Beans, Beans

I really love beans. I've been especially into white beans lately. Here are two of my favorite recipes, one is a main dish the other a side dish. The chicken and white beans is a wonderful comfort food with an amazing homey flavor. Think bacon and onions, can you smell that? It's easy to put together and nice in the fall and winter because you used canned goods. It is also a great one-dish meal, you can serve it alone for dinner or add a salad. The white beans and spinach has a nice slightly vinegary taste. It's served warm and would work well in place of a salad for any meal. (Sorry to put a recipe containing spinach. What is the deal with that anyway?)

Baked Chicken with White Beans and Tomatoes

Suteed Spinach and White Beans
serves 4+
2 T. olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1 C.)
1 T. minced garlic (2 cloves)
2 fifteen-and-a-half-ounce cans white beans, drained and rinsed
6 C. (about 8 oz.) spinach, stems trimmed
4 t. white-wine vinegar
2 t. fresh thyme leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper

Heat large saute pan over medium heat, and add olive oil. Add diced onion, and cook until translucent, about 2 min. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute. Add bean, and cook until hot and slightly softened, about 3 min. Add the spinach and vinegar, stirring frequently until spinach is wilted, about 3 min. Add the thyme, and season with the salt and pepper. Serve.