Chicken Tequila Fettucine

I've been making this recipe since college, although it's more of a "special occasion" recipe since reducing the sauce is tedious because of the need for constant stirring. Because of the jalapenos it can be spicy but the cream sauce takes the edge off. I've doubled this recipe for parties and kept it warm in a crock pot. This is the very first meal that I ever made for James. Had to pull out the culinary stops at the time for my new man. lol

Chicken Tequila Fettuccine

1 pound dry fettuccine
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (2 tablespoons reserved for garnish/finish)
2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
2 tablespoons minced jalapeno pepper (seeds and veins may be eliminated if milder flavor is desired)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (reserve tablespoon presauté)
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons gold tequila
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/4 pounds chicken breast, diced 3/4 inch
1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 medium yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 medium green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Preparation Instructions:
1. Prepare rapidly boiling, salted water to cook pasta;cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes for dry pasta,approximately 3 minutes for fresh. Pasta may be cooked slightly ahead of time, rinsed and oiled and then "flashed"(reheated) in boiling water or cooked to coincide with the finishing of the sauce/topping.

2. Cook 1/3 cup cilantro, garlic and jalapeno in 2tablespoons butter over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes.Add stock, tequila and lime juice. Bring the mixture to boil and cook until reduced to a paste like consistency;set aside.

3. Pour soy sauce over diced chicken; set aside for 5minutes. Meanwhile cook onion and peppers, stirring occasionally, with remaining butter over medium heat.When the vegetables have wilted (become limp), add chicken and soy sauce; toss and add reserved tequila/lime paste and cream.

4. Bring the sauce to a boil; boil gently until chicken is cooked through and sauce is thick (about 3 minutes).When sauce is done, toss with well-drained spinach fettuccine and reserved cilantro.

5. Serve family style or transfer to serving dishes, evenly distributing chicken and vegetables.