Lily says "OMG! This One is a Keeper!"

Seriously. She told me to write O-M-G. She loved this stuff. I just grabbed this recipe because it looked quick. It's Creamy Penne Pasta and Chicken from Jill at Simple Daily Recipes, my new favorite food blog. It didn't strike me as a particular *great* recipe, just pretty much edible and quick for those busy weeknight. Guess that goes to show what I know. LOL! In fact, I started making this, expecting dh to get home  any minute.  He was a few minutes late and by the time he arrived Lily had polished off all the pasta in the serving bowl! Luckily for dh I'd saved a little extra to throw in the fridge for lunch the next day. Lucky for him but not so much for me! And not so lucky for you guys. Sorry about the picture, but this pasta disappeared so quickly that this was all I could scrape from the bottom of of the bowl (and off of the plates!)

This Creamy Penne Pasta and Chicken  has been Lily's favorite new thing that she's tried for her New Year's Resolution. She had at least four serving and everyone else ate their's without complaint. Add that to the fact that it took longer to cook the pasta than it did to make the sauce and this will definitely be showing up on our table on a regular basis. Be sure to check out Simple Daily Recipes for some more yummy sounding recipes!

Creamy Penne Pasta and Chicken


2 1/2  cups  penne pasta -- cooked as directed
4      tablespoons  butter
1      garlic clove -- crushed
1/3    cup  onion -- sliced
1/4    teaspoon  salt
4      tablespoons  flour
1      can  chicken broth -- (15 oz.)
1/2    cup  sour cream
1/2    teaspoon  salt
1/8    teaspoon  pepper
2      roasted chicken breasts -- cut into bite size pieces
red pepper flakes -- optional
grape tomatoes -- sliced, optional

While the penne is cooking, melt butter in a medium sauce pan.  Cook garlic and onions with 1/4 teaspoon salt, over medium heat, until onions have softened.  Add flour and cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Stir in broth, stirring frequently until sauce comes to simmer.  Remove from heat.

PLEASE STAND BY FOR A KID FRIENDLY TIP
If you have one on hand, use an immersion blender to puree onions into sauce for a smoother texture.  Or, carefully move sauce to a blender with the lid secured, and pulse the sauce until smooth.  Move sauce back to pan and stir in sour cream until it has melted.  The kiddos will never know about the onions and garlic.

If you don't have to worry about kids, then simply stir in the sour cream until it has melted.  Be sure the pasta is well drained, then move to a large serving bowl.  Top pasta with chicken pieces.  Pour sauce over hot pasta, tossing well to get all that creamy sauce inside the pasta.  Allow to stand a few minutes before serving, so sauce can thicken. Garnish individual plates with grape tomatoes and red pepper flakes.