Olive Garden Alfredo Pasta

My friend Janet made this for a group of friends she had over. She said that she has been trying all different Alfredo recipes and likes this one best! (It's actually from the website Top Secret Recipes.) This sauce was absolutely delicious! She served it sort of "pasta bar" style with all kinds of delectable things to choose from, chicken pieces, broccoli, artichoke hearts and other yummy toppings. Then spoon over this fabulously CREAMY, FAST and EASY sauce! She shared the secret of this recipe that makes it her favorite and makes it so creamy...the GREEN CAN of Parmesan cheese! Hey, I can do the no grating thing, and no guilt because it does make the best sauce- no lumps!

When I serve it, I usually put bite size chicken pieces in the sauce and serve it with cooked broccoli. Serving it on the plate order is noodles, broccoli, then sauce with chicken in it. It is my family's new favorite. My kids even now like it better than spaghetti sauce...but then again, they have good taste! Another thing I like about this recipe is that it's completely from my freezer and pantry! I use evaporated milk instead of cream, minced garlic in a jar (a fabulous new treasure I found at Costco!), you can use frozen broccoli (although fresh is my favorite, bagged fresh from Costco again), and the rest you can figure out! This is delicious served with these breadsticks.

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

2 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon minced in a jar-can also use granular but not as good)

2 cups heavy cream (or evaporated milk)

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

pinch salt

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (the Kraft green can kind!)

12 ounces fettuccine pasta (or your choice of pasta)

Toppings of choice (optional)

Can also top with fresh grated Parmesan

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add garlic and let cook a minute. Add cream/evaporated milk, pepper and salt, and bring mixture to a simmer. Turn the heat down if the mixture reaches a rapid boil, you just want a simmer. Add the cheese, and continue to simmer sauce 8 minutes or until thick, stirring occasionally. You can start the broccoli and the noodles just before the sauce and they will be done about the same time. (If you don't have cooked chicken pieces, start 2 small or l large chicken breasts boiling first, when cooked, drain well, cut up and can add to the sauce when thick or serve separately.)