Chunky Penne Ala Vodka

Ingredients:

1 box penne pasta  1/3 cup olive oil 1 onion, chopped 10-15 cloves of garlic, sliced thinly  1 tsp red pepper flakes  1 28 oz. can crushed tomato’s  1/4 cup vodka  ~ 1 cup heavy cream  1/2 cup grated Parmesan  Salt to taste  Pepper to taste  1 tsp Oregano 

Instructions: 

Boil your water and make sure to salt it plenty. Cook your pasta al dente, it will finish cooking in the sauce. 

Heat a pan over medium heat. Add the oil and let it get nice and hot. Throw in the onions and sauté until they are soft and translucent. Add in the garlic and the pepper flakes. Sauté until the garlic is soft and fragrant, don’t overcook here! We don’t want burnt garlic. 

Add the vodka. Now, if you feel comfortable, flambé the sauce by lighting it on fire with a far-reaching lighter, and let the alcohol burn off for 2-3 minutes. The flame will go out on its own. If you’re not comfortable, just let the alcohol cook in the pan for 3-5 minutes, allowing the alcohol to burn without risking your brows 😉. 

Then, add the crushed tomatoes. Stir and allow the sauce to boil over medium heat for ~5 minutes until the excess moisture and liquid has reduced and evaporated. Add in the cream here. I wrote ~1 cup because I like to add it slowly, stir it and decide if I need more as I go. To each her own with the cream. Allow for the cream to thicken the sauce, stirring for 3 minutes or so. Add in the cheese and the remaining seasonings. 

Now, this is important. DO NOT DRAIN YOUR PASTA. I know, I sound insane. Instead, use a slotted spoon to add your pasta to your sauce. This allows for some excess pasta water to incorporate into the sauce, loosing it just enough to stick to the pasta and bring it all together. Stir the pasta with the sauce, serve with some extra Parmesan and fresh cracked black pepper and enjoy!