Friday/Past Milano
So here's a recap of last night's dinner - a yummy pasta dish I call Pasta Milano. Pasta Milano doesn't mean anything, it's just something I made up because I didn't want to write Chicken/Mushroom/Spinach/sometimes Sun Dried Tomato Bowties. Imagine my surprize when, at Johnny Carrino's, they had a dish, nothing like mine, called Pasta Milano. I've began to ramble wonder if it's actually a dish that is specific and I've ripped it off, only to leave people who sup at my house in a wake of confusion and denial?! I digress...
As you've probably noticed, unless it's a recipe I found somewhere, there's no measuring with me. I blame my very Southern mother who seasons everything to taste and knows when something needs more of something else by feel/appearance. Get used to it, or send me hate mail - whichever makes you happiest! Anyways, this dish is the same!
While your water is on the burner, cover the bottom of a large skillet with white wine (I tend to like to cook with Chardonnays because that's what I like to drink - also, I don't discourage drinking at the stove/oven, though some might disagree; SCREW THOSE GUYS.), maybe 1/4 in deep. Throw in some minced garlic and a few heavy splashes of lemon juice. While this starts to simmer, cut up your chicken (to feed four I usually do two small breasts or one large one) - toss it in with some mushrooms. Cook thoroughly, unless you are BFF's with E. Coli and his gang - who am I to judge? Around this point, your water should be boiling so you can go ahead and toss that in, too. I always use bowties for this. As your pasta starts to cook, add some spinach to the skillet with the chicken mixture. Once that's integrated, pour in one jar alfredo sauce - I like Bertolli's Mushroom Alfredo the best (cheapskate trick - if you're making a double batch, you can do one good jar like the Bertolli and one jar of store brand to supplement - I'm picky and this always tastes great to me). Let that simmer until the pasta is done. Drain pasta and return to pot. Pour in the sauce and mix well. Cut up some sun dried tomatoes and throw those around, too, if ya like. Top with a little salt and some fresh cracked pepper and pig out.
PS - Please ignore my chipped-to-hell-and-back Halloween/Kitty Cat bowl. I fed the mens first, and since they were already practically eating the good bowls that contained their food, I had to photograph my portion in my 'special' bowl, LOL!