You know how you have the best intentions to cook a great meal – maybe even a three-course meal – on your day off? You start by looking through those stunning coffee table tomes someone gave you as a gift. An hour or so later, intimidated by the two pages of instructions for each recipe (hey, you have to do laundry today too, you know), you turn, instead to that pile of magazines. Or, more truthfully to the pile of pages you’ve been ripping from magazines for six months.
But then, you find that you also ripped out a few 20% Bed Bath and Beyond coupons, that expire like, tomorrow and you think, “now is the time to go get that johnny brush with the holder that is shaped like a cat.”
Of course, you can consolidate your run to BB & Beyond with a trip to the grocery store. But then, oops, you must make a deposit at the bank, and pick up some meds from the vet and refill your prescription.
Then you remember that you need to go online to reload the discount coupon for your prescription because it is a new year and the old card has expired. When you try to print it out, yep, the ink in the printer, which you haven’t used since, um, the last time you printed out concert tickets, has dried up. So, you add a trip to the office store because you need that prescription today.
Now comes the hunt for savings cards for the grocery, the office store and Ulta, because, well, you’ll be right there and you’re out of leave-in conditioner.
Armed with coupons, deposit slips, the correct credit cards and discount cards, you finally get out of the door. One last check, and ooh, there’s the library card. Yay, books! It is, again, on the way.
Three hours later you return victorious, armed with great novels, dog meds, a cat-shaped toilet cleaner, hair saviors and printer ink. But, where are the groceries? How could you forget that stop? Well, you didn’t have a list made, so you’ll just have to dash in on the way to the pharmacy.
It’s too late to start anything elaborate now. The day is almost gone and you still must print the prescription card and actually clean the toilet before a bio-hazard team shows up. Plus, that load of darks isn’t going to wash itself. But, when you were out, you were amazed at the beautiful weather and the dogs really need a walk.
Lunch time.
Three hours later, you head out the door again.
We can throw a juicy rationalization at this. All those chefs have staff and perhaps, a longer attention span. Tonight at Chez Flick, it looks like chicken in a pita – again.
Chicken in a pita
Serves two
Tear bite-size chunks from a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. Place in a bowl containing your favorite bottled Italian or Greek dressing. Let sit for an hour at room temperature.
Combine 4 ounces of plain yogurt with the juice of one lemon, a minced clove of garlic, a pinch of salt and half of a peeled, chopped cucumber. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Wrap two pitas tightly in foil and place in oven at 250 degrees.
While pita heats, saute half of a sliced onion and a sliced green pepper in olive oil until browned on edges.
Pile the pitas with chicken, peppers and onions, and yogurt sauce.
Living to Eat 