What’s for dinner tonight? A simple, healthy, home-cooked meal of baked, spicy Buffalo chicken. Then add pasta with my lighter version of creamy Alfredo cheese sauce, some vegetables, and you have a winning dinner!  Who says we can’t make amazing restaurant quality food in our homes anyway. Okay, my favorite recipe for this healthier and easier baked Buffalo chicken uses Frank’s Hot Sauce (store-bought) and I’m even going to  share with you my delightful, delicious, easy to make, pasta with a light & healthy Alfredo sauce, so let’s get started!

Spicy Chicken…

Ingredients:

• 6 fresh chicken thighs (or legs)
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, “Olivio” or “Smart Balance” (room temperature).
• Franks Hot Sauce, you can get this famous spicy condiment at any supermarket.
• Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
• Bleu cheese dressing (optional)
• Carrots & celery (optional)

Directions:

1. Line your broiler pan with foil, spray with cooking spray (I like olive oil). Add chicken pieces, spray the chicken (it will crisp up). Sprinkle the chicken generously with sea salt & pepper.
2. Broil the chicken until both sides are crispy and brown. Turn the oven down to 250 degrees to continue cooking while you prepare the Alfredo sauce.
3. In a medium size glass  bowl, microwave the butter and Franks hot sauce together (for a minute or so). Add the cooked chicken and toss to coat with the spicy Buffalo sauce.
4. * You may want to dip this spicy-hot chicken in Bleu Cheese dressing if you’re a wimp (like me). You can make this yourself with crumbled bleu cheese, Gorgonzola, mayo, yogurt, garlic powder, and/or a little sour cream. Or cheat (like me) and buy some “Ken’s” bottled salad dressing at the market. Well, why not? We’re using Frank’s hot sauce, so we may as well use Ken’s salad dressing… Whatever!  Anyway, I had some organic, frozen mixed veggies just to cheat a little bit more, and make this dinner even faster, and easier….Ciao!~

Penne or Fettuccine Alfredo….

Ingredients

Serves 2 to 4

• 1 pound penne or fettuccine pasta, “Dreamfields” brand, low-carb pasta is delicious!
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, or keep it healthy with “Olivio” or “Smart Balance”
• 1/4 low-fat milk (or reserved pasta cooking water).)
• 8 ounces freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for serving
• Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
• Dash of garlic powder (my secret ingredient)

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt; return to a boil. Add fettuccine and cook until al dente.
2. Whisk butter, milk, cheese, pepper, and garlic over medium heat until well blended. Or using an electric mixer, beat butter, cheese, salt, pepper and garlic until mixture becomes smooth, about 3-5 minutes.
3. Drain fettuccine, toss with the Alfredo mixture and serve immediately with additional cheese sprinkled on top. Buon Appetito!