Chicken and Avocado Casserole

SOG's Note:

Tasty dish that my wife makes for my birthday. Not to hot, but has just enough heat to let you know it's there.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 1 cup broad flat green noodles
• 1 large ripe avocado , peeled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• ½ cup butter
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5 dashes Tabasco sauce
• 2 ¼ cups half-and-half
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 6 (6 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• ½ cup roasted peeled, and coarsely chopped fresh chili pepper

Directions:

1. Prepare noodles according to package directions, drain, and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Drizzle avocado slices with lime juice and set aside. Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, and Tabasco over low heat until mixture bubbles.
3. Add half-and-half slowly, stirring constantly until mixture thickens.
4. Add cheese and stir until it has melted. Reserve 1 cup of this sauce. Mix remainder with cooked noodles. Place chicken in bottom of a 9-by-l2-by-3-inch rectangular baking dish. Cover with chopped green chiles.
5. Spoon noodle mixture over chicken and chiles. Place avocado slices on top and pour reserved sauce over avocados. Bake, uncovered, 35 minutes.