Hello! As promised, I’m switching gears this season and focusing on Fair Trade,Food & Fashion. I want to inspire you to implement small lifestyle changes that make a BIG impact on people and planet! 

So follow me fellow foodies and fashionistas---let’s get cooking! 

     Entry #1 

Have you ever heard of the Middle Eastern spice blend Zaa’tar? No--it’s not the magical machine that turned Tom Hanks from kid to “Big” overnight. That would be the Zoltar. What I’m talking about is a potent blend of spices that taste amazingly vibrant and woodsy.

The first time I tried Zaa’tar was at a Mediterranean restaurant. It was a Chicken Fattoush Salad and the CHICKEN was out of this world FLAVORFUL. I don’t get excited about Grilled Chicken Salads but this one was complex and vibrant and the crunch from the fried pita made every bite perfectly additive. I made it a quest to find out how the chicken had been prepared and soon discovered Zaa’tar! After purchasing my own Fair Trade blend--I’m kinda thinking it could be magical afterall.

     History

This famous seasoning is used all throughout the Middle East. The word “Zaatar” is believed to be derived from an ancient type of oregano, referred to in the bible as Hyssop. Holy Hyssop! In the bible, Hyssop was known for its cleansing effects and was used in connection with curing diseases. It was also ceremoniously sprinkled over the Jewish Passover Lamb. Doesn’t surprise me that today, oregano is known for its antibacterial properties and can be found in natural remedies.

     What’s In it? 

I’ll start with WHAT IS NOT IN THIS BLEND--there are no fillers like wheat, chickpeas or even sawdust (not kidding). The essentials of a good blend include sumac, roasted sesame seeds, sea salt and some form of herb like oregano or thyme. 

     What to Do with It 

While the uses for spice blends are limitless, this potent mixture is perfect for infusing depth and Middle Eastern SOUL to otherwise soulless chicken breasts. It is also good for adding an exotic touch to sour cream or yogurt dips or for simply sprinkling over a salad. 

As for me and my house, the Zaa'tar blend is used to make the perfect marinade. You won’t believe the flavor your boring chicken breasts are about to bust out 

     Fair Trade Zaa'tar 

The particular blend I am using for this marinade is from Sindyanna of Galilee, a woman-owned non-profit in Israel that works to use business as a catalyst for peace for Arab and Jewish farmers in Israel.

“Our staff consists of Arab and Jewish women who share a vision of peaceful coexistence, and work towards this goal side by side with skill, care, and a passion for the craft.”

Beautiful, right?

You can order it online (they have awesome new packaging) but if you’re local to The Woodlands/North Houston area, I recommend visiting WC Trading Company, a Fair Trade store at Woodlands Church. This is where I purchased my Zaa'tar blend as well as many other Fair Trade goodies. 

Now, to get cooking. I wanted to pay homage to that Fattoush Chicken Salad I had in Houston years ago and the Zaa’tar blend inspired me to whip up my own little fattoush…(say it out loud).

Here’s my version: