Recipe: Penne Pasta with Vodka Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 14.5-oz box Barilla multigrain penne pasta
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 oz chopped bacon or pancetta
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 1 small spring fresh rosemary - whole
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3 cups prepared tomato/pasta sauce
• 3/4 cup water
• salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Step 1

Add 1 tbsp olive oil into a pan over a medium heat. When the pan is hot, put 4 oz chopped bacon or pancetta in.
Give it a stir. Add the spring rosemary. Stir constantly.
When the bacon is brown, add 1/2 cup vodka.
Turn the heat to high.

Step 2

When the vodka is reduced to 1 tbsp, add 1/2 cup heavy cream and some black pepper.
Bring it to boil, and cook for another 3-4 minutes.

Step 3

Then dump in 3 cups prepared tomato/pasta sauce and 3/4 cup water. Stir well. Simmer for 20-25 minutes.

Step 4

Boil the penne pasta in salted water. Drain the the pasta.
Then cook the pasta for 1 minutes, dump in the hot sauce. Stir around.
After done, let rest 5 minutes.

Step 5

To serve, mix the pasta with the vodka sauce, topped with some Parmesan cheese.