Jack’s Vodka Pasta:

Here is another easy to prepare Pasta Dish and Kids seem to love it.

Ingredients: 3/4 Pound of Ground Italian Sausage (or beef, personal preference)
1 Large Can of Crushed Tomatoes
I Box of Tube Pasta (any type of tube pasta works for this dish, I prefer the larger tubes)
Grated Parmesan Cheese (I buy it all ready to use)
Olive Oil
L & P Sauce
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (spice section of grocery store)
Garlic Powder (spice section of grocery store)
Crushed Oregano (spice section of grocery store)
Fresh Ground Black Pepper
Fresh Garlic (Produce section)
Fresh Garden Parsley (I prefer the Italian but either works) (Produce section)
2 Fresh Button Mushrooms (for this dish I prefer the white, but brown is ok) (Produce section)
Table Salt
1 White Onion (Produce section)
Sugar
Bottle of Vodka (any brand)


Cooking Items and Utensils:
1 large long handle cooking spoon
1 Measuring Cup
Teaspoons
Tablespoons
Can Opener
Large Strainer
Paring or kitchen knife
1 Large 5-Quart Pot with lid (any pot will do) (I personally like to use a cast iron pot with a glass lid, things usually don’t stick to these, remember to treat them periodically)
Paper Towels


Preparation Directions:
Finely Chop Mushrooms
Peel and finely chop Garlic Gloves (enough for 2 Tablespoons)
Chop Parsley (about 1/4 cup)
Finely Chop 1/2 Large White Onion
Open can of Crushed Tomatoes


Cooking Directions:
Step # 1: Tube Pasta
In 5-Quart Pot, fill with approximately 2/3 water.
Cover with lid, heat on ‘High Heat’.
When water comes to a boil, add approximately 2 tablespoons of oil, 1 tablespoon of salt, pour in Tube Pasta, stir.
Follow instructions for Pasta cooking times.
Do NOT overcook.
Using measuring cup, you will need one cup of the hot pasta water. Set this aside.
Pour and Drain into large pasta style strainer, do not wash with cold water, lightly stir and let sit.
Immediately Wipe out Pot, you will use this again. I use paper towels and the spoon to wipe the pot out. Make sure it is dry.


Step # 2: Cooking the Sauce
In large 5-quart Pot on High Heat (pre-heat pot)
Add Olive Oil cover bottom of pot
Add Ground Italian Sausage or Beef (stir, cook until almost done)
Now Add in the Chopped White Onion, sauté lightly, until changing color
Add in 1/2 Tablespoon of L & P Sauce
Add in crushed Garlic
Add in 1/2 teaspoon of crushed Red Peeper Flakes
Add Parsley
Add 1/2 Teaspoon of Garlic Powder
Add 1 tablespoon of Oregano
Add in 1 Can Crushed Tomatoes
Add in 1 Cup of Pasta Water
Add in 1/2 Teaspoon of Table Salt
Add in 1 Tablespoon of Ground Black Pepper
Stir, turn to Medium Heat
Partially cover pot until boiling
Stir thoroughly (leave off lid)
Now carefully Add in 2/3 cup of Vodka
Stir, wait about 5 minutes for alcohol to evaporate
Add in 3 Tablespoons of Sugar
Stir, Turn to low heat, finished in about another 5 minutes
Taste - add in salt, pepper, oregano or sugar for your personal preference


Step # 3: Combining ALL Ingredients
When Meat Sauce is fully cooked
Turn to Medium Heat
Add in all the Pasta, stir thoroughly mixing well (do not cook further, just mix well) Note: This shouldn’t take more than one to two minutes.
Turn off heat.
Stir again, make sure sauce gets thoroughly into pasta tubes.


Serving:
Serve on plate or into a bowl. (I prefer using pasta bowls).
While hot, Add Parmesan Cheese.
Feeds from 4 to 6 people.

Leftovers can be frozen. I put mine in 2-quart Tupperware bowls.

For you Hungry Man Types:
Serve with a fresh garden side salad.
Serve with a Red Wine or Ice Cold Beer
Also goes well with Garlic Bread

////////\\\\\\\\
Now You're Cooking with JACK
Just Another One of Jack's Famous Recipes
Got a Question, Comment, Suggestion or would like to submit a tasty recipe meal, email me at:
jacksrecipes@yahoo.com

I would like to know what you think of Jack’s Vodka Pasta Recipe, please go to the comments section and leave me a comment. Thank you.


Also if you would be so kind, please follow this blog and share it with others.