You Wont Be Single For Long Penne ala Vodka

This week has been disappointing. Nothing that I've made has turned out the way I had hoped. It either didn't taste very good, or didn't photograph very well, neither of which I want to post on here.

Tonight, finally, I made something that was both delicious and gorgeous. I came across this recipe over at smitten kitchen a few months back, and it's been on the back burner for a bit while I tried other things. Don't make the same mistake. This is one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. And SO EASY. I loved it, my husband loved it. I called my mom, and she loved it over the phone without having actually tried it. It's one of those recipes that makes me wish that you could blog the way something smells. It's fantastic. Try it. Now.



Ingredients Needed:

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp butter
2 shallots, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup vodka
1 cup chicken stock
1 28 or 32 oz can crushed tomatoes
salt and pepper
16 ounces pasta, doesn't have to be penne, any sort of shaped pasta will do.
1/2 cup heavy cream
15-20 leaves fresh basil, chopped

To Make:

Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and butter to pan, and melt butter. Add garlic and shallots, and saute for 3-5 minutes. Add vodka to the pan, and reduce by half, about 2-3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and tomatoes. Bring sauce up to bubbling, then reduce heat to simmer. While the sauce is simmering, cook pasta according to package directions in salted water, then drain, and set aside. Stir the cream into the sauce, and season with salt and pepper. Toss the hot pasta with sauce and stir in basil leaves. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

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