Penne Vodka Sauce

Photo by www.godairyfree.org

This is a fantastic copy of a traditional dish my dad made when I was younger. I found this in a cookbook I borrowed from him years later. He was a wonderful cook, and he was always very excited when his food was a big hit with the kids. Hope you enjoy this as much as my family does. 

**If you would rather not use pancetta in the dish, omit it from the recipe.

Ingredients:

•    1 lb. penne pasta

•    ¼ pound pancetta diced

•    4 tablespoons butter

•    35 oz. Italian plum tomatoes

•    1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil

•    1 tbsp. garlic cut in half

•    1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

•    1 pinch salt to taste

•    1 pinch pepper to taste

•    1/4 cup vodka

•    1/2 cup heavy cream

•    2 tbsp. parsley fresh and chopped

•    3/4 cup parmesan cheese grated, plus more for garnish

Instructions:

1   Prepare penne pasta per package instructions. Cook for 11 minutes, Drain pasta, and set aside. Prepare the sauce while pasta is cooking.

2   Add Italian plum tomatoes (and their liquid) to a food processor and pulse until sauce is smooth. Set aside.

3   Add extra-virgin olive oil and butter to a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add bacon, add garlic sliced in half, to skillet and cook until garlic is light golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.

4   Add vodka to hot pan and stir. Bring heat down to a simmer and let cook for about 10 minutes. Remove large pieces of garlic.

5   Slowly pour tomato sauce into skillet, stirring to incorporate with the oil and butter. Also stir in crushed red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Let sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

6   Pour in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, stirring sauce well.

7   Fold in cooked penne pasta. If desired, continue to cook pasta for another 5 minutes so sauce clings to pasta.

Serve pasta immediately with extra Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley as garnish.

Garlic bread

Slice a loaf of ciabatta bread and drizzle with olive oil. Broil until golden brown and crunchy. Remove from oven. Take half a clove of garlic and rub it generously on the toasted bread. Add salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. 

Broil for one minute or until the cheese has a nice melted look.