penne with chicken & sun-dried tomatoes

This month I am working at going through my freezer and using the food, especially the meat, that we have in there. (More to come on this idea in a later post.) Tonight I pulled out a package of chicken breast strips and used part of it to make this recipe. It is so easy and it is one of my favorite meals. Elle said she might choose it as her birthday meal...that is saying something!

Penne with Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

2 shallots, peeled and chopped
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, raw but cut into small pieces
4 oz sun-dried tomatoes, cut into strips
1/2 - 3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 pound penne pasta, cooked al dente
1 Tbsp butter
4 Tbsp freshly grated parmesan
6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped or torn

Put a few teaspoons of olive oil in a saucepan. When hot, add the chicken and saute for a few minutes then add the shallots. Continue to saute until the shallots are tender and the chicken is cooked through. Add the tomatoes and heat through. Add the heavy cream gradually and then add butter. When butter has melted, add the cooked penne, parmesan and basil. Toss and then serve immediately.

*A note about the sun-dried tomatoes - These can be purchased dried or packed in oil. Either will work fine. If you use dried you need to reconstitute them by putting them in boiling water for awhile before using them in this recipe. I prefer the oil packed for the convenience and the flavor.