I am always in awe of the beautiful things in nature. Today, for Outdoor Wednesday with A Southern Daydreamer, I want to show you some pictures taken by Jim Gaston of Gaston’s White River Resort. Photography is one of his hobbies and he does a beautiful job at it.
Enjoying Bull Shoals White River State Park:
A bluebird in flight:
And, a bluebird at home:
A bluejay posing on the fence:
A flock of geese in the evening:
And . . . the majestic eagle:
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not;
and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these.
Luke 12:27
Today’s Lagniappe: Fig and Mozzarella Bites
Do I love figs? YES! I found this recipe by Giada De Laurentiis that sounds divine.
- 6 sheets phyllo dough
- 6 ounces smoked mozzarella, cut into 6 equal pieces
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- 8 ounces dried figs, stemmed and quartered
- 3/4 cup honey, plus more for drizzling
- 3 teaspoons black sesame seeds
In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F.
Place 1 sheet of phyllo on a dry work surface. Place one slice of cheese about 5 inches from the top of the narrow end of the sheet. Fold the top of the narrow end over the cheese, leaving 1 inch between the fold and the cheese. Next fold over 1 of the long sides then the other, again leaving 1-inch between the folds and the cheese. Then fold the cheese over, again leaving 1-inch between the fold and the cheese. Continue folding to make a package about 3 1/2 by 4-inches. Continue with the remaining pieces of cheese and phyllo.
Fry the phyllo and cheese packages, 2 or 3 at a time, in the oil until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
Meanwhile, heat the figs and honey in a small saucepan over low heat until the honey is warm. Set aside until the cheese packages have finished frying.
To serve, place 1 cheese package on a plate. Spoon some figs and drizzle some honey over the top of each cheese package. Sprinkle with black sesame seeds and serve immediately.
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