Ingredients
11 ounces dried white beans (pinto, navy, Great Northern)
3 sprigs fresh thyme
8 fresh parsley stems
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. salt
2 2/3 cups water
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 cup onions, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 ½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast, (cut into small pieces)
1 cup dry white wine (optional)
8oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 ½ cups frozen corn (no-salt added)
½ cup red bell pepper, chopped
½ cup green bell pepper, chopped
½ tsp hot pepper sauce
1 ½ tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. black pepper
½ cup parsley, chopped

Directions:

1. Put pinto beans in a microwave safe 1 ½ quart casserole.
2. Bind parsley stems, bay leaf and thyme together with a string.
3. Add bound seasonings to beans along with ½ tsp of the salt and the water.
4. Cover beans and microwave on high for 30 minutes.
5. Continue cooking on medium for one hour, stirring every thirty minutes (add water as needed).
6. In a large stockpot, sauté onions and garlic in olive oil.
7. Add chicken, wine and mushrooms.
8. Cover and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
9. When beans are cooked, stir half into the pot with chicken.
10. Mash the remaining beans and add them to the pot.
11. Add corn, peppers, hot pepper sauce, oregano, salt and pepper.
12. Simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in chopped fresh parsley.

Serves approximately 10

Health Benefits: An excellent source of protein, chicken is low in fat and easy to digest. Beans are rich in fiber and protein and low in fat and cholesterol. The fresh herbs add flavor so you can hold the salt to a minimum to keep sodium levels low.

Bring on the Orient

There are plenty of ways to dress up chicken to make it have a Chinese flavor. Chinese dishes often feature the popular sweet and sour flavor combination. This is easily adapted to lemon chicken recipes. One option is to use chicken breasts and cut them into bite sized pieces. These can be breaded, if desired and baked or fried. Then, a simple sweet and sour sauce is made with lemons and brown sugar or honey. This can be served with a variety of sides or fillers, such as Chinese styles vegetables like broccoli or green onions. It’s is also extremely delicious when served over rice.

Meld With Mediterranean Flavors

Another really nice variation to try is a bit of a Mediterranean flavor. Mint is widely used in this type of cuisine and pairs very nicely with chicken and lemon. To make a simple lemon mint chicken salad, first grill some chicken breasts. You will combine lemon juice and zest, chopped mint, olive oil and basic seasoning to make a delicious dressing. This is amazing served over baby greens and makes a lovely presentation for company or special occasions.

Everybody Loves Italian

The flavors that are traditionally associated with Italian food pair wonderfully with chicken. Lemon can easily be combined with garlic, basil, oregano and other herbs to make a very classic dish. Poultry is very common is Italian cuisine and is perfect for many variations. You are really only limited by your own creativity. Lemon and herbs can easily be added to flavor a distinctive marinara. Of course, no Italian dish is complete without pasta, so use that as your side for any Italian versions.

Appropriate Occasions to Serve

Unlike some other dishes, lemon chicken is suited to many different occasions. There is really no indication that any culture prefers this dish over another for any particular event. However, almost all traditions have some variation when it comes to a chicken dish that incorporates lemon. They may be listed under different names and include various added ingredients. However, you can learn to recognize a recipe as a variation with a bit of reading between the lines. Lemon chicken is ideal for almost any event where you need a dish that people are sure to appreciate. The dish is also great for when you want to display a nice presentation as a hostess.

Perfect a Few Favorites

Most cooks are able to prepare meals quicker and more affordable if they perfect a dozen or so recipes. With lemon chicken recipes, try a variety when you are beginning to play with the dish. You can then narrow down your family’s favorites and perfect and adapt them to your particular tastes and style. You will also want to make sure that you are using ingredients that are easy to find. While it’s one thing to search out a difficult ingredient for an extremely special event, it won’t work well as use this option as a family favorite on a regular basis. Also, you may want to repeat the process every few months or so in order to maintain interest in the menu. Designate certain menu days to try out new recipes and find new favorites. This will ensure that you not only keep your menu interesting, but also that most of the meals you make are tried, true and easy to prepare.

The following salads are easy to prepare, try it out!

Egg Salad

Ingredients:
1 small lettuce
2 tomatoes
1 small carrot
1 chili
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
salt and sugar
½ cucumbers
¼ yam bean
1 egg
1 lime
milk
vinegar

Method:
1. Scrape and wash carrot, wash egg and boil them together in a little water.
2. Clean and pound chili. Mix chili with 2 tablespoon of vinegar and 1 teaspoonful of sugar.
3. Mix mayonnaise with lime juice, salt and sugar and thin it down with a little milk.
4. Add chili mixture to the mayonnaise, add extra salt if necessary.
5. Serve dressing in a bowl or sauce boat.
6. Wash all the vegetables carefully and disinfect them.
7. Slice cucumber into neat, thin slices, cut tomatoes into wedges, grate yam bean, and slice boiled egg and carrot.
8. Dry lettuce in a clean tea towel.
9. Arrange salad neatly in a flat dish so that all the vegetables can be seen and the colors are well blended.

Stuffed Bean Curd Salad

Ingredients:
2 pieces fried bean curd
¼ yam bean
½ cucumber
4 or 5 lettuce leaves

Method:
1. Clean all the vegetables and drain them in a colander.
2. Shred the yam bean and cucumber finely.
3. Pour boiling water over the bean curd, leave it for a minute and then squeeze out all the water.
4. Cut each piece of bean curd into 2 triangles and slit the cut edge.
5. Stuff the bean curd with the shredded vegetables.
6. Tear lettuce leaves and lay them on a flat dish, arrange left over shredded vegetables on the lettuce and arrange the stuffed bean curd on top.
7. Garnish with a chili flower.

Chili Dressing

Ingredients:
2 red chilies
1 pip garlic
1 tablespoon vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon tomato sauce

Method:
1. Pound chili, garlic and salt.
2. Mix pounded ingredients with all the other ingredients.
3. Serve the dressing separately with stuffed bean curd salad or any other salad.