Penne Ala Vodka My Way

As I promised, a variety of topics in my Life's Lessons Blog, Here is one to bookmark for future use. How many times have I been asked for my world famous recipe? Too Many, but here I will agree to share it. This is a cant miss dish.

 Shopping List
1 lb Penne pasta or Rigatoni
1 stick of butter
5 cloves of garlic either sliced thin or finely chopped
2 medium onions, vidalia or other sweet kind, sliced thin, then cut again into small pieces.
1/4 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 lb prosciutto
2 cans diced tomatoes preferred seasoned or flavored kind(Italian seasoned, etc)
1 can tomato paste
1/4 cup vodka
1/2 pint heavy cream
Fresh parmesan cheese( this deserves fresh, not powdered)
 My cook-pot of choice is a 6 qt pot with a lid.

Over medium heat, melt butter, add garlic and saute, add onions, and red pepper flakes, allow to cook for about 10 minutes, or until onions become fully sauteed, and soft.

While the onions are cooking, tear the prosciutto into small pieces and mix into the onions as they are cooking, stirring frequently.

Add the two cans of diced tomatoes and the tomato paste, stir gently with a large wooden spoon to mix everything together.

Lower heat to just above simmer, cover pot, and simmer for about fifteen minutes, stirring a few times.
If it seems to be boiling, lower the heat a little.

When the fifteen minutes have passed, add the vodka, stir in in, cover the pot, and simmer again for about 15 minutes.

At this last stage time to cook the pasta, so it is ready at the end of the sauce cooking time.

 Drain pasta completely (make sure there is no excess water.

Add the sauce mix to the pasta and mix it up a little, and now add the heavy cream, stirring it all together gently.

Arrange it nicely on a platter or large pasta bowl, and grate some fresh parmesan cheese, and enjoy. After the first time you make it, you will figure out how to adjust the red pepper flakes to your liking. just a little bit more makes it very spicy, so beware. If someone likes it hotter, let them adjust their own plate.

Tell me how much you like it.