Healthier Pasta Alfredo Sauce

We love pasta and alfredo sauce.  It has so much cream in it that I was hoping to come up with a healthier version so we can enjoy it more often.  This is the recipe I came up with and it got rave reviews at our dinner table.

Healthier Pasta Alfredo

1 lb. pasta, cooked & drained

1 tsp. olive oil

1 heaping Tbs. pesto

1 clove garlic, crushed

3 oz. light cream cheese (not fat free)

2 c. milk

1 Tbs. flour

1/3 c. grated parmesan cheese

Place flour in a bowl and whisk milk into it until smooth and well blended.  In a large pan, over medium heat, place oil, pesto and garlic.  Whisk together and add milk mixture. Stir until sauce begins to bubble and thicken, add cream cheese.  Continue stirring until cream cheese has melted into the sauce.  Remove from heat, add parmesan and stir well.  Add pasta and toss to coat.  Serve.

Serving suggestion:  Add 2 cups sliced cooked chicken breast to sauce before tossing with pasta.

We enjoyed it plain along with a big freshly made garden salad and homemade dressing. I do think adding cooked chicken or shrimp would be excellent in it too.  Give this one a try and let me know what you think.