I was returning home from walking my baby sister to her piano lessons when I saw a strange truck parked in our driveway. I noticed our next door neighbor, Ginny, was sitting outside on her front porch a bit early today. This told me that the truck belonged to someone unidentifiable from a peek through her window.

I had just about made up my mind that one of my Uncles or Aunts had purchased a new vehicle until I reached the kitchen door. There standing right opposite my Aunt Nita was THAT CHEATER! Standing there with my mouth wide open, and eyes as huge as golf balls bulging out of my head I was ask if i wasn't going to say hello. I didn't know his name yet as I had not been properly introduced. I did however remember his face from an old photo album that held some family photos of him and Aunt Nita on their wedding day, as well as other pictures of them and their only son. Each time i caught Aunt Nita looking at this album, I would, out of curiosity ask the name of this man. Each time I was answered with "that Cheater." I did namage a "hello Sir."

Aunt Nita was in the process of telling him that he was most certainly welcomed to come to town and visit their new granddaughter (who lived three blocks away) however, the next time my dad, or anyone else in the house invited him for dinner, she was to be warned ahead of time. She then proceeded to tell him that he could go out back on the porch and wait with the men till dinner was served!

When I finally was able to speak I asked about what we were preparing for dinner. I was stunned when Aunt Nita replied "Cheatin' Chicken." What's Cheatin' Chicken I asked. Well it's what you make when your trying to make White Wine Chicken but you have to use a white sauce from a jar, add a cup of white wine and some other seasonings and call it good! Needless to say, I did not ask any other questions about the evening meal. My task was to peel vegetables, heat the rolls, and make sure there would be plenty of ice tea. Oh yeah, I was to set the table too.

As usual, Aunt Nita received a raving review of her White Wine Chicken that night. She and I just looked at each other, then to my total amazement she said to the gentleman setting opposite the table from her, "I thought you would enjoy this Jim, it's called CHEATIN' CHICKEN, you know what they say, bird's of a feather... At that moment my grandfather, along with other family members (including Aunt Nita) burst out laughing. Jim's face turned three shades of red, he smiled and kept on eating.

The Cheating Chicken is most honestly the best White Wine Chicken you'll ever hang a lip on, and my dimples have had opportunity to dance over the years every time I have made this nost awesome meal for my family.

CHEATIN" CHICKEN

1 large fryer (3lbs or more) cut up, washed and drained
1/2 C. flour
1/4 C. Canola oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 clove garlic (minced)
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 C. of your favorite Alfredo Sauce from a jar
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 T. chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oil in large heavy skillet. Coat chicken with flour. Place chicken in skillet to brown, salt and pepper to taste. Brown chicken about 12 minutes. Add garlic, mushrooms, and ginger to skillet, scrape bottom of skillet well. Let cook about two minutes. Add white wine and Alfredo Sauce. Stir well. Turn heat setting to medium low and simmer for 25 minutes. (You want slow bubbly cooking) Stir often. Place chicken on platter. Spoon sauce over chicken. Top with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

from a collection "Tastebud Tidbits" by Joyce M. Edwards