Chicken Schwarma Pitas and the Time I Had to Cut My Pants Off

Once, a long long time ago I was at work.  I was wearing a pair of fitted cropped pants with a hidden side zipper (you know the kind I am talking about?) and had started my day by drinking two large coffees.  So naturally, I had to pee.  I got to the stall and encountered a problem.....my zipper was seriously stuck!  I struggled for a good five minutes trying to get it down, to no avail.  By this time, I reallllly needed to go.  So I ran down the hall to enlist the help of my friends in the lab.  

3 people tried with no success.  One of the men even grabbed a pair of pliers and was trying to get the zipper down (you want akward? Imagine having to pee so bad you have a male co-worker try to wrench your pants off with a pair of pliers).  At this point, I couldn't hold it any longer...it was starting to come out.  I did the only thing I could, I grabbed a pair of scissors, ran to the bathroom, and cut my pants off, emergency room-style.  I had never felt relief so sweet.  

Thankfully one of my friends had her dry cleaning in her car, and just so happened to have a pair of black dress pants in my size (spending the day in dirty pants was much better than spending the day in pants held together with duct tape...thanks Jeri!).

The moral of this story....those hidden side zippers are the worst.  And it never hurts to have a back up pair of pants.  

You know what else?  It never hurts to have yet another simple chicken meal.  I feel like I am going on overkill with these, but we eat a TON of chicken, so variety is great.  I originally got this recipe from one of my lady magazines...but I can't remember which one.  Maybe Woman's Day....maybe Good Housekeeping.  

Either way, these are quick and easy and full of flavor, and they make great lunches the next day.  In the summer I grill the chicken, in the winter I just cook it in a pan with a little cooking spray.  Both ways work just fine. 

Also...look at the nutritional info...go ahead, have 2.  These are incredibly healthy!

Chicken Schwarma Pitas

Makes 8 Servings

190 cals / 4 g fat / 20g carbs / 19g protein

1 - 1 1/2 lb chicken breast, thinly sliced

1/4 cup plus 1/2 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt

6 cloves garlic

1 lemon

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1/4 cup tahini

4 whole wheat pita pockets

cucumber, lettuce, tomato, red onion, feta for garnish (all are optional)

1.  Mince garlic.  Trim fat from chicken.

2. Combine 4 cloves minced garlic with 1/4 cup yogurt, zest from 1 lemon, juice from 1/2 lemon, crushed red pepper, cumin, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper.  Coat chicken in sauce and allow to set at room temp for 20-30 min.

3.  While chicken is marinating....chop/cut any veggies you are using for garnish, make tahini sauce:  mix 1/2 cup yogurt with remaining 2 minced cloves of garlic, juice from remaining lemon half, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, and tahini.  Mix well and set aside.  Cut pitas in half and warm, if you want.

4.  Cook chicken on grill (or in pan) until cooked through, about 3-4 min per side.  Slice into thin strips, and serve by filling a pita half with chicken, any of the veggies you want, and a good serving of the sauce.