Baked Penne a la Vodka

I love Pasta

The first time I had penne a la vodka was about 7 years ago at my Friend Petras wedding. It was an intimate wedding, after the ceremony we all went to Crab Shanty in city island NY for dinner. She encouraged me to get the penne a la vodka with shrimp raving about how delicious it was; she was so right. It was super creamy with really rich flavors and juicy shrimp. Since I have already made two shrimp pasta dishes this month I decided to make this one meatless. In addition, I decided to bake it, it’s the one thing I have never seen done so I did it.

Creamy sausage pasta

I love Pasta

In all fairness its pasta month and last Friday I didn’t give you a pasta recipe. I gave you half of the equation, which was that delicious and most perfect marinara sauce; perfect in every way, especially for the vegetarians. Today we are going to turn that sauce into a meaty sausage sauce and toss it with some penne. It probably the simplest pasta recipe I have done thus far, especially since I already had the marinara set aside since last Friday. If you want to use a pre-made marinara sauce, be my guest. But I do implore you to make the mushroom marinara sauce, and if you don’t like mushrooms this sauce will make you like them.

Four Cheese Pumpkin Penne

a.k.a Grown up Macaroni and Cheese
 

Cookout and BBQ Season!

A beautiful rainy morning (a work day I might add) I woke up and decided I’m not going to work. Nope, I am in the mood to stay home and cook something real hearty and comforting in the cold and gloomy weather. I knew I wanted something different, something I never cooked before or have never seen anyone else cook. I had purchased some pumpkin a few days before, as well as an interesting butternut squash pasta sauce, so I figured I could incorporate them in some way. Headed down to the kitchen with a pumpkin and a dream.

Grilled chicken alfredo tonight?

I am a firm believer in taking lunch to work from left overs. Sunday cooking is the best because you get at least two days of packed lunch. I'm such a left over lover, I will cook during the week after work, just so I have a packed lunch for the morning.