Crispy baked potatoes are stacked with goat cheese and chives for a fun side dish!
Sometimes I think of this site as my own adult diary. I was pretty horrible at keeping one in the “omg, I kissed a boy!” years of middle school and literally have years missing between entries. Although, my bible from ccd (catholic school classes for those of you who weren’t subjected to that torture) apparently served as a makeshift one given the amount of “I love Will”’s scrawled all over it. Sorry Jesus, boys were way more interesting than your supposed miracles to a 12 year old girl at the time.
So if this is the adult version of the ccd bible, this week’s entry would go something like this:
Dear Diary,
F&^k October 2. Today my job was “eliminated” from a company I’ve worked for for over 9 years, in a 10 minute meeting by my boss of 2 months, not the owner/CEO who I’ve worked closely with for 9 years. Not based on performance, but because of organizational changes. No warning, no explanation and no other opportunities provided. The company email announced the promotions of my colleagues with a 2 sentence blurb about my termination at the bottom. 2 sentences. That’s apparently what you’re worth after 9 years. Not even 2 months ago I was called a “vital” part of the organization and today, I’m unemployed. Crazy shit, huh?
Thankfully, this comes at a really good time (if there’s a good time to lose your job) and below that layer of bitterness that’s still lingering, there’s actually excitement. A lot of it. I have no idea what comes next. I do know I get to spend a lot more time in my kitchen, a lot more time doing the stuff I love and not feeling like my “passions” (let it be known I really hate that word because I feel like Gen Y-ers have overused it to death) only get the few spare minutes of attention I can afford here and there while I hamster wheel my way through life. Screw that, life’s too short.
It’s funny really that I had these potato stacks to share today because the day I made them I was frantically rushing to get them made and photographed in the 35 minutes I had between conference calls at lunch. I had goat cheese everywhere, chives all over my dining room rug and while I was photographing in haste, Ginger was jumping up onto the stove and grabbing the extra 2 slices of potatoes off the baking sheet. I won’t miss that.
I’m sure there will be plenty of rushed recipes, messes and half dog eaten food in the future, but at least it won’t be because of a job I resent.
Now, let’s enjoy some crispy potatoes sandwiched with goat cheese. Because how can that not heal the losing your job blues?
Goat Cheese and Chive Potato Stacks
Ingredients
- 1 large russet potato sliced lengthwise into about 1/4 inch slices
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- salt & pepper
- dash dried herbs of choice I used Herbs de Provence
- 2 ounces goat cheese
- fresh chives chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Spread the potato slices out in a single alyer on the baking sheet.
- Drizzle with half the olive oil, season with the salt & pepper and herbs.
- Flip the slices over and season the other side.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, flipping half way through. Edges should be crispy and golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and assemble the stacks by placing dollops of the goat cheese in between each slice and gently pressing down.
- Place the stacks back on the baking sheet and broil for 1-2 minutes to crisp the potatoes and melt the cheese.
- Remove from oven, garnish with the fresh chives and serve warm.
Nutrition Facts
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.
Gina Matsoukas is the writer, founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients as much as possible. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
Sara M
Thursday 1st of October 2015
I completely understand how you feel about the job situation. When it happened to me, luckily I hadn't been there nearly as long. But it's definitely a kick in the pants when you don't expect it. But like you, I had a tinge of excitement. It's very hard to make a change like that voluntarily. Following your passions is made to sound so easy these days, but even for us Gen-Yers, getting stuck in a job that stifles who we are is just as easy (if not easier). Our generation has to constantly think about money because the market is so unpredictable. That can make changing your career path feel insurmountable. But the best thing you can do is decide who you really want to be and what aspects of a job are non negotiable (not working somewhere that leaves no room for your passions and that overshadows your morals and likes) and stick to that. I've gone in a completely different direction than I was going because I decided to not let this unintentional chance be wasted. Even though I haven't gotten a new job yet, I feel more in control now than I ever did at a job that was eating away at me daily because I'm finally respecting what matters to me instead of treating it like extra. Good luck to you!!!!
Amanda
Friday 11th of October 2013
Ugh, sorry about your job! But - and you can probably guess what I'm going to say - I think this is a good thing for you. A really good thing. It sucks that you weren't able to leave on your own terms, but maybe you needed that kick in the butt to finally take the leap? I know exactly what it's like to have a job you resent and it sucks a ton of energy out of you. I still don't know what I'm doing (will I ever?) two months after quitting my job, but I'm slowly figuring things out and getting the last four years of crap work out of my system (seriously, I had no idea how burnt out I was at the time). You'll come out of this so much better and happier!
Regan
Wednesday 9th of October 2013
My first job ever (which I LOVED LOVED LOVED) was eliminated on a Monday - December 18th, right before Christmas. No warning. In fact, I'd worked on projects all weekend that ultimately went nowhere. The entire magazine staff was eliminated. We were simply told to go home. They'd call us if anything else in the company was a fit for us.
Then, years (and two jobs) later out of desperation to be in the same city as my husband I took a job as a pharmaceutical rep. MISERABLE. A few months into the job, I become pregnant with my first son. At the time, I assumed I would continue working... even though I hated being a pill pusher. My new bosses' response to my announcement to him over lunch that I was pregnant:
*Fork slam on plate"
And I quote:
"I've just lost my appetite"
Needless to say, I didn't return after the baby.
I spent a year trying to determine where to go next. That's when my freelancing career was born. Not to many years after that, Healthy Aperture and Recipe ReDux were born. And it was all THE BEST that could ever happened to me.
All those sayings about doors closing are really annoying when it's happening to you, but there's a little truth there.
Good things are in store for you, Gina. I have no doubt :)
Running to the Kitchen
Wednesday 9th of October 2013
Regan- thanks so much for this comment. I'd been contemplating quitting for months now so this was honestly the push I needed. The way in which it all went down is what's hard to take at the moment. But that will pass and I do know it's going to be an awesome future ahead. The doors closing comments can be annoying but I really do believe it'll end up being true too. Thanks for sharing your story :)
Shaun Baird
Tuesday 8th of October 2013
I'm sorry to hear about the job! :( Its sad, but one way or another bills will still come in so don't let it get on top if you can. Now onto the fun part... loving your site and the recipes!! When i saw running I thought this blog was about recipes for runners! (is it???)
Anyway, got some more recipes to devour/look at ;-)
Jane
Sunday 6th of October 2013
Sweetie, I feel your pain. Can I say hang in there, life does get better and remember to breath, drink plenty of water, walk and before you know it... a BETTER opportunity (different) will come along|?. In the meantime, know you are very much appreciated here in the web world, and those potato stacks are on the menu tonight with a grilled steak. Yum!!