yumm

My son decided that he wanted to cook last night. Yumm. He is a great cook. Chicken fettuccine alfredo, cheesy garlic bread sticks and dessert. He made the main course and I got on the net for the rest. I was really bad on taking pics. The house was full, kids home sick, the phone ringing off the hook, etc.

The first thing to know is that all these amounts are made to serve 20. You might want to keep that in mind :) Cube 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts into a baking dish.

Add 1 cup of butter, 1 minced garlic and all season salt to taste (butter optional). Bake on 350 while you assemble the sauce. In a large pot melt 3 cups of butter, 4 and 1/2 cups of heavy cream, 2 cloves minced garlic, 2 cups rameno cheese and 1 and 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese. Put 2 boxes (24 ounces) of linguine noodles on to boil. When the sauce is hot and well mixed, the noodles and chicken should be done. Drain the noodles and add to the sauce. Use a slotted spoon to add the chicken to the sauce as well. Add pepper to taste. Gently mix and serve.

The bread sticks were something that I wanted. I was looking for an Olive Garden clone but came up with something even better! Warm oven to about 200 degrees and then shut it off.

• 1 2/3 cup very warm water
• 1 rounded tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano
  
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 4 3/4 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon yeast

in order into my bread machine on the dough cycle. Remove and let rest for about 10 minutes. cut dough in half. Roll out in a rectangle to about 1/4 inch thick. 1/2 works too. With a sharp knife cut dough in half long ways and then into 1 to 1 1/2 inch strips short ways. I did the second batch thicker to see but I prefer the 1 inch strips. I rubbed on olive oil and placed on a cookie sheet and into the oven to rise for an hour. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. The last 10 minutes I sprinkled grated parmesan cheese onto the tops. Remove and brush with melted butter and then sprinkle on garlic salt. A lot of work :D but incredibly great!

Off to dessert. This was another "what do I have in my cupboards" while I'm waiting for the bread machine to beep done.

1 small package of almonds beaten to death with a hammer in a ziplock freezer bag. 1/4 cup flour and 2 and 1/2 cups of whole vanilla wafers put into the same freezer bag and beatened also. That was the fun part :) Put into a 9x13 baking sheet and add 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine. Mix and press down. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Cool. While you are waiting take 12 ounces of softened cream cheese, add 1 1/3 cup powdered sugar and mix well. Add about 1 and 1/2 cups of whipped cream and mix again. Set aside. 2 large boxes of chocolate pudding and 4 cups of milk, mix well. Layer the cream cheese mixture on the bottom, 1/2 of the chocolate pudding as the next layer, add about 1 to 2 cups whipped topping to the remaining chocolate pudding and spread as the top layer. Garnish as your cupboard allows :) Refrigerate until serving time.

Yummy, without being too sweet. You can use any kind of nuts for the crust or go without, it's just a matter of taste. I ate some for breakfast this morning :) and the crust was still crunchy so you don't have to worry about it getting soggy.

I didn't keep track of the expense for tonites meal, suffice to say it wasn't cheap, but it was fun and fulfilling. I spent an awesome afternoon in the kitchen with my son and that was priceless.

*to reheat fettuccine you should add 1/2 to 1 cup milk over low heat. If you try to use the microwave the oil in the cheese separates and it's less than great left-overs. The breadsticks should be reheated in the oven and taste' just made' the next day.