Chicken Picante

Heather says:

Way back, a hundred years ago, I used to work for a Spanish restaurant. Yes, Spanish as in Spain. One of our top selling lunch dishes was very simple and not exactly Spanish, it was a variation on fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and sweet peppers. My husband requested this dish so often that I eventually quit making it and it has been two years since we had it last. Just call me the queen of over-explanation and add this to your dinner rotation. When preparing this meal for picky children, I add the peppers after I portion out some Alfredo sauce for the kids.

Chicken Picante Recipe

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 lb cooked fettuccine
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup Cajun spice mix
• 1/2 cup + 2 TBSP flour – divided
• 4 TBSP butter
• 4 cloves garlic – minced
• 3 cups half and half
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan
• 1/2 cup sweet cherry pepper, seeded and cut in half
• 1/2 cup banana pepper rings
• salt / pepper to taste

Heat the olive oil over medium low heat. Preheat the oven to 200F. I use this to keep the chicken breasts hot while I prepare the sauce.

Pound the chicken breasts into submission flat. Cut the breasts in half.

Lately 1lb packages of boneless skinless chicken breasts contain three or four pieces, I use half per serving.

Please disinfect the area properly, you do not want to cross contaminate your work area.

Stir together the Cajun seasoning and 1/2 cup flour. If you enjoy very spicy foods, reduce the amount of flour used.

Dredge the chicken in the flour and cook over medium low, until done, turning once.

While the chicken is cooking slice and seed the cherry peppers.

When the chicken is done, drain it on a paper towel and hold it in the oven while you prepare the sauce.

Heat the 4 TBSP butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until just golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Add the peppers. (If you are cooking for kids, skip this step for now.) Slowly add the half and half. Sprinkle in the Parmesan and 2 TBSP of flour stirring slowly but continuously. Reduce the heat to low. (Portion out the kids’ servings when the cheese has melted, just before adding the peppers). Remove from the heat when the cheese has fully melted.

Place a portion of cooked fettuccine on a plate, give it a slight twist to mound it in the center. Place a piece of chicken on the pasta and pour the sauce over both.

Enjoy.