Spanish dinner quick, easy, tasty

Sherry, red peppers and garlic are typical Spanish ingredients. Added to chicken and rice, they make this a tasty, quick Spanish dinner.

Look for skinless chicken thighs with the bone in. They have a lot of flavor and the bone will add flavor to your sauce.

Helpful Hints:

• Any type of green vegetable such as broccoli or zucchini can be used instead of green beans.

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts can be used. A meat thermometer should read 165 degrees.

• Buy sliced pimentos or pimento strips in a jar.

• Trimmed green beans can be found in the produce department of the supermarket.

Sherry Chicken

Yield 2 servings. Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer.

Olive oil spray

1 pound skinless chicken thighs with the bone (yields 10 ounces meat)

2 teaspoons minced garlic

3/4 cup medium or dry sherry

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with olive oil spray and add chicken. Brown 2 minutes, turn, add garlic and brown second side 2 minutes. Lower heat to medium and add sherry. Cover with a lid and simmer 5 minutes. A meat thermometer should read 165 degrees. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Remove chicken and raise heat to high. Reduce sauce by half, about 2 minutes.

Per serving: 277 calories, 62 calories from fat, 6.9 g total fat, 1.6 g saturated fat, 2.7 g monounsaturated fat, 115 mg cholesterol, 129 mg sodium, 9 g carbohydrate, 0.2 g dietary fiber, 0.1 g sugars, 29 g protein

Green Bean Pimento Rice

Yield 2 servings. Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer.

1/2 cup long-grain white rice

2 cups trimmed green beans (1/2 pound)

1/2 cup sliced pimento, drained

2 teaspoons olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bring a large saucepan filled with 3 to 4 quarts water to a boil over high heat. Add rice. Boil rapidly 8 minutes. Add green beans and continue to boil 2 minutes. Drain, leaving a few tablespoons cooking water in the saucepan. Return rice to saucepan and add pimento, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well.

Per serving: 254 calories, 46 calories from fat, 5.1 g total fat, 0.8 g saturated fat, 3.4 g monounsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 16 mg sodium, 47.3 g carbohydrate, 5.2 g dietary fiber, 2.9 g sugars, 5.8 g protein