That Time I Made Pasta Alfredo...

This recipe was created for the current #20sbcookingchallenge: Homemade Fettucine Alfredo with Italian Breadsticks. It was my first try at alfredo sauce and, damn, if it wasn't a zillion calories, I would make it all the time. I thought I wouldn't care for it because the only time I'd had alfredo sauce was somewhere I used to work and it was just bland and tasteless which is redundant but that's how lacking in flavor it was.

Chicken & Mushroom Pasta Alfredo
(Printable recipe)

Ingredients:

• 8 oz pasta of your choice (I used fettuccine)

Chicken:

• 1 Tbsp olive oil 
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs
• 4 chicken tenders (uncooked)

Sauce:

• 4 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 (4 Tbsp) butter
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup half & half or light cream
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• pinch salt and pepper

Directions:
1) Cook pasta according to directions on the box, strain, and set aside in a large bowl.

2) While pasta is cooking, set a medium saute pan over medium-high heat and add 1 Tbsp olive oil.
3) Coat chicken strips in bread crumbs.
4) When oil is shimmering, add chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side.

5) Remove from pan and set aside.

6) Using the same pan, combine the butter, oil, and heavy cream and stir until all is melted and mixed well, then lower heat to medium.

7) Stir in the mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt and pepper, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes stirring occasionally. If sauce starts to stick to bottom of pan, lower heat to medium-low.

9) While sauce is simmering, cut chicken into 1" pieces. 

10) Once sauce is done, mix in the chicken pieces, then pour it over the pasta and chicken.

11) Toss to combine and serve!