We go right from St. Paddy’s Day to a nice Italian meal! That’s right, it’s all about balance in this house. This post is a little unfair because I have 7 official viewers of this blog (thank you wonderful friends and husband!) and out of that 7, 4 of you know this recipe. Yes, it’s the Penne Alla Vodka recipe from Janine & Debbie’s Gourmet Cooking Club dinner back when I attempted to have a life AND a husband that travels for work. (I’ve given up on weeknight activities such as Gourmet Cooking Club and Book Club, and love the occasional spontaneous evening out as our family schedule allows. As much as I enjoyed being in those clubs, it’s so much less stressful to enjoy a night out with friends when the stars align, instead of having a commitment that almost always met with a conflict!)
The ladies who introduced this recipe to me are my wonderful friends Debbie, who is my realtor, and Janine, who is a personal trainer who has a great blog about healthy living. Check out Janine’s blog here!
I am lucky to married to a man who loves to cook, and who frequently makes homemade sauce (“gravy” for you Italians) from his family’s secret Sicilian recipe (and it’s the best!). However, between work and the kids’ activities, sometimes we run out of time for a decent meal. This delicious and satisfying recipe is from Lidia’s Italy, and is super quick and calls for no meat – perfect for a Friday during Lent! Enjoy!
Penne Alla Vodka Alla Lidia’s Italy
35 oz. can Italian plum tomatoes (preferably San Marzano) with their liquid
1 lb. penne
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
crushed hot red pepper
1/4 c vodka
1/2 c heavy cream (I use half-and-half)
2 T extra virgin olive oil, for finishing the sauce
2-3 T chopped fresh Italian parsley
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Whack the garlic cloves with the side of a knife.
Janine Wilkins CPT, AFAA says
Love this recipe!! The key to making it great is using best quality ingredients (since there are few of them). Try to find the San Marzano tomatoes and purchase the best parmesean cheese you can find. Enjoy!!