My Awesome Foodie Pen Pal & a recipe... Lake Shore Drive Chicken & Noodles

I stumbled across this fun thing called the Foodie Pen pal Club that Lindsay over at the Lean Green Bean runs and I thought how flippin' fun.  So, I signed up and WHAT FUN indeed! 600 Pen pals matched up in both the U.S. & Canada.


My Pen Pal to send to was Amber in Corpus Christie TX.  Amber didn't express any major dietary concerns  and was a young calorie burning girl and I thought she could certainly handle some of Ruthie's Scotcheroos... so, I made some and packaged them up and then put together a "Scotcheroo Kit" for her to make a batch too!  All that in a lucky four leaf clover tin... I really had fun putting it together.

Then the really fun part! My care package all the way from Chicago!  In our initial communications I told my pen pal I'd never been to Chicago and would love a taste of it and that's what I got.  So. Much. Fun.  
Debbie at The Veggie Next Door came through :)

Her postcard to me told me how each thing here represented the eclectic foodiness of Chicago and most of it was produced locally, except the Trader Joe's Jeju Mandarin Orange Slices, which were just a favorite snack.  
{And let me say, they were awesome, make me make a fish face, SO tart but addictive!}  
I could not have asked for a more awesome collection of goodies.... The Hot Giardiniera I have eaten on a sandwich and they are awesome little peppers; the sushi wraps will be used in my new bamboo sushi roller in no time and I'm making tacos this week!

What I have cooked with though already was the Lake Shore Drive Seasoning... a combination of chives, scallions and green pepper it added a fresh, lively taste to a pasta dish I decided to make last week.  LOVED IT!
So, before I close with an awesome recipe, I want to thank Lindsay for being the master coordinator, Amber for being my 1st recipient & Debbie for showing me around Chi Town!  Cannot wait to participate in May! 
And friends please note.... this is NOT just bloggers, Amber is not a blogger.  It's FOODIES!  So, check it out :)


My recipe:
WHAT YOU NEED:
1 TBSP Olive Oil
4 boneless chicken breasts cut in chunks
1 pint baby bellas halved
1/2 head cauliflower cut in chunks
1 cup Chardonnay
1/2 cut fat-free ricotta
1/2 cup fat free half & half
2 TBSP Lake Shore Drive Seasoning
1 bag whole grain "no yolk" egg noodles
Kosher salt to taste


WHAT YOU DO:
~Start your water to boil for your noodles then start chicken.  Whenever water is boiling add your egg noodles and cook as per directions and set aside.
~Saute chicken on medium high until no longer pink on exterior, about 4 minutes turning about every minute. 
~Sprinkle with the seasoning {Sage or Tarragon would be nice if you aren't in Lake Shore area}  
~Add Cauliflower and wine and saute with chicken 4 more minutes on medium high stirring frequently before turning to low, adding mushrooms and covering.  
~Allow to cook covered for 5 minutes then add mixture of ricotta & half and half and let simmer for another 4 minutes.
~Add noodles, mix well & serve.

YUM, I think I would love Lake Shore Drive!