Friday, December 14, 2012

FANCY MACARONI AND CHEESE

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Today’s recipe is a really wonderful pasta dish that has become a favorite with my family.  I even served it at a party recently alongside a lot of other party foods and my guests gobbled it up!  I hope you will enjoy making it for your family very soon!

Ingredients:
6-8 chicken breasts, cut into small chunks and stir-fried
2 T. Olive oil
1 large box of pasta shells (large or small)
1 stick butter
½ cup flour
4 cups milk
Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
1 and ½ cups parmegano reggiano cheese, grated
1 and ½ cups chopped tomatoes
½ cup fresh basil
¼ cup fresh parsley
2 cups Italian blend grated cheese (or more if you wish)

Instructions:
*Stir fry chicken chunks in olive oil, drain and set aside.
*Boil pasta according to directions on box.
*Melt butter
*Heat milk in another pan (do not scald or boil)
*Add flour to the butter, whisking continuously.  Cook on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes.
*Add the heated milk in 2 to 3 increments, whisking continuously.
*Continue simmering and whisking until mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.  
*Remove from heat and add cheese.
*Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Add more cheese if desired.
*Add cooked chicken, tomatoes, basil and parsley to white sauce.
*Add desired amount of pasta  to sauce mixture.
*Pour pasta mixture into large rectangular pyrex baking dish that has been sprayed with PAM.
*Spread Italian cheese over top surface of pasta mixture.
*Bake at 350 degrees for 45- 50 minutes or until golden and bubbly throughout.

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