My Favorite Fettucini Alfredo

I know it's been a while since I've written on my blog...I've been busy, which is good! I am posting my monthly recipe with respect to my monthly e-newsletter (if you're not already signed up, you can sign up on my website at http://www.ashleywydra.com/).

I am a huge pasta lover and I love going to Olive Garden or any other restaurant with Italian food. A classic pasta dish (and very easy one to make) is Fettucini Alfredo. Below is my favorite recipe from my Betty Crocker cookbook:

Ingredients:
8 ounces uncooked fettucini
Alfredo Sauce (see recipe for sauce)
Chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
1. Cook fettucini as directed on package.
2. While fettucini is cooking, make Alfredo sauce.
3. Drain fettucini. Pour sauce over fettucini; toss until fettucini is well coated. Sprinkle with parsley.

Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter or stick margarine (I always use one stick of unsalted butter)
1/2 cup whipping (heavy) cream
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper

Directions:
Heat butter and whipping cream in 10-inch skillet (I normally use just a regular small pot) over medium heat, stirring frequently, until butter is melted and mixture starts to bubble. Reduce heat to low, simmer 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened. Remove from heat; stir in cheese, salt and pepper.

The key to the perfect sauce is really to keep stirring it constantly. I sometimes have someone help me and just stir while I prep the rest of the pasta. If the fettucini doesn't finish on time, I keep the sauce on a simmer flame and just keep stirring it!

Bon Appetite! : )

- Ashley

Busy, Busy, Busy...Busy as a Bee!

Ok, so I know I've been slacking on my blog...sorry...but I've been so busy trying to get everything together with my clients prior to the tax credit ending on April 30th. As I'm sure you are well aware by now, any first-time home buyer who is under contract by April 30 and closes by June 30 will receive up to $8,000 (based on purchase price) from the government. The same applies to existing home buyers with certain stipulations. Anyways, I'm trying to get in all the showings and everything that I can before that date, because it's a great buyer incentive to take advantage of! The clock is ticking down to the final days, so be sure to let me know if you'd like to get in any showings!

Some other things that have been going on in my life are marketing activities and such. Recently, I had a booth at the Lockport Expo on Saturday, March 27. It was a great event and I met lots of local Lockport residents, as well as other Lockport businesses. Coming up this Saturday, April 10, I will be at the Tinley Park Expo. I am so busy this week preparing for that...working on my giveaways and getting my information together. Other than that, I've just been juggling meetings and showings! I can't complain, though, I'd rather be busy than sitting around!!!!

Well, I'm glad I am getting to check in with you all today and I hope that things are going well for everyone. I'd better get back to my preparations for the expo...don't want to save it all for the last minute!

Oh and I almost forgot, I am helping out the Big Run Wolf Ranch in Lockport (http://www.bigrunwolfranch.org/). The next open house is Saturday, April 17, so I hope to see you all there!

- Ashley