Paula Deen's Lean: Garlic Chicken with Creamy Tomato Pasta

PASTA, PASTA, PASTA! I love pasta! If only I could escape to a vacation in Italy. The pasta...the wine...oh my! I would be like a kid in a candy store. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening anytime soon, so let's just bring Italy home to me.
I love this pasta dish because it includes fresh ingredients and takes little time to prepare. Let's face it, it's a bit challenging to cook up labor-intensive, gourmet dinner when there is a 2-year-old attached to your leg. The less time spent cookin', the more time I can spend playing with the little one. Instead of surrendering to the "just order in" voices in your head, check out this option.
This recipe comes from the "Stove-Top Success" section in Paula Deen's March/April 2010 issue of Cooking with Paula Deen Magazine (page 37). It is simple, fresh and delicious. In less than 30 minutes, you can have a healthy, well-balanced dinner the whole family will enjoy. Here's all it takes...

GARLIC CHICKEN WITH CREAMY TOMATO PASTA
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups uncooked WHOLE WHEAT rotini pasta

FAT FREE Olive Oil spray
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts; cut into bite-size pieces

1 shallot, sliced

1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1/4 cup light cream

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

2 cups packed fresh baby spinach

Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain well, set aside and keep warm.

Spray a large Dutch oven or large stovetop pan with Olive Oil spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Add chicken, shallot, bell pepper and garlic; saute for 7 minutes or until the chicken is cooked completely. Add the crushed tomatoes, cream and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and slowly stir in the pasta and spinach. Serve right away. If you want, add some shredded Parmesan cheese on top!

RESULTS:

It was a hit! If you and your family like pasta with tomato sauce, then this is a dish to try. This pasta dish has the familiar taste that we love, but it is full of vitamin rich spinach and protein packed chicken. Usually we have left overs, but with my "little" brother joining us for dinner (who may be younger but is a good six inches taller than me), there was nothin' left to pack away. I need to have him over for dinner more often!

I hope you decide to give this recipe a try. If you are a busy person, this is definitely a recipe to bookmark.