Hump Day... Let's DO IT!

As someone who believes you've got to take each day, each situation, each moment, and ask yourself, "Am I letting this control me, or am I controlling it?" I'd like to suggest that mid-week moments can be just as fulfilling as the elation known as TGIF!

I know that most of us can't do elaborate things, (unless we're working on a blog with a client's wine and a recipe deadline) in the middle of the week, but that doesn't mean what we do should be mundane and uninspired. As a matter of fact, taking back Wednesday night as a time to do something special, no matter how small should be something we all aspire to. Even if it's as simple as "Phew, the kids are finally in bed, now where'd I put that bottle of Zinfandel I picked up at Fresh & Easy?" So in honor doing hump day better, here's this week's Hump Day... Let's Do It! suggestion.

Pita Pizzas:

Pita Pizza with Feta and Zahtar

I don't know about you, but I LOVE thin crispy crust pizzas. Doing little pizzas with pita bread is just about the most perfect simple option for achieving this as it gets. You can do practically any kind of pizza topping you like. Following is my super simple recipe for Pita Pizza wih Feta and Zahtar (I'll give a quick explanation for Zahtar after the recipe. Oh, and a wine pairing suggestion too!

MUCH MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

Pita Pizza with Feta and Zahtar

• Pita bread - white and/or whole wheat
• Olive oil - play around with some that have been crushed with flavors - roasted garlic, citrus, etc
• Zahtar
• Salt to taste (if needed at all)
• Feta cheese crumbled
• Minced parsley

Method: Preheat oven to 390. While oven is heating brush each pita bread on one side with olive oil. Next dust each piece with Zahtar, and a touch of salt (be careful, Feta is a salty cheese). Scatter crumbled Feta on top. Arrange on Baking sheet and bake until pita bread is starting to turn golden brown and crispy. Remove from oven, dust with minced fresh parsley, cool for about 3 minutes and cut into wedges.

Options:

• Make it traditional - Pizza sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, etc
• Use fresh herbs,  sliced black olives, maybe throw on some slice pepperoncini
• Spread some Olive tapenade or Roasted Red Pepper tapenade, add some sliced purple onions

The important thing is to keep it simple and have fun! Make them yours, and by all means send me your suggestions!!!

What is Zahtar?:

Zahtar

Zahtar is a common spice used in most of the Mediterranean world. It's a ground up spice blend of thyme, roasted sesame seed, sumac, olive oil and salt. You can find Zahtar at most international grocery stores; Middle Eastern stores are the best, and they would have practically everything you need to make this pizza - probably awesome feta cheese too! Once you discover this wonderful spice blend, you'll find ways to use it in all kinds of recipes: Pastas, vegetables, sauces, salads, rubs for grilling, roasting! Trust me it's WONDERFUL!

Wine Suggestions:

Gavi

If you follow my recipe and don't add tomato sauce (with red sauce, go for bright reds - Sangiovese, Grenache, Chianti), bright crisp white wines are wonderful with this - think Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, Veredelho, etc. or, if you want to discover something new - Gavi from Northern Italy. I've included an excerpt from a piece I wrote for this in Inland Empire Magazine on this MUST DISCOVER wine...

Gavi – Summer’s perfect pleasure!

It’s summer time! Time for chilling and relaxing! What better way than with a cool, crisp glass of Gavi. Gavi you ask? What is a Gavi? Where is it from? Can I get it here?

A  quick primer: Gavi is white wine from Piedmont in Northern Italy. The village Gavi is just north of Genoa in Northern Italy. This wine is made from the Cortese grape; it is considered one of Italy’s best!

The prestigious version of this wonderful white wine is called Gavi di Gavi – the Italians know how to get right to the point don’t they? Gavi wines are readily available in most fine wine stores with good international selections – Gavi di Gavi is produced by La Scolca.

Gavi is great as a stand-alone sipper, but thanks to its clean, crisp, neutral flavors magic happens when paired with food. I guess you could say it’s not too acidic, not too fruity, not too dry, not too sweet. Trust me, if you love refreshing summer wines that will cool you off and heat up your palate, this is a must have!