Coq au Vin Rosettes

The first time I made these I was in heaven, thought they were fabulous. Andrew, with his passionate fear of all things fungi-licious, was less happy about the meal. Even though the recipe is chocked full of his favorite things: cream cheese, cheese, pasta--just knowing those little mushrooms were in there waiting for him terrified him.

I was strategic about it though and I waited. The next time I made the recipe I mixed the filling but stuffed it into jumbo pasta shells and sneakily scooped out the mushrooms from his specifically designated "Fungi-Free" shells. In a different form he didn't notice it was the same recipe and without the mushrooms and life was good. He loved it and never knew the difference.

The things I do to fix a meal (and to get my mushroom fix!)

4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped
1 medium onion, finely chopped
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried tarragon (I LOVE tarragon)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
8 lasagna noodles, cooked
1 8-ounce package of cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoon flour
1/2 cup half and half
1 cup shredded gruyere
1 cup shredded muenster
3 tablespoon slivered almonds

In a large frying pan saute the onion and mushrooms in butter until the onions are translucent. Add the chicken, broth, tarragon, pepper and salt. Bring it to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for five minutes. Cut the lasagna noodles in half lengthwise, curling each into a ring, then spoon the chicken mix into the center of each ring, reserving liquid in the pan.

Add the cream cheese to the liquid and heat until the cheese melts. Separately mix sour cream and flour then blend in the half-and-half until well combined. Add the sour cream mixture to the cream cheese mixture in the pan. Cook until thick and bubbly, then cook two more minutes over a reduced heat. Spoon the cheese sauce over the noodle rings and top with the shredded cheeses and broil until brown. Top with the slivered almonds and serve immediately.

Technorati tags: chicken, pasta, recipes, main dishes