Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine Alfredo is one of my most favorite things, but I never eat it because it's so bad for you. I've heard it refered to as "a heart attack on a plate." I did eat it a lot when I was pregnant because I figured I was gaining weight anyway, so who cared, but I don't think I've had it since then. We do have this version every now and then. It's from Cooking Light, which you all know I love. I've added chicken and broccoli to it before, but I think tonight we're just having it plain. I don't know, I may grill a chicken breast to add to mine, but the husband requested no meat in his.

Fettuccine Alfredo
1 tablespoon margarine
2 small cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups skim milk
2 tablespoons light process cream cheese
1 1/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
4 cups hot cooked fettuccine (cooked without salt or fat)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
Freshly ground pepper

Melt margarine in a saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic, and saut 1 minute. Stir in flour. Gradually add skim milk, stirring with a wire whisk until mixture is blended. Cook, stirring constantly, 8 minutes or until mixture is thickened and bubbly.

Stir in cream cheese; cook 2 minutes. Add 1 cup Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until Parmesan cheese melts.

Pour sauce over hot cooked fettuccine, and toss well to coat. Top fettuccine with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and pepper.

*****

I haven't made this in awhile, but I want to say I usually end up using more cream cheese than is listed. I like saucy pasta, what can I say. I'm also not sure if I have enough parmesan cheese to grate, so I'll probably do some grated and some of the Kraft stuff in the bottle. Freshly grated really tastes so much better, so I'll get as much of that as I can.

Like I said the other day, we're off to Mexico for a long weekend with my parents, aunt, and uncle. Should be fun! We'll get home Monday afternoon, so I probably won't have another post until Tuesday. Don't think I'll feel like making dinner when we get home at 3:00 or 4:00! :)