Healthy Fettucini Alfredo

What is a food that everyone loves but feels guilty every time they eat it...yup fettucini alfredo.  This is where I got my inspiration from, the fact that everyone loves fettucini but cannot afford to eat it without feeling miserable from the richness of the heavy cream, dense cheeses, and butter.  I thought, why can't I make a great tasting Fettucini using healthy ingredients and make it taste great (That's Just Good Food...right?).

Anyway, I thought this up during class today and made it for dinner, and it tasted great!  We all love fettucini so next time you need a great tasting homey feeling meal make this this recipe and you will never go back to the traditional version.  Enjoy!

Recipe: (serves 2)

2 small chicken breasts
8 oz of whole wheat fettucini
1/4 cup goat cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup plain yogurt (I used low-fat)
1/4 cup skim milk
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper
1tsp flour
1/4 cup reserve pasta water (varies)
1/2 cup chopped and toasted walnut pieces (optional)

Directions: (takes 20-30 minutes)


First, clean the chicken and lightly rub salt and pepper on one side of the chicken at cook at 400 for 5-6 minutes (so it is almost fully cooked through).  Next boil some water to cook the pasta in and turn a large sauce pan on medium heat to cook the 3 minced cloves of garlic in the oil.  Before browned (1-2 minutes) add the goat cheese, milk, and yogurt.  Let the cheese melt and blend together with the other ingredients then add half the parmesan and melt at a low temperature.
Add the pasta to the water once it's boiling and cook for about 10 minutes then focus back on the sauce.  Once the chicken is done, cut into bite size pieces and add to the sauce along with the lemon juice, pepper to taste, pasta water to wanted consistency and flour to offset it as well.

Mix well and let simmer for a few minutes then add the pasta to the sauce and mix well.  Before serving, top with toasted walnut pieces if desired to add a nice crunch to the sauce (if you don't want to add the chicken, the walnuts can be the protein substitution for vegetarians.  I also top it off with hot sauce (but think it's better off without it...) ENJOY!