Penne A La Vodka!

The amazing D.A.R created this amazing recipe. I am so lovin' it!

Enjoy!!

Pasta, Booze, and Cheese...my favorites
Since there was much request for my penne alla vodka, I thought I'd finally share it. It is seriously too easy to make, but looks and tastes like you spent the day in the kitchen. Serve it with warm crusty bread and a salad. Oh, and the leftovers? Taste even better! This is a family recipe, coming from my godmother. She married into a very large Italian family and her mother in law demanded that she learn to cook "the proper way" before she got married. She is, hands down, the best cook I've ever met. I just try to do this recipe justice!

Ingredients:
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
4-6 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (I just add a palmful, I like it spicy!)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tablespoon dried)
2 tablespoons vodka
1 /2 cup heavy cream
Fresh basil (I chop up about a handful)
1 tablespoon butter (optional, but highly recommended)
1 box of penne (I use whole wheat)

Directions:
1. In a large pot, boil salted water and cook penne about 10-12 minutes.
2. In large, deep saute pan, heat olive oil on medium.
3. Saute garlic until soft, do NOT burn! If you burn it, throw it out, clean your pan and start over.
4. Add tomatoes and red pepper, cook down about 15 minutes.
5. Add parsley and vodka, cook alcohol out--about five minutes.
6. Add cream and basil, turn down heat.
7. Finish with a tablespoon of butter to make the sauce silky smooth. This step is optional, but well, I've never met a dish that wasn't better with butter.
8. Toss in pasta, top with parmesan and serve!

This makes a ton. Z and I can eat it for two dinners and usually a lunch. Keep in mind though, that he is 6'5. And, I am a carb addict. So, it may stretch a bit more with your family!

~D.A.R

Thanks D.A,R you rock!!!

Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Basil Pesto

First, I bought these awesome Organics mushroom and cheese ravioli. I followed the directions and simmered them for 5 minutes and they were cooked to perfection.

For Pesto:

Take 20 - 30 fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup olive oil

2 cloves of fresh garlic

2 tablespoons pinoli nuts (pine nuts) or almonds

First, wash basil leaves thoroughly and let dry on paper towel.

Then, chop garlic and add pine nutes/almonds to chopper. Once basil leaves are dry, add half with half the olive oil. At first the mixture will look chunky, like this:

Finally add the rest of the basil and the olive oil, the pest will be much creamier, such as this:

Then, taste (because it can be spicy) and add to pasta.

A fantastic dinner for one, or for a group. The pesto sits well, so feel free to make it in advance!!

Pasta Pronto!

Yes folks, I know I have been gone for sometime, but I have an excuse... I had a baby boy! He is a wonderful addition to our lives but he has put a damper on the cooking. So tonight, my dear old dad cooked a delicious Pasta Pronto. A fast and easy summer pasta dish!

2 tbsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves

1 lb Shrimp

1/2 lb Sea Scallops

1/2 Orange Roughy or (for a more cost effective substitute) a firm white fish - cut into bite size pieces

8 Clams (in the shell)

8 Mussels (in the shell)

1 can San Marzano tomatoes

3 tbsp of half and half cream

1 cup fume blanc wine

Italian Flat Leaf Parsley

Oregano (from the garden) finely chopped

Basil (from the garden) finely chopped

1 lb angel hair

Heat olive oil in medium heat and add garlic. Be careful not to over cook garlic or burnn - if you do, you must start over. The garlic will become bitter and it will overpower the taste of the dish.

Add sea scallops and cook for 2 min on each side. Then, add shrimp, clams and mussels. Stir occasionally. The clams and mussels are done when they open. If they don't open, throw them out, they are not good. Add orange roughy.

Boil Pasta and cook as per package.

Strain tomatoes, retaining a little juice, and cut into chunks. Add tomatoes to fish and stir. Add half and half and wine. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Add parsley and Oregano and give it one last stir.

Drain Pasta and mix together with sauce and fish.

Enjoy!