DINNER: Shish Taouk (Mediterranean Chicken Skewers)

Mediterranean food is incredibly healthy and flavorful...the problem is, it didn't seem to be the easiest thing to make at home. Not true! I wanted to try to make my favorite chicken kabobs (Shish Taouk or Shish Tawook), and found more than a few good recipes online**.  I modified the recipes I liked the most to come up with a recipe that is guaranteed to yield "yums".  Serve these tasty skewers with some tabouli, hummus, or just grilled veggies, and you're all set. Here goes:

Servings: 2-3

Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken - cubed or diced into small/medium pieces
- 5-6 cloves garlic
- 1/2-1 tbsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 1 small lemon, peeled
- 1 small tomato
- 1 cup yogurt
- 2 tbsp sumac
- 2-3 tbsp olive oil
- Handful of cilantro
- Skewers
- Chop small squares of onion or bell pepper (you'll use this on the skewer)


Instructions:
- Soak chicken in a bowl of plain vinegar for at least 5 minutes, drain vinegar
- Blend all ingredients (except chicken and chunks of onion/bell pepper) in a blender until smooth
- Pour blend over chicken in bowl - let marinate for at least 20-30 minutes
- Note: you can use this marinade as a saute for other vegetables you'd like to serve with your chicken
- Use skewer to thread chicken and bell pepper
- Cook the chicken on a cast iron skillet - rotate every 5-7 minutes until the chicken is thoroughly cooked
- Alternative: place chicken on a foil lined pan in the oven at 400 for 45 minutes
- Enjoy!

**http://www.food.com/recipe/shish-taouk-lebanese-chicken-skewers-66035