Penne with Vodka and Chicken in a Pink Sauce

I used parts of this recipe from the New Best Recipe as well as a few videos and various other web based searches and my own creativity  http://www.cooksillustrated.com/bookstore/detail.asp?PID=265

What you need:

Diced chicken breast

7 Cloves Fresh Garlic

1 Cup Vodka

1 Pint Heavy Cream

1 Can Whole Tomatoes

1 Can Diced Tomatoes

Half Onion, diced

Olive Oil

Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

Oregano

Basil

Salt

Pepper

THE SAUCE

Start your sauce earlier in the day, so the sauce has time to cook.

At least 2 hours on the stove.

Low to medium heat, stirring occasionally.

You want light bubbles in the simmering sauce not  a big huge splattering messy sauce all over your wall style!

Using both cans of tomatoes, I purred them in a small food processor, for about 2 minuets.

You want the tomatoes in the sauce to be smooth, not chunky for this recipe.

Add to a large pan, and season with salt, crushed red pepper flakes, pepper, basil, oregano, diced onion and 3 crushed garlic cloves. 

Dice up the chicken and store in the fridge until a little later on.

THE VODKA SAUCE, AND CHICKEN----- I suggest using a wooden spoon for this garlic and chicken section.

Start the stove on a low setting, adding olive oil to the saute pan.

Add in the rest of the garlic, thin sliced into the oil.

Cook until the garlic is strong, bold and fragrant. DO NOT BURN THE GARLIC!! 

It will be too bitter to eat. 

A light golden brown you want to look for, and soft when you move the spoon around.

Thus the low heat for this section.

Next, add in your diced chicken!

Cook the chicken until it is white throughout.

Once the chicken is good and cooked, add the vodka and stir!

Some people are skilled enough as to light the vodka on fire, I was not so I did not light the vodka on fire.

I would like to try it sometime. 

After about 5 minuets, add all of this into the sauce that has been nicely simmering on the stove.

Add in the heavy cream to make the pink sauce!

Also add in some crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.

Start the pasta on the boil!

Let the sauce cook for at least 10 minuets minimum and 20-35 minuets maximum, stirring occasionally.

Cook the pasta to how you like it ( typically al dente (to the tooth, is preferred for this recipe ), drain, and add the pasta into the sauce and mix well!

Top with Parmesan cheese and bread on the side if you so desire!

My neighbor provided the bread in the bowl!

Serve it up! 

Simmering sauce

Chicken with olive oil and garlic

  

This chicken still needs some time.

   

Simmering sauce, now with chicken, garlic and vodka!

Heavy Cream added to the sauce!

Time to eat!!