Spanish Chicken Suitable For Microwave Cooking

Fairy godmothers know when you need that extra boost. In the twinkling of an eye, with a wave of their wand, they make you feel special.

It was a long day. After months of anticipation, I’d gone to the orthodontist’s office at 7 a.m. to get braces. For almost two hours I sat with this device in my mouth that stretched it about 4 inches wider than it will actually go. I fought periodic moments of panic when I wanted to rip the device out and go home, but I kept remembering that my daughter had made it through this process last summer.

Finally I had beautiful gold braces. I headed home. At lunch I learned that you share your food with your braces; only about 40 percent of the food you eat seems to go in your mouth. Then it happened. Crunch! Uh-oh. A bracket on a lower tooth had come off.

After another trip to the orthodontist, I came home, my mouth sore. And that’s when I knew my fairy godmother had visited. Sitting on my front steps was a basket of goodies that only a person with new braces could appreciate: instant cups of soup and mashed potatoes, baked beans, sugarless gum.

I laughed so hard that tears came to my eyes. Tensions of the day disappeared. Somebody knew what I was going through. I sent a silent “thank you” out to this person.

Here’s a chicken recipe for people who can actually eat regular food. It’s also a good recipe for fairy godmothers, who share kindness and love with us all.

Spanish Chicken

From “Quick & Healthy Volume II” by Brenda Ponichtera (ScaleDown, 1995)

1 to 1-1/2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breasts

3 green onions, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies

1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

1/8 teaspoon cumin

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Arrange chicken in an 8-inch-square microwave-safe dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Top with remaining ingredients. Cover with plastic wrap. Cook on high power for 6-8 minutes, rotating 1/4 turn halfway through cooking time. Cooking time will vary with thickness of chicken.

Yield: 4 servings.

Nutrition information per serving: 147 calories, 3 grams fat (18 percent fat calories), 26 grams protein, 4 grams carbohydrate.

, DataTimes MEMO: The goal of Five and Fifteen is to find recipes where you can do the shopping in five minutes and the cooking in 15. Merri Lou Dobler, a registered dietitian and Spokane resident, welcomes ideas from readers. Write to Five and Fifteen, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210.

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