Too good not to share!

I've found a new love in the culinary world-  goat cheese.  I seriously used to despise the stuff, along with many other foods.  But the older I've gotten, it seems like my taste buds have reincarnated themselves to appreciate a plethora of tastes.

I now crave goat cheese on everything... crackers, pizza, even scrambled eggs. (Thank you for that one, Ina Garten!)  But my favorite combination that I can't seem to get enough of lately is the following: goat cheese, bacon, sun-dried tomato, and basil.   YUMMMMM!  And from that combo was born these little bundles of heaven-in-my-mouth:

 

 

Basically, you just take a can of crescents and roll them out.  Then fill each one with those fabulous four ingredients:

cooked bacon

pieces of sun-dried tomatoes soaked in extra virgin olive oil 

chopped fresh basil

goat cheese

Roll the crescents up and bake for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees.  They are FANTASTIC!  You've just got to try them.

After you've tasted the deliciousness, I'd love for you to leave me a comment about what you thought.  Plus, I need help naming these things... Thoughts?

Happy eating and hurry back! 

Did you know?

Incredibly RANDOM facts about a certain mushy-gushy day that's quickly approaching:

*It's estimated that ONE BILLION valentine cards are sent each year, according to the Greeting Card Association.  That makes Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, with Christmas being the first.  (I can't ever remember actually sending a valentine card to someone in the mail...  )

*Can you guess who receives the most Valentine's Day cards each year???  TEACHERS... followed by children, mothers, wives, then "sweethearts."

*Children between ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine's cards. (Wow... those tiny cards are making somebody out there very rich!)

*Approximately 85 percent of all "valentines" are purchased by women.

*About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets. (Seriously??!)

*A loooooong, long time ago, some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor.  If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy.  If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire.  (I apparently never laid eyes on a goldfinch.)

*Supposedly eight billion candy hearts were made in 2009... enough to stretch from Rome, Italy, to Valentine, Arizona, and back again 20 times.  (If they tasted a bit better, maybe there would be even more made.  Hmmmm.)

 

A Love/Hate Relationship

Everyday I find myself checking up on all 400 of my “friends” on a website you just might have heard of... www.facebook.com.  Yes, the most used social network in the world is an addiction of mine.  But here’s the deal-- it’s a relationship that I hate to love and one that I especially LOVE to hate. 

Yes, there are great things about a network like this one.  Literally, if you have an account on Facebook and our paths crossed for 5 seconds at some point in our lives, then the site will “suggest” we be friends.  Because of this freaky unique feature, I am connected to people across the country and world who I otherwise would never talk to or see. 

I also find it valuable that I can get a message to hundreds of people all at once.  Much easier than email, in my opinion.  Facebook has also become a “home base,” if you will, for many businesses and bloggers.  Lots of products, posts, and events are launched through the site without spending a penny.  That’s free advertising, yo! 

Let’s face it, though.  There are soooo many annoying issues with Facebook.  The biggest one for me is that, in a nutshell, it’s a big bowl of narcissism.  If you’ve been a member for more than a minute, then you’ve participated in the “look at me” party.  Yet some really take it to the extreme... for instance, there are more than a few of my “friends” who post, post, and post some more about what THEY are doing; yet, under most circumstances, will never ever reply to anyone who leaves them a comment or remark on another person’s status update.  Narcissism at its very best.

And we certainly can’t forget all the needless exciting personal updates about who “became a Prolific Planter” in Farm Life or a do-or-die request to join the “I Bet the South Can Get 1,000,000 Fans Before the North” group.  I mean, what did we all do or worry about before this, dear “friends?”

My final grievance which sent me into a fury to write this post today... the constant layout changes.  Hey Zuckerberg... have you ever heard the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, DON’T FIX IT!” 

Alas, I will keep logging in and mingling with my Facebook world, despite my on-again/off-again relationship with it.  But watch out... sometimes simple is just better.  Right, Twitter?!

Where is God? by Dr. John Townsend

How many times have you asked the question, “Where is God?”  Throughout my personal experience, really difficult times cause my heart to ponder this mystery.  In his latest book, Dr. John Townsend takes a stab at giving us an actual answer to this often-asked question.

In Where is God, Dr. Townsend presents to the doubting soul his understanding of what the Bible teaches about God and suffering.  I commend him for tackling a difficult topic with wisdom and honesty.  The message is very meaty and tough, yet beneficial and sound at its core. 

Where is God gets 3.5 out of 5 stars from me... The book tends to get a bit wordy and definitely isn’t one to pick up for a casual read.  I feel as if the content may be a bit heavy for readers who are in the midst of an incredible life storm. 

If you’re wanting a new or fresh look at suffering and why God allows it, then go ahead and pick up this book.

Happy Reading!

This book was provided to me at no cost by Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Review Bloggers program. I was not required to provide a positive review, only an honest one. The viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

For my fellow readers...

One of my favorite things to do is read.  Considering I have two munchkins running around the house these days, it's really hard to find quality (if any) time to read.  As crazy as it sounds, I absolutely love reading non-fiction books.  Once in a while I'll stray from my norm and blaze through a popular Nicholas Sparks work, or something similar.  But my literary desires are most satisfied when my nose is buried in a bestseller that's going to offer me new advice that I've never considered.

Since we started BluEyEdea Media recently, I've been racking up on books about business, money, self-employment and the like.  Often I find myself frustrated because there are more titles on my reading list than my free time allows.  When I do have a brief moment to read a few pages, I feel unfocused and rushed.  I've been thinking that I need to develop a new system, not of what I read, but of the WAY I read. 

Earlier this evening, I was glancing through all the new posts in my Google Reader and stumbled upon this blog post by Michael Hyatt- How to Read a Non-Fiction Book.  These pointers gave me a new reading plan with fresh focus and direction.

I hope many of you find Mr. Hyatt's ten reading practices helpful, as well.  I would love to hear your feedback once you try them.