Quick, easy ways to add flavor and zest to your meals

(ARA) - Americans are all about flavor, especially when it comes to making mealtime an exciting experience. In fact, 61 percent love getting creative in the kitchen, according to the recent Lawry's "What's Your Flavor" survey.

If you are part of the nearly two-thirds of Americans who say they try a new flavor at least once a month and you're looking to really pump up the flavor in your dishes, go beyond salt and pepper and use a blend of herbs and spices to help you create flavorful meals with confidence. You can find an assortment of expert blends from brands like Lawry's, which offers varieties like seasoned salt, lemon pepper seasoning, and garlic salt to add a bit of a zest to your meal. These blends help simplify preparation and add a whole lot of flavor.

Here are a few easy and convenient tricks for using seasoning blends:

* Great for sides, salads and soup - just sprinkle on seasoned salt or garlic salt to punch up the flavor on pasta, rice and potatoes

* Shake more flavor on chicken, pork and seafood by adding lemon pepper seasoning before and after cooking for that flavorful kick you've been looking for in your meals

* Mix in Lawry's Seasoned Salt with meat for mouthwatering burgers with an extra zing of flavor that will have everyone running to the table

You can go online to www.Lawrys.com to find easy meal ideas that incorporate flavorful ingredients like this one for Southwest Chicken and Rice.

Southwest Chicken and Rice

Makes six servings. Preparation time: 10 minutes. Cooking time: 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons chili powder

2 teaspoons Lawry's Original Seasoned Salt or Lawry's 25 percent Less Sodium Seasoned Salt

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tablespoons oil

1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 1/4 cups water

1 cup instant white rice

1 cup frozen corn

1 cup chopped tomato

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix the chili powder and seasoned salt. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the mixture on the chicken.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for five minutes per side, or until lightly browned. Stir in beans, water, rice, corn and remaining seasoning mixture. Bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for five minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender. Stir in the chopped tomato.

Let the dish stand for five minutes. Slice the chicken into serving-sized pieces. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.