Southwestern Chicken Pitas

This week so far has been full of adventures, both in and out of the kitchen. The big adventure out of the kitchen was my hot water heater breaking and us being without hot water for 1 day and a 1/2.  We couldn’t take showers and we had to wash dishes the old fashioned way by boiling water on the stove. While the plumbers were replacing the hot water heater, for awhile, we didn’t have any water. There were all these things I was going to do, but they all required having access to water. I couldn’t even fill my flower vases with water or wash my hands or my vegetables, meaning I couldn’t even cook. You don’t realize how much you depend on something until it is no longer there. But fortunately, that has now been resolved. We have hot water once again. WHOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!

You already know about my Ciabatta bread adventures Homemade Sourdough Ciabatta – Mistakes And Lessons Learned, but I have learned what changes needed to be made for next time. Maybe it was just because I was flustered from my hot water heater experience, but dinner did NOT go as planned either. Fortunately though, I know how to quickly change gears and make something completely different than what was planned in a instant. :)

I had an idea in mind on what I was going to make, but things just weren’t working out. Have no fear though, I was definitely able to turn it all around and still make something delicious. Had I not said anything, no one would have ever known. :)

I created some delicious Southwestern chicken pitas.

I had some leftover lime vinaigrette that I used as a marinade for my chicken strips. I added some cumin, chili powder, jalapeno, garlic and parsley (I accidentally bought more parsley instead of cilantro). 

I let the chicken marinate for about 45 minutes before cooking it up. It was very tender and full of flavor. 

I made a yogurt and chili spread to cover my warmed pitas, then added the cooked chicken. I topped them with chopped tomatoes, cut lettuce, red onions, sliced very thin, thinly sliced cucumbers and some avocado slices, with a little bit of roasted pepita seeds on top of finish them off. 

I also though I had some chick peas, but didn’t. I was going to make couscous as well, but for whatever reason, it just wasn’t cooperating either. We needed something else to go with dinner, so my go-to – French fries. French fries go well with anything, and they are an easy fix to any problem. Besides, who doesn’t love French fries, right?!  :)

There are days when we all have ups and downs and things just don’t work out the way we planned. It happens to all of us, even the pros. But all you can do is make the most of it, and move on. You have to be willing and able to just go with the flow, and change your plans quickly. Life happens, and sometimes it throws us for a loop. But if you’re prepared, you can always pull it off, and change directions. Maybe this just comes from way too many years in the restaurant and catering business when plans change in an instant, but it is a gift I have, and am very grateful for. You have to be able to think and act quick, and no one will ever know that things are not working according to plan. :)

Happy New Year everyone. I hope 2024 is a filled with happiness, good health and prosperity for all. ’Til next time.