MAKE THIS NOW!

Ok, so David and I had Amy and Nathan over for dinner and I attempted a new recipe. I have been wanting a good pasta recipe FOREVER. I looked online forever for something suitable but ended up on the Olive Garden website instead to look at their beloved food that I never get. Well, low and behold they put some of their delicious dishes online for you to make at home. Talk about YUM! (To be honest, I would rather have THEM make it for ME, but I'm just happy to get to eat it!) I made Chicken Castellina and you must too RIGHT NOW! No serioulsy, it was delicious. Go get the ingredients. I am making my most favorite dish of theirs, Tuscan Garlic chicken, tomorrow and I expect deliciousness again. Here is the recipe...


Chicken Castellina
Sauce
1/4 cup diced bacon
6 T. butter (I never said it was remotely healthy)
1 tsp fresh chopped garlic
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes, chopped
1.5 cups heavy whipping cream (once again very fattening but scrumptious)
1.5 cups milk
1 0z cornstarch
1/4 cup grated fresh parmesan cheese
1/2 cup smoked gouda cheese, chopped
1/4 tsp salt
1 T. fresh rosemary (I omitted this because I couldnt find it and dont care about it)
8.5 oz artichokes, drained
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup chopped mushrooms


pasta of your choice


Chicken
1.5 lbs chicken breasts, cut in cubes
3/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 T. olive oil
1/4 c. white wine (you dont have to use this or can use chicken broth instead)


Saute bacon in large pot over medium/high heat until crisp and golden brown. Reduce heat, add butter, and let melt. Add garlic and sundried tomatoes and cook approximately 1 minute (stirring frequently); do not brown.

Whisk in together whipping cream, milk, and cornstarch together. Raise heat to medium/high heat. Add parmesan and gouda cheeses. Once cheese melts, stir in remaing sauce ingredients and bring to a boil; stirring continuously.

Remove from heat and let stand uncovered.

Chicken
Mix flour, salt, and pepper together and coat chicken in it. Shake off excess.
Heat oil in pan and brown chicken thoroughly on both sides; until juices run clear. Add wine (if wanted) to chicken pan and toss until evaporated. Add chicken to sauce and let heat up again.
Place on pasta and ENJOY! Yum Yum in my tum tum.

Hope you all enjoy!

Time to get back to real Life

We had a fabulous Christmas break filled with lazing around, spending time with family, eating, treats, parties, David's 50th birthday party, fun at Six flags, opening presents, getting lost in L.A., playing my new Original Nintendo system (Super Mario 3 baby) that David got me, playing games, sleeping in, being WARM, riding bikes at the beach,and just enjoying the time off. We were able to get a week and a half off of work and it was just what the doctor ordered. David is now back in school and I"m back to work but we're loving 2010 already. I hope everyone had a great break.