Pasta with Vodka Sauce

This one is an easy comfort meal. It comes together in about 20 minutes and will feed the soul. Its perfect for a movie night in, or a rainy night on the couch.

Ingredients:

• 1 bag/box penne or pasta of choice (i used Casarecce)

• Neutral cooking oil, I used canola

• 3 cloves garlic crushed

• 2 tbsp butter

• 3-4 oz tomato paste

• ½ tsp to 1 tsp red pepper flakes

• 2 tsp kosher salt

• ½ cup vodka

• 1 ½ cups heavy cream

• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

1. Begin with filling a pot with water and bringing the water to a boil. Once at a boil cook the pasta according to instructions on the box, once done reserve some pasta water, drain and set aside pasta.

2. While that heats up, grab a large pan with some depth to it. Coat the bottom of the pan with a neutral cooking oil, put the heat on medium-low.

3. Add the crushed garlic, butter, and red pepper flakes to the oil. Let cook for 3-5 minutes on medium-low heat (careful not to burn the garlic)

4. Next turn the heat up slightly and add the vodka, allow to cook for 3-5 minutes, to ensure the alcohol cooks out and it reduces(keep stirring to keep garlic from burning)

5. Then lower heat slightly, add the tomato paste and the heavy cream, use a whisk to mix, after a couple minutes the sauce should come together.

6. Add the salt and depending on your taste you can add about 1 tsp sugar (I prefer without the sugar). Let the sauce cook on very low temp for a couple minutes.

7. Add the pasta to the sauce, you can add some reserved pasta water to get the consistency/thickness you'd like (not necessary).

8. Turn the heat off, add the grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley and mix.

9. Enjoy