We all deal with stress, disappointment, and defeat in different ways. At least I assume we do. Unless you tell me that you, too, head straight for your kitchen to fry up all the bacon and chop all the onions in the house. While knocking back a couple goat cheese biscuits.
To each her own, I guess.
After 5 months of marathon training, I’m down “only” 2.5 pounds (after losing the 13 I gained over the first 2.5 months), down a full pants-size, ran a personal record 15 miles at a personal record pace… and then here I am, heavy one ugly gray boot. For a minimum of 4 weeks.
“But what about my crazy expensive marathon?! It’s 60 days away!” The sad, blank stare I got back verified one thing: An orthopedic surgeon’s office would be the best place ever for a tequila shot dispenser.
So I limped to the kitchen in my unlimited edition Soul-Crushing Grey boot. And I ate goat cheese biscuits for lunch. Goat cheese and carbs alone won’t numb the disappointment so I did the only thing I knew how to do.
I dumped the last of the bacon into a pan and grabbed another biscuit.
And then I started hacking away at the onions while thinking about all the other things that we could have done with the money I spent on airfare and onsite lodging and Body Glide and park tickets. And race fees and shoes and Gu.
And seriously. THOSE &^%$#@! PARK TICKETS.
But I can run far. And run pretty fast. Even though right now, I feel like a Mechwarrior when I walk.
And I can totally dominate a pan of biscuits.
Tender drop biscuits infused with tangy goat cheese and lots and lots of black pepper. They’re not a cure-all. But they sure won’t make a bad situation worse.
Goat Cheese & Black Pepper Biscuits
A soft, peppery biscuit made with tangy goat cheese and yogurt.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 heaping tsp fresh ground black pepper
- 2 oz goat cheese
- 1 cup buttermilk (or if desperate like me, scavenge your fridge for 3/4 cup fat-free greek yogurt + 1/4 cup 2% milk)
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 and place a 10-in cast iron skillet in the oven to heat.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper.
- Take a fork and crumble the goat cheese into the dry ingredients.
- Cut 4 Tbsp of the butter into small cubes and add to the bowl.
- Cut the butter and goat cheese into the dry ingredients until there are no big pieces left (this takes 90 seconds by hand).
- Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the "buttermilk" and then stir until all powdery traces are gone.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and add 1 Tbsp butter, swirling to coat the bottom.
- Drop biscuits by heaping large spoonful (I got 10 biscuits) into the skillet.
- Melt the last Tbsp of butter and brush over top.
- Bake ~15 minutes, just until biscuits brown on top.
- Devour immediately. Or the next day. There are no wrong answers here.
Notes
Yields: 10 servings
Estimated time: 45 minutes
Mmmm mmm mmm! Love goat cheese biscuits!!!
Aren’t you planning to run in the Disney World Marathon? We had a friend run last year (her first marathon), there’s all classes of runners π If you can run/jog/walk combo, you should be just fine!
BTW I agree with you comment about having a tequila dispenser at the arthropods office (actually, I think my breast surgeon and plastic surgeons’ offices would have been less stressful with tequila dispensers!!!)
Yep! I’m registered for the WDW full… just don’t know how it’s going to shake out. For now, I’m following doctor’s orders. And hoping for a miracle.
Aww hope your foot gets better soon! These biscuits are certainly lovely!
I say go to the race and cheer on the other runners. You can go the park and use the tickets! It may not be the dream trip but at least you won’t feel that you have wasted all your money I’ve been there with a running injury and it’s horrible. Speedy recovery!
Love your blog. Can’t wait to try the biscuits! Hey shouldn’t there be tequila somewhere in this menu!!!
Ouchie! So sorry about the foot. Hope you feel better soon! xo
I just got out of a boot for a nasty sprained ankle…that I sprained 2 weeks after registering for a race. Race is NOT going to happen for me…so I empathize. I’m feeling like my ankle will never be the same. Hoping for a speedy recovery.
Ohh my gosh that sucks. I hope you feel awesome again really soon!
These biscuits look so delicious and rustic and gorgeous – pinning them!
Oh no that’s terrible π I’m training for a half marathonand I can’t imagine that happening:( I hope you have a quick recovery!
I’m so sorry! Sending positive vibes your way for fast healing. The biscuits do look delicious though! Can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing were I in your place. I hope you feel better very soon.
I hear you on the injury stuff… really sucks, I’ve been there, too. Good luck – hope it heals quickly and you can run again soon!
Oh no! I am so sorry to hear about your injury π Having been through the gruelling and lengthy process of training for a marathon myself, I can only imagine the heartbreak and disappointment you must be feeling right now after so many months of training. I am really hoping that you will have a speedy recovery and that you WILL be able to complete your first marathon! No matter what, I hope that you never forget how far you have come and how you have already accomplished so much (that 15 miles sounds like it was a killer run!). Thinking of you! xo
Oh no!!! What happened?!? AND UGH. I have totally been there. Had to skip out on two marathons after spending lots of money on race fees and plane tickets because of stress fractures. It’s not fun. But I would suggest (barring orthopedist intervention) that you still go and run/walk even if you don’t run. There is still a LOT of time until January and if you’ve done fifteen miles, I promise you will finish the race!
Also, I would totally cope with biscuits. Just saying.
I am so sorry to hear about the race but I feel certain you are not cluncking around like an Atlas (I played MW3 & 4.. SO love the shout out!)… Sending healing thoughts and if I could, a bottle of tequila. π
I so hope that you can JTFO at Disney!
Oh bummer! So sorry you injured your foot. Just a matter of time ’til you’re able to trade that ugly thang out for some cute leather boots though. π These biscuits, however, are bee-yoo-tiful!
OH!!! I am so disappointed for you! I’ve really been rooting for you all along. BUT keep your cool boot on and maybe it will all pan out. There’s no shame in doing a jog/walk combo. 26.2 miles is still 26.2 miles whether you’re running or walking …
I love it. these are among my all time favorite βGoat cheeseβ cookies and Iβm definitely going to be making them in the future!
Oh no!
I’m sorry!
I kind of know what you mean (as if you want to hear another injury story? lol)
I have to lose weight, and have, started back in may, am down 45 pounds already, but during that time I trained too hard and hurt my knee. It’s better now, but when it happened I was like “now? and wtf?” But I learned to workout in the pool, which was awesome. So if you get the itches to workout try the pool; it’s amazing and you still get a nice workout without doing more damage. You know? Sorry so long, but I know you’re pain.
Shawndah! I am so sorry about the boot. That is no fun at all. Here’s wishing you a quick recovery, a few margaritas, and some tasty goat cheese biscuits.
Thanks, Kelsey!