PENNE PASTA WITH CHICKEN & PINK SAUCE

 This is one big bowl of Italian comfort food. Great for these cold winter nights. I used bacon in this recipe because it is what I had. You could surely use pancettta (Italian bacon) instead. Try it next pasta night!

BOW TIE PASTA WITH CHICKEN AND PINK SAUCE

-Penne pasta

-2 cups home made or jarred tomato sauce

-1 cup cream

-4 strips of bacon, cut into small cubes

-1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

-4-5 chicken tenderloins

-flour

-Salt, pepper, garlic powder

-Olive oil

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium size sauce pan, cook the bacon cubes until crispy. Drain the fat.
2. Add the tomato sauce cook over MEDIUM heat for about 5 minutes or until the sauce is warm.
3. Add the cream and Parmesan cheese-stir well. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. (If it starts to boil tun the heat down)
4. Turn the heat to a SIMMER while you make the chicken. (give the sauce a stir every once an a while.)
5. Cut the tenderloins into about 1/2 inch strips. Season them with salt, pepper and garlic powder. 
6. Dust the chicken with flour. 
7. Heat about 2 tbs olive oil in a medium size frying pan and add the chicken. Cook until the chicken is browned and then drain it on paper towels.
8. Stir the chicken into the pink sauce-season with salt and pepper as desired. 
9. Serve over bow tie pasta!