This recipe is laid out for a cozy dinner for two, but can easily be doubled or tripled to provide for families. Alec would love nothing better than for you to share this meal with a house full of children.
 

Ingredients:

1 cup fusilli pasta (raw)

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1-2 cloves (to taste) garlic, minced

½ tsp. garlic powder may be substituted in a pinch.

10-12 mushrooms cut in chunky slices

½ red pepper sliced

½ zucchini, halved and cut in thick slices

½ onion sliced

10-12 baby carrots cut into match sticks

a few broccoli florets cut into bite sized pieces

These vegetables are only suggestions. Add more or less or modify the mix to suit your taste.
 

-1 cup whipping cream (for the fat conscious you may cut back to 18% without sacrificing flavor. Or to go really low fat try using evaporated milk.)

-generous tablespoon dried basil or 2 Tbsp. fresh basil

-½-3/4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

-generous splash dry white wine No recipe of Alec's would be complete without the wine!
 

Insructions:

Brush chicken with a little olive oil and have your partner grill them while you fuss in the kitchen. Tell him not overcook them! Alec is a 'breast man' and does not like them all dried out and crusty. When done the chicken should be cut into strips and kept warm until the pasta and veggies are done.

Bring 2 quarts of water to boil in large pot and cook pasta. Cook 'del dente' only. Be sure not to overcook as pasta will get a little extra cooking time in the sauce.

While pasta is cooking saute garlic and vegetables in olive oil until tender crisp (about 5-8 mintues). You may sprinkle vegetables with a little extra basil while they're cooking to add flavor. Try to time it so the veggies and pasta are finished cooking within a few minutes of each other.

Drain pasta and return to pasta pot. Add vegetables chicken and all remaining ingredients. Place over medium-high heat and bring to boil, stirring constantly. When the cream has thickened ... you're done! Transfer contents of pot to a serving platter or individual plates and serve with fresh French bread and the rest of that Chardonnay that you cracked open for the sauce.

Variations:

For an extra special touch try marinating the chicken in a mixture of olive oil, wine and garlic.

(In case of bad weather breasts may be fried instead of grilled.)

Adding some lightly fried bacon gives a distinctive smoky flavor.

The addition of a few chopped fresh tomatoes will give you a nice 'blush' sauce.

All ingredients and amounts are suggestions only. Add more or less to suit your taste. You just can't ruin this recipe. Well... okay, maybe Kira could manage it. But that's why Alec does all the cooking in their house!