[Isadora]

Chicken and Artichokes

I ummm charmed this recipe from Chef at an Italian Restaurant in Little Italy/Minneapolis.

The Bechamel sauce is tricky, not to thin, not to thick. Bechamel in French, Bechiamella in Italian and according to Betty (as in Crocker, All Hail Betty) a medium thick white sauce. (Lasagna in Bologna, Italy is made with layers of pasta, bechiamella and meat sauce.)

INGREDIENTS:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
2 (8 ounce) can artichoke hearts in water, drained
16 fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 ounces sun dried tomatoes
1 can black olives, drained and chopped
1 pinch paprika
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups homemade béchamel sauce
Parmesan Cheese (fresh grated)
Linguini for 6

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DIRECTIONS:
Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat. Saute chicken pieces until chicken is light-to-golden brown in color.
Add artichoke hearts, olives ,and mushrooms to pan; heat for about 90 seconds.
Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water. Drain.
Pour chicken sauce over pasta on large platter, top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese and serve!
Turn heat to low, add cooked pasta to pan, and heat until warm.
Add warm Bechamel Sauce to pan, and toss ingredients 3 to 4 times. Serve with freshly grated black pepper and fresh Parmesan cheese to taste.

Bechamel Sauce
Sprinkle dash of paprika over food for color, if desired.
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons grated onion
4tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cup chicken broth
2 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 pinch ground cayenne pepper
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DIRECTIONS:
In a small saucepan, melt butter and stir in the flour, salt and white pepper. Add cold half-and-half and COLD chicken broth all at once. Stir well. Cook, stirring frequently, at medium heat until thick. Remove from heat and stir in seasoning.