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Create Your Own Pasta

Surprise your family with a pasta buffet. Cut up and cook a variety of vegetables and other favorite ingredients your kids may enjoy. Let everyone create their own pasta bowl. The kids may try some new foods if they can combine familiar foods with new colorful attractive vegetables. This homemade Alfredo sauce is significantly lower in fat than the traditional recipe.

Ingredients

16 ounces of 51% whole wheat penne pasta
1 can (15 ounces) fat-free chicken broth
1/3 cup flour
4 ounces Neufchatel cheese (reduced fat cream cheese)
3 ounces (1 ½ cups) grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 cup fat-free milk, divided
1 tablespoon dry sherry
pepper to taste

*Cooked Vegetables and Other Topping Ideas

Broccoli florets
Cauliflower
Peas
Colorful peppers
Beans
Spinach
Mushrooms
Olives
Shrimp
Chicken
Ham
Salmon
Shredded cheese

Directions

Donnas Recipe of the Month: Create Your Own Pasta In a large saucepan, cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a small jar or shaker, combine chicken broth and flour. Shake until well mixed. Pour into heavy medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, while stirring constantly with a whisk. Gently boil for 1 minute. Mixture will be very thick. Add cream cheese and stir with a whisk until totally blended. Add Parmesan cheese and white pepper. Stir until blended. Gradually add milk, while stirring constantly, to reach desired consistency. Add sherry and pepper to taste.

Keep warm over very low heat. Add additional milk or broth if needed to thin to desired consistency.

On a serving platter or individual plates, place desired amount of warm pasta.

Spoon your choice of vegetables and other toppings over pasta. Top with Alfredo sauce or offer a red tomato sauce too. Sprinkle with additional grated cheese if desired.

*Note: Other vegetables or pasta sauces of your choice may be used.

Serves 8

Nutritional Information Per Serving

For the sauce only:

Calories 110

Fat, gm. 6

Protein, gm. 7

Carbs, gm. 7

Cholesterol, mg. 20

Fiber, gm. 0.1

Pasta and sauce only, no additional toppings:

Calories 320