Introduction: Shrimp & Spinach Penne Alla Vodka

This delicious dish incorporates fresh leafy spinach, wild caught shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, a rich vodka sauce and your best sauvignon blanc. The dish itself has been known to put a stop to divorces, breakups and arrests. It has contributed to the happiness and well-being of countless couples and has helped spawn long-lasting friendships across the universe.

If you're looking for a side to accompany this dish, my favorites are Italian-style bread with a roasted garlic spread or a side salad with a red wine vinegar dressing. If you want to top the dish, the best cheeses to use are a romano-parmesan blend or a thin-shredded mozzarella.

So whether you are Giada, Paula, Rachael or Bobby, I encourage you to challenge me with a pasta that's better than this!

Step 1: Review Ingredients

Make sure you have all these ingredients on hand:

1 box of penne pasta
1 teaspoon of salt
15 large shrimp, peeled and deviened
1 bag of fresh, leafy green spinach
2 cloves of fresh garlic, minced
1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, sliced into strips or chopped
1 cup of your best white wine
2 jars of Bertolli Vodka Sauce
2 tablespoons of olive oil
4 tablespoons of romano-parmesan cheese blend, divided

Cooking Utensils

1 large pot
1 strainer
1 massive skillet
4 serving plates + 4 forks

Step 2: Cook Your Pasta & Prep Your Sauce

Bring water to a boil and dump in the whole box of pasta, adding just a teaspoon of olive oil and teaspoon of salt. Cook pasta according to package directions, but be sure that pasta is "al dente"

While pasta is boiling, make sure that your garlic is minced and your sun-dried tomatoes are chopped or sliced. Then, coat the bottom of your massive skillet with two tablespoons of olive oil. Add the garlic and tomatoes and let cook for 1-2 minutes, letting the aroma fill your home.

Step 3: Get That Sauace Ready

Once the garlic and tomatoes have cooked for 1-2 minutes, add the cup of white wine to the skillet along with your 15 shrimp. Allow 5 minutes for the shrimp to cook, and allow the wine to boil as it reduces. Once the shrimp are almost fully-cooked, add the whole bag of spinach to the skillet, letting it wilt. Once the spinach has wilted, add your 2 jars of pasta sauce, stir and let it simmer on low-med heat.

Step 4: Check on Your Pasta

Once the pasta has some bite to it, it's time to strain it. Strain all the water from the pasta and dump the pasta over the sauce in your massive skillet. Overlap the pasta over the sauce to combine the ingredients.

Step 5: Plate That Fantastic Dish!

Now, it's time to plate your dish. Put about 1-2 cups of your Shrimp & Spinach Penne Alla Vodka onto each of your four plates. Top with each portion with 1 tablespoon of parmesan-romano cheese.

Now, it's time to cuddle-up to your loved one and share a romantic meal together. Mangia!

Pasta Contest

Finalist in the
Pasta Contest