Georgian Cheese Bread

Goergian Cheese Bread

Zorra announces the 3rd World Bread Day which takes place pn October 16 once again. The original World Bread Day was created by UIB International Union of Bakers and Bakers-Confectioners. They wanted to have the opportunity to talk about bread and bakers, to find out about their history, their importance as well as their future.

Let's bake and talk about bread on this day again!!!!!As Zorra says the theme is wide open...bake a bread with or without yeast, use sourdough, experiment with different flours, add some sees..it's up to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A while back I saw this bread that I wanted to try from Gourmet magazine. The photos and description from the author made it one of those dishes that are a must have!!! I must say that it lived up to its reputation since it was absolutely delicious. It is indescribable!!! I have no way of knowing if I have made this bread true to form not having a Russian grandmother in the wings but I hope it is a fair facsimile. As Irene Dunn said in the movie "Love Affair" with Charles Boyer, "The things we like best are either illegal, immoral or fattening." This bread has copious amounts of cheese and melted butter baked on at the last minute...so ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!



Khachapuri is more like a stuffed pizza than a bread. In the remote mountains of Georgia, the star ingredient of this bread is the firm but creamy salted cow's-milk cheese called sulguni. A blend of Havarti and mozzarella will give you a similar velvety texture. The cheese is pressed into a ball and wrapped with the dough. It is then pressed out into a pizza pan essentially becoming a flat cheese stuffed bread dough.

Shelley Wiseman a food editor from Gourmet magazine set out to make her own version of Khachapuri that she had tried on her trip to Georgia. This is not the State of Georgia in the United States but located in the Caucasus region of the former Soviet Union. Georgia has a style of cooking that has a closer relationship to that of the Middle East than to that of Russia. They use a liberal amount of fruits and nuts together with meat and poultry...walnut and plum sauces are a favourite that I have seen. The region has many varieties of bread that vary in taste and texture from village to village.

Festive dinners in Georgia start with a large variety of zakuski (hors d'oeuvres).The value of you as a host is determined by the length of your zakuski table which is usually set outdoors. A zakuski table consists of many varieties of cheese, vegetables, pickled garlic cloves, and sprigs of coriander and tarragon set alongside platters of smoked sturgeon, caviar, sliced hard sausages, pickled mushrooms and plums. Georgians take enormous pride in the wines they produce at home, so, as many as twelve different kinds of wine may also adorn the table. Vodka, drank "neat" ( ice cold and in a single gulp) from tiny glasses might also be available along with the local version of champagne.

**Georgian Cheese Bread**

2 -1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (a 1/4-oz package)
7 tablespoons warm water (105-115°F)
1- 2/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, divided
3/4 tsp salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 lb (1 cup) Havarti cheese, coarsely grated
1/4 lb (1 cup) salted mozzarella, coarsely grated
1 teaspoon unsalted butter, melted

Equipment: a floured pizza pan (at least 12 inches) or a floured large baking sheet

Sprinkle yeast over warm water and stir in 1 tablespoon flour. Let stand until creamy, about 5 minutes. (If yeast does not activate, start over with new yeast.)

Stir together salt and remaining flour in a large bowl, then stir in egg and yeast mixture to form a dough. Turn out dough onto a well-floured surface and turn to coat with flour, then knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Form into a ball and dust with flour. Let dough rest in a bowl, covered with plastic wrap, punching down with a wet fist every hour, at least 2 hours and up to 3.

Preheat oven to 500°F with rack in middle.

Turn out dough onto floured pizza pan, turning to coat, then flatten with your fingers into a 7-inch disk.

Toss together cheeses and press into a compact 3-inch ball with your hands. Place ball in middle of dough, then gather dough up around ball of cheese, squeezing excess dough into a topknot. Press down on topknot with a damp fist to press cheese out from center. Continue to flatten dough and distribute cheese evenly, pressing outward from center, until dough is an 11-inch disk. Cut a 6-inch X through top of dough to expose cheese. Bake until pale golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Brush surface of dough with butter and bake until golden and cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes more.

Serve cut into wedges.

NOTE: Dough can be made 1 day ahead and chilled in bowl (for a slow rise), covered with plastic wrap. Punch down and bring to room temperature before proceeding with recipe.

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Just a friendly reminder to get your dish into our World Food Day Event by the deadline October 16th. We are attempting to bring the world a little closer together by raising awareness of the problem of world hunger even in our own neighbourhoods. The blogging community spans the globe so we would like you to submit a recipe which represents your country that would feed at least 6 people. You can send something that is a family favourite or a regional favourite that uses local and perhaps seasonal ingredients. Jen of

A2eatwrite suggested that we ask you to let people know what they can do in your own area and who to contact if you would care to do so.

Giz has joined Ivy and myself to raise awareness for this very important issue. Watch next month for exciting things happening at Equal Opportunity Kitchen . Giz is a fellow Canadian from my old stomping grounds with many exciting and enthusiastic ideas. Her energy is boundless. We are happy to have you join us Giz to get the word out!!!!

Read also what Dharm of Dad-Baker & Chef has to say here .It will make you think twice.

I would like to thank everyone who has submitted an entry so far. I am overwhelmed by all of the kind words and response from all of you. Anything we can do to raise awareness for this very important issue the better.

We have enough dishes so far when lined up back to back to feed everyone on my street...the goal is to feed everyone in the city, perhaps the country and then to reach our final goal....a conga line of international dishes to feed the world!!!!

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