I am so excited to teach you a family recipe that has been passed down for many generations and is today, one of my favorite dishes. Vodka sauce is an Italian-American cuisine sauce made from a smooth tomato sauce, vodka, typical Italian herbs and heavy cream, which gives the sauce its distinctive pink coloration. This wonderful sauce mixed with some of my favorite ingredients will create the perfect romantic dish for absolutely any pasta lover. The pasta noodles are cylinder shaped pieces that are cooked to al dente or known as perfect to the bite. Vodka penne will become the staple of many of your family traditions. This recipe will serve four lucky guests! Enjoy!

Step 1: Ingredients and Tools

Ingredients:
1 box of Penne noodles
1/4 cup Butter
4 Artichoke Hearts
2 Tbsp of Sun Dried Tomatoes
2/3 jar of Vodka Classic Sauce
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
1/2 packet of Parmesan Cheese

Tools:
2 Wooden spoons
Measuring cups and spoons
Large Skillet
Large Boiling Pot
Strainer
Stove
Knife

Step 2: Bring Penne Noodles to a Boil

Fill a large broiler pot with hot water. Set the stove to the highest temperature. Bring water to a full bubbling broil then add in the penne noodles. Once every now and then, stir noodles to keep from sticking to the bottom of the pot or clumping together. Check the pasta packaging for the cook times, but don't assume that time is going to cook the noodles to its full potential. Check the pastas doneness by fishing out a piece, letting the noodle cool, then biting into the piece. The pasta should be stringy and chewy with no crunches. Cook noodles to al dente or to perfection by making sure they are to your liking.

Step 3: Cooking Added Ingredients

While the noodles are cooking, finely chop up artichoke hearts and sun dried tomatoes. In a large skillet, melt butter. On high heat, add the cubed artichoke hearts, minced garlic, and finely chopped sun dried tomatoes. Lightly brown the sun dried tomatoes, minced garlic, and artichoke hearts.

Step 4: Creating the Sauce

Turn the stove burner to low to medium heat so that you do not burn the sauce. Pour the vodka sauce into the large skillet with the browned ingredients. Add heavy cream and mix in; the vodka sauce should become a light orange color. Once achieved, add in half of the Parmesan cheese to add flavor and to create a thick and creamy texture.

Step 5: Strain Noodles

When all noodles are al dente, or known as the ideal texture and feel of the pasta noodles, remove the large broiler pot from the heat and turn of the stove burner off. Using a strainer, carefully dump the water and noodles into the strainer to remove remaining water. Lightly shake the strainer to ensure all water has been taken out.

Step 6: Combine Noodles and Sauce

After straining the remaining water and creating our sauce, slowly add in the penne noodles to the vodka sauce. Using two wooden spoons, mix together the sauce and noodles to evenly coat all pasta bits. Once completely mixed in, sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of the food. Wait a minute for the cheese to melt then mix in. Repeat this two times to ensure a there is enough cheese to satisfy you're inner Italian. Serve with light Parmesan on top of the pasta for added garnish and to create a beautiful display for any guest to be beyond astonished. The delicious smells and flavors will blend nicely and have any person begging for more.

Step 7: Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy one of my most profound dishes. From my kitchen to yours, you will find yourself passionately passing on this recipe for many generations. You will instantly fall in love with the Italian flavors that are embedded within this meal, don't get addicted! Thank you so much for taking the time to try a wonderful new experience that will take you in the heart of Sicily, Italy. I hope you enjoy this amazing recipe just as much as I do. Good luck!