Healthified Fare: Chicken Scampi (inspired by Olive Garden)

10 cloves garlic, peeled
1 Tbsp diet margarine

White Sauce
1 Tbsp diet margarine
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
3/4 c. hot skim milk

Scampi Sauce Base
3 Tbsp diet margarine
2 Tbsp crushed garlic
2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
Black pepper
3/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 c. white wine
1.5 c. chicken broth
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
1 red bell pepper, julienned
1 red onion, thinly sliced
8 ounces angel hair pasta, cooked until al dente

Preheat the oven to 400.

In a small, ovenproof saucepan, saute the garlic cloves in the margarine.  Put the pan in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until the cloves feel soft when pressed, or cover and slowly roast on the stovetop over low heat.  Be sure the garlic does not burn, as burning it will make it taste bitter.  Remove the garlic and save the margarine.

Make the white sauce: In a small saucepan, melt the margarine and whisk in the flour, stirring constantly until the paste is smooth.  Gradually add the hot milk, whisking constantly.  Simmer until the sauce has thickened.  Set aside.

Make the scampi sauce base: In another saucepan, melt the margarine and add the crushed garlic, the Italian seasoning black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about two minutes over low heat, then add wine and chicken broth.  Simmer for about 30 minutes.

Add 1/4 c. of the white sauce to the scampi sauce base and whisk to combine all the ingredients.  Simmer until the liquid has thickened.

Heat the reserved melted margarine in a large saucepan and saute the chicken until it is almost cooked through.  Add the bell pepper and onion and continue to saute.  When the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, add the scampi sauce.  Simmer until everything is warmed and then add the roasted garlic cloves.  Place the pasta in serving bowls or plates and pour the chicken, vegetables, and sauce over the top.

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ww pts: 9 (including 2oz of pasta)

I was very excited to try this recipe and ended up feeling very disappointed in the end.  To me, it tasted spicy even though I used less of the red pepper flakes than the recipe called for.  I think in the back of my mind, I was expecting something akin to Red Lobster's shrimp scampi but with chicken instead and this was nothing like that.  Brooke Lynne didn't like the chicken and only ate the pasta.  Amelia, aka the bottomless pit, ate hers with no problem.  I could possibly make this again, but I would have to modify the heck out of the recipe first.  Oh well, lesson learned.