Saute the onions until they're translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Spread goat cheese on each piece of flatbread. Top with the grilled onions, crumbled bacon and cranberries. Heat it in the oven for 4-5 minutes, or until the goat cheese has melted. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar syrup.