Quick & Easy Healthy CHICKEN ALFREDO

I'm pretty much a sucker for Chicken Alfredo all day everyday!  My favorite place to have Chicken Alfredo would be Olive Garden, but realized it was 1440 calories not including the bread sticks! Yikes! Don't get me wrong I still LOVE that restaurant! My version I kid you not takes about 10 minutes prep time and 30 minutes cook time!! Afraid? Why? Because I said it was HEALTHY therefore it won't taste the same or have it's rich and creamy texture? Remember I said I keep it real so it won't change the taste or texture I bet you wouldn't be able to tell the difference! Ask my taste testers! P.S. Bust out your blenders! Men...don't have one? I'm sure you have a magic bullet!

Live, Love, Laugh & EAT,
  Sarah

Ingredients:

3-4 Chicken Breasts (you can use, shrimp or whatever protein you're craving)
Whole Wheat/Brown Rice Pasta (any style -- penne, elbow, linguine, etc)
1- red bell pepper (again this is optional you can use it or not and use any type)
1 cup- sliced mushrooms (again it's optional and you can use any kind I used portabella because they were on sale!)
1 cup- Skim Milk
½ cup- Fat Free Cottage Cheese
½ cup- Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 tbs- Corn Starch
¼ tsp- Black Pepper
¼ tsp- Sea Salt (Optional)
¼ tsp- Garlic Powder or 1 Garlic Clove (I didn't have Garlic Powder on hand)

I would start on the Chicken Breasts first if you're trying to bring the inner Rachel Ray out! Chicken Breasts are pretty tricky to cook so they don't turn out dry so I suggest cutting slits into them first so the seasonings can be evenly dispersed and once that is done next is flattening out the Chicken Breasts so they're pretty even. Don't have a cooking mallet? Easy! Place Chicken breasts in between wax paper, and take a frying pan, sauce pan whatever and pretty much you'll "hammer," your chicken to get them nice and even that way when you bake or grill your chicken you don't have to wait for different areas of the chicken to cook since it's even it should cook the same. There is not a right way or a wrong way to season your chicken season it however you like it, my inner Asian Rachel Ray seasoned it with Mrs.Dash (Garlic & Herb/Chicken) and I popped it in the oven at 375 for 25 minutes.

While that is in the oven, in your blender add and blend for 30-45 seconds *also don't forget to start your pasta!* (cook according to directions on box)

1 cup- Skim Milk
½ cup- Fat Free Cottage Cheese
½ cup- Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 tbs- Corn Starch
¼ tsp- Black Pepper
¼ tsp- Sea Salt (Optional)
¼ tsp- Garlic Powder or 1 Garlic Clove (I didn't have Garlic Powder on hand)

While that sits for a 30-45 seconds simply dice up your bell pepper and slice up your mushrooms and in a sauce pan using a cooking spray saute your diced bell pepper and sliced mushrooms for 1½ - 2 minutes, then add the Alfredo sauce to the sauce pan on medium heat until it starts to bubble then turn to low and stir consistently until it thickens it might still look watery, but if you let it sit for 1½ - 2 minutes it will thicken up. 

By now your chicken breasts should be done simply cut it up serve with pasta and Alfredo sauce! ENJOY!