Another use for Vodka

I had this bottle of a lesser name Vodka in my cupboard that I've been wanting to use up.  It was around $5 and it tasted horrid! I've come to learn the finer points of vodka so I recently upgraded to a better brand but still didn't want this one to go to waste.  So...I made this Pasta in Vodka Cream Sauce dish today, originally a Rachel Ray recipe, I've come to find out.

I used a rigatoni pasta...a type I don't normally cook with but one that I thought would be perfect to capture all the wonderful cream sauce. I really loved that this recipe used shallots which adds a bit of subtle sweetness to the sauce. And, though heavy cream is an ingredient, it really is only 1/2 cup for the entire recipe, so don't let that scare you away from making this if you are watching your figure.

Rachael Ray's Vodka Cream Sauce Pasta:

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), once around the pan in a slow stream
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 shallots, minced
• 1 cup vodka
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 can crushed tomatoes (32 ounces)
• Coarse salt and pepper
• 1 pound pasta, such as penne rigate
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn
• Crusty bread, for passing

Serves 4

PREPARATION

Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add the EVOO, butter, garlic and shallots. Gently sauté theshallots for 3-5 minutes to develop their sweetness. Add the vodka to the pan – three turns around the pan in a steady stream will equal about 1 cup. Reduce the vodka by half, about 2 or 3 minutes. Addthe chicken stock and the tomatoes. Bring the sauce to a bubble and reduce the heat to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. 

While the sauce simmers, cook the pasta in salted boiling water until it's cooked to al dente (with a bite to it). While the pasta cooks, prepare your salad or other side dishes.

Stir the cream into the sauce. When the sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from the heat. Drain the pasta. Toss the hot pasta with the sauce and the basil leaves. Pass the pasta with crusty bread.