Cranberry Cinnamon Goat Cheese with Bacon Slices

In just a couple of days it will be time to run another 15K, The Utica Boilermaker Road Race.  It can be fun or it can be tough depending on the goal.  It’s not a flat course but the hills aren’t overly aggressive either.  The crowd support is maxed out. You won’t see a more motivating crowd than what you witness while running from East Utica all the way to Varick Street by Saranac Brewery.   And lets not forget that HUGE post race party with music, food, beer, and celebration. 

What are my expectations?  I try not to expect anything but would love to PR this race.  I had an hour long run Thursday morning without the dogs to check my pace.  It wasn’t quite where I wanted it and I ended up with sore hips and an achy hamstring.  I’ll simply hope that any pain that wants to raise it’s ugly head on Sunday waits until AFTER 9.3 miles is completed. 

Here’s to a good run, injury free, fun, and, of course, FAST.  If you’re running, good luck.

Goat Cheese is the featured ingredient.

An eloquent appetizer.  So simple, quick, yet defined in taste. 

All you need for a plate of 20 appetizers is… *I used regular bacon because these were made for friends but if preparing for myself or if you too are vegetarian, simply use soy bacon.

• 6 – 8 oz package of goat cheese coated in cranberries and cinnamon or roll a log of goat cheese yourself in a mixture of dried cranberries and cinnamon but press them into the log.
• 4 – 6 slices of meaty bacon
• 20 pretzel crisps or small crackers such as wheat thins

Cook the bacon until crispy.  Make sure to allow to cool on a paper towel so it mops up excess fat.

Lay out the pretzels or crackers onto a tray and top with prepared goat cheese. *You need to slice the goat cheese into 20 portions. Gently press onto the pretzel without breaking.

Break apart the bacon and insert slices into the goat cheese.  Serve and Enjoy!

Ted prefers the taste of bacon to goat cheese so I added extra bacon. The goal of this appetizer is to taste both the gamey sweet goat cheese paired with a salty, savory sensation of bacon. 

Goat cheese. Do you love it?  hate it? 

If you like goat cheese, what’s your favorite way to enjoy it?