Chicken Alfredo with Kesha & her family

Kesha says that in her family, chicken Alfredo is a favorite: “When [my mom] cooks it, we all go over there.” The recipe came into the family through Kesha’s aunt, who was likely trying to mimic the chicken Alfredo at Olive Garden because the family liked it so much. When Kesha cooks this dish, she also tends to draw a crowd. Knowing how much her kids and other relatives enjoy it “makes me feel love and happy and that I’m providing.” It is a dish that brings everyone together. 

Skills in the kitchen run deep in Kesha’s family. She started chopping vegetables with her mom and aunty at the age of five. Her grandfather was a professional chef for 30 years. At home, her grandma, mom, and aunty prepared much of the food; now Kesha, her sister, and her cousin also love to cook. “We’re always volunteering to cook somewhere or to cook for somebody,” she explains, plus “it saves a lot of money too.”

Looking to the next generation, it is vital to Kesha that her kids not only have basic cooking skills but also “know how to prepare a good meal for their family because it’s fun, it brings the family together, and it’s just love.” So she brought her kids to the interview and involved them in adding ingredients, mixing, and (the best part) tasting. The recipe has evolved with each person and is adaptable to different situations. For example, sometimes Kesha adds shrimp. In the past, she has made the Alfredo sauce from scratch. However, now that pre-made sauce is more widely available, she often opts for an option that she considers both convenient and delicious.

Chicken Alfredo Recipe

Ingredients:

Instructions:

• Begin by boiling water for your pasta. You will be following the directions on the box so once the water is boiling add the pasta to the pot.
• While waiting for the water to boil, start preparing your chicken by cutting it into small bite sized pieces.
• Spray a deep skillet with cooking spray and add the chopped chicken to the pan. Cook on high until the chicken begins to get some color.
• Once color is achieved turn heat down and stir in the Garlic, Herb and Wine Seasoning (this is the secret ingredient).
• Add the Alfredo sauce to the chicken. You can use some of the pasta water to get the last bits of the sauce out of the jar.
• From this point season to taste with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
• Add the sauce to the pasta and mix well. Once well combined, start adding cheese until your heart is happy.
• Serve hot with extra cheese on top.