2day's recipe: Alouette® Pancetta and Chicken Penne

This is really super easy and really good.  It is my husband's favorite dish.  He loves pasta, chicken, veggies in a rich cream sauce.  I change this almost weekly by adding and subtracting ingredients.  One week, I use sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms, the next week I add peas to this recipe.  I usually always add white wine to the sauce, YUM.  Use a white wine you drink.  This is definately a base recipe for our house.  I love Alouette products for a quick fix meal.  They are great to stuff meat with as well.  Stuffed chicken, spiral steak with spinach, etc.  If you can't find Alouette brand, any cream cheese and herb spread will work.  I do believe Alouette has the best flavor.  You can usually find it in your deli, not in the cheese section.
Enjoy :-)

Alouette® Pancetta and Chicken Penne


Ingredients
6 oz. pancetta or bacon diced
12 oz. (dry weight) penne pasta
1 1/2 cups roasted red bell peppers (from jar)
1 pkg. (6.5 oz.) Alouette Garlic and Herbs, or Alouette Spinach Articho
1 lb. roasted chicken shredded ( to make it even easier, buy the cooked chicken from your deli)
3/4 cup walnuts toasted and coarsely chopped

Instructions
In a large skillet, cook pancetta over medium heat until crisp, drain on paper towels and set aside. Pour grease out of skillet, but do not clean.

Cook pasta according to directions to achieve an al dente texture and drain.

Puree the peppers in a food processor and transfer to the skillet along with the Alouette Spreadable Cheese and chicken.

Warm over medium low heat, stirring often, until thoroughly blended and heated.

Add cooked pasta to the skillet with chicken and sauce. Toss to coat pasta and stir in pancetta.

Serve topped with toasted walnuts.

Note: To toast walnuts, spread on a baking sheet and bake at 350° F for 9-11 minutes or until aromatic and lightly browned.

Yields: 4 Servings

notes:
Wines that pair well (to sum it up - anything!):
Delicious with red wines such as:
Dolchetto, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chianti Classico, Zinfandel, Beaujolais
Or white wines like:
Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blac, Riesling, Sancerre, Orvieto, Soave, Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer