Selective Palate

Last night I came home and was feeling under the weather. This year has been kicking my but I tell ya! I was feeling in the need of some comfort food. For me that means starch, preferably with cheese! Well considering I have been trying to be healthier this was no easy task.

Usually when I make pasta even though it is only M and I, I make the entire box so that we have it on hand for quick meals throughout the week. Last night we had some nice multi-grain penne just sitting waiting to be dressed in sauce. I asked M whether he felt like red or white sauce and he couldn’t make up his mind so I decided to make both! In under 15 minutes I whipped up restaurant quality Penne ala Vodka.

Recipe:

1 pat butter
drizzle olive oil
2 strips bacon or panchetta cut in small dice
2 cloves garlic chopped fine
1/3 cup vodka
3/4 cup crushed tomatoes
1/2 cream
handful parmigiana cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter and olive oil in pan and add chopped panchetta or bacon. Saute for a few minutes until you see the meat beginning to brown then add garlic. Saute another 30 seconds. I then drained some of the fat and added the vodka. Let the vodka reduce for another 30 seconds or so and add the tomatoes and cream. Stir to combined and reduce. At the end add the cheese , salt and a good pinch of freshly ground pepper to taste.

Top penne with sauce and enjoy. For M I added a little chicken we had leftover as well. You could also make this a vegitarian meal by not using the panchetta/bacon, it will be just as good. I kw this is not the healthiest version but i cut out some of the fat and used more tomatoe than cream. I this really it is about moderation. A little of this sauce goes a long way. I was able to sucomb to my comfort food craving while still not going completly over bored.