Irish Soda Bread

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, so I decided to bake Irish Soda Bread. This is soooooooooo simple to throw together and super delicious.

Irish Soda Bread

(Source: Ina Garten)

4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for currants

4 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 3/4 cups cold buttermilk, shaken

1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1 cup dried currants

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.

With a fork, lightly beat the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest together in a measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture. Combine the currants with 1 tablespoon of flour and mix into the dough. It will be very wet. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and knead it a few times into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared sheet pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread with a serrated knife. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. When you tap the loaf, it will have a hollow sound. Cool on a baking rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo

I've been sick as a dog the last couple of days, so cooking dinner is definitely not at the top of my priorities. I came across this Chicken Adobo recipe a few days ago and decided to give it a try. It seriously took all of 10 minutes to throw everything into the crockpot and just let it took for 6 hours. Definitely my kind of recipe for a sick day.

Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo

(Source: Damn Delicious)

1 teaspoon olive oil

2 shallots, minced

6 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 bay leaves

1/2 cup chicken stock

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 pounds chicken thighs, fat trimmed

Brown rice, for serving

Rub the olive oil around the inside of your slow cooker then throw in your shallots, garlic, brown sugar, pepper, cayenne and bay leaves. Then pour in your chicken stock, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Stir everything together with a spoon to make sure everything is distributed evenly. Add in your chicken thighs and use the spoon to spoon some of the sauce on top so it’s coated. Or you can just push the thighs down into the liquid. Cook on low for 6 hours.Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.

When your chicken is done, remove it from the crockpot insert and place it on the prepared baking sheet. With oven mitts, lift out the insert and strain the sauce into a pot (using a large mesh strainer to catch the bits of garlic and shallots, etc) and let the sauce cook down for about 20 minutes. It should start to thicken up. If it’s not thickening up as quickly as you’d like, you can add in a bit of cornstarch and water mixture and it’ll thicken right up! Using a brush, brush the sauce on the chicken, coating it well, then put the chicken in the oven and broil it on high for about 3-5 minutes. Remove from oven and serve with white rice (what I did) or whatever else you prefer. There will be extra sauce left so you can coat your chicken & rice in more sauce.

Quick Beef and Peppers Teriyaki Stir Fry

Want a super quick meal to make during the week? Have a craving for delicious Chinese/Japanese food? Then this is definitely it! It seriously takes less than 10 minutes to throw everything together and have a delicious meal on the table in no time. My mom used to make this for me a lot and now I make this for Dr. Sweetpea for a delicious midweek meal.

1 (1 - 1.5 lb) sirloin steak, thinly sliced

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 - 2 teaspoons garlic powder

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 red pepper, thinly sliced

Teriyaki Glaze

Vegetable Oil

In a medium bowl, mix together the thinly sliced bottom round, soy sauce, garlic powder, and cornstarch. Let this mixture marinate in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours. When you are ready to eat, heat up 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil on a skillet and cook the meat until brown on the outside. Throw in the thinly sliced red pepper in the skillet and cook for 2 - 3 minutes or until slightly softened. Add Teriyaki glaze in the skillet and coat the meat and red pepper mixture. Serve with rice. 

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Super quick and easy recipe to use up your shredded rotisserie chicken meat. Dr. Sweetpea LOVES these and told me these flautas are a keeper.

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

(Source: Girl Who Ate Everything)

1/3 cup (3 oz) cream cheese

1/4 cup green salsa

1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

3 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

2 Tablespoons sliced green onions

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

1 cup grated pepperjack cheese

about 12 small corn or flour tortillas (we liked flour better)

kosher salt

cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it's soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and garlic powder and mix well. Add cilantro, green onions, chicken and pepperjack cheese and combine well. You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge.

The corn tortillas are harder to roll without cracking. For the corn tortillas: work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or come unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.

Place 3 Tablespoons of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2 inch from the edges. Then roll it up as tight as you can. Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top. Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown. Makes around 12 taquitos. Dip in salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or Tomatillo Dressing . They would be great with black beans and this Cilantro Lime Rice.

Chewy Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies

The secret to soft, chewy, chocolate chip cookies??? It's pudding mix!! I'm not sure why the cookies stay so soft for a long time but it's definitely the only method that has worked for me. I also topped these cookies off with some sea salt and they were even better. These cookies are soft, chewy, chocolatey, and just a touch salty. Absolutely delicious! 

Chewy Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Source: Kraft Recipes)

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 package (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 1/4 cups flour

1 package (12 oz.) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

Coarse sea salt

Heat oven to 375°F. Beat butter, sugars, dry pudding mix and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add eggs and baking soda; mix well. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in chocolate. Drop teaspoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle a tiny pinch of coarse sea salt on each cookie. Cool 3 min. on baking sheets. Remove to wire racks. Cool completely.

Spicy Creamy Tomato, Spinach, and Prosciutto Pasta Sauce

Dr. Sweetpea has been working long crazy hours at the hospital, so I decided to treat him to a nice homemade dinner. I came across a wonderful recipe for Spinach Tomato Tortellini on AllRecipes but tweaked it a little bit to fit our taste. It's a very quick recipe but it's absolutely fabulous :o) .

Creamy spicy tomato, spinach, and prosciutto sauce

(Source: All Recipes)

1 package crab ravioli

2 teaspoon minced garlic

1 cup chopped fresh spinach

1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil

1 teaspoon onion flakes

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups half-and-half

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the ravioli, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. While you get the ravioli going, combine the tomatoes, spinach, salt, pepper, basil and garlic in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until the mixture begins to bubble. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and half-and-half. Stir this mixture into the saucepan along with the Parmesan cheese. Heat through, then reduce heat to low, and simmer until thick, about 2 minutes. Stir  in the prosciutto and red pepper flakes. Cook for another minute. Drain the ravioli, but do not rinse, then pour them into the saucepan with the sauce. Stir to coat, and serve.

The Best Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake

I am a little late posting this recipe, but better late than never! I made this Cranberry Orange Bundt cake 3 times over the holidays and it was a hit every time. My dad doesn't like sweets very much but he LOVED this cake. This is super simple to throw together to bring to a holiday party and I guarantee it will be devoured by all guests in no time.

Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake

(Source: MyRecipes)

Baking spray with flour (such as Baker's Joy)
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar 
12 tablespoons butter, softened 
3 large eggs 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 cup sweetened, dried cranberries
1/2 cup fresh orange juice 
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional) 

To make glaze (Optional):
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup fresh orange juice 
1 tablespoon butter, melted 
2 teaspoons grated orange rind 

Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a large bundt cake pan with baking spray. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Place granulated sugar and 12 tablespoons butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to butter mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Combine dried cranberries and 1/2 cup orange juice in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave at HIGH for 1 minute; let stand 10 minutes. Fold cranberry mixture into batter. Stir the chopped walnuts into the batter (optional). Spoon batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 40 - 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in centers comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Cool 5 minutes in pans on a wire rack; remove from pan.

Glaze:
Combine powdered sugar, 1/4 cup fresh orange juice, melted butter, and grated orange rind, stirring until smooth. Dip tops of cooled cakes in glaze; let stand until set.

Korean Potato Croquettes

These potato croquettes were my FAVORITE snack to eat when I was a child. These are soooo simple to make since it's very similar to making mashed potatoes but with tons of veggies. The only time consuming part is pan frying these bad boys in a skillet until they are golden brown/crispy. 

Korean Potato Croquettes

(Source: My mom) 

4 large potatoes, peeled and chopped into large pieces

1/4 of a large onion, finely chopped

1/2 - 1 cup frozen corn 

1/2 - 1 cup frozen sweet green peas

1/2 of a large carrot, finely chopped 

Freshly ground black pepper

Salt

2 eggs, beaten

Flour

Dried bread crumbs

Cook the potatoes in a large pot of boiling water until they are fork tender. In the meantime, add a tablespoon of oil in a skillet and saute the chopped onion, corn, sweet green peas, and chopped carrots until the vegetables are tender. Set aside.  Once the potatoes are done cooking, drain the water and mash with a potato masher until the mixture is nice and smooth. Add the sauteed vegetables into the potato mixture and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Shape the potato mixture into golf ball sized pieces using an ice cream scoop. Dredge the potato balls in flour, then egg mixture, and finally, the breadcrumbs. Do this with every piece of the potato balls. Carefully fry the potato balls in skillet with hot oil until golden brown. 

Chocoflan

I have a bit of an obsession with flan. Whenever I go to a Mexican restaurant, I always try their flan for dessert but I've never tried to make it at home by myself. I always thought it would be very time consuming and if I tried to make it at home, it would be a flan fail. So imagine my surprise when I learned about a cake that is half flan and half chocolate cake (drool) and is very simple to make. I turned to google to look up some Chocoflan recipes and decided to try the one by Marcela Valladolid, the queen of mexican cooking on Food Network. Her recipe is so simple to follow and the end result is FABULOUS!!!

Chocoflan

(Source: Marcela Valladolid)

12-cup capacity Bundt pan

Softened butter, to coat pan

1/4 cup cajeta or caramel sauce

For the cake:

10 tablespoons butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

1 egg, room temperature

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 1/4 cups buttermilk

For the flan:

1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For garnish:

1/4 cup cajeta or caramel sauce

1/4 cup chopped pecans

Put an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Coat a Bundt pan with a little butter, then coat the bottom with 1/4 cup cajeta and put it in a large roasting pan. (The roasting pan will serve as a water bath during baking.)

For the cake: Add the butter and sugar to a bowl and using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, beat until light and fluffy, then beat in the egg. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa in a medium bowl. Beat 1/3 of the flour mixture, and 1/2 of the buttermilk into the egg mixture. Repeat, ending with the flour mixture. Blend until well incorporated.

For the flan: In a blender, combine the evaporated milk, condensed milk, cream cheese, eggs and vanilla. Blend on high for 30 seconds.

Scoop the cake batter into the prepared Bundt pan and spreading evenly. Slowly pour the flan mixture over the cake batter. Cover with foil and add about 1-inch of hot water to the roasting pan. Carefully slide the pan into the oven, and bake 1 hour, until the surface of the cake is firm to the touch, or an inserted toothpick comes out clean. When cake is done, remove from the water bath and cool completely to room temperature, about 1 hour. Invert a large, rimmed serving platter over the Bundt pan, grasp tightly together, giggle a little and flip over. Remove the pan and scrape any remaining cajeta from the pan onto the cake, garnish with chopped pecans and serve!

Cook's Notes: The batters may appear to mix when you pour them into the pan, but they completely separate while baking, with the flan ending up on the bottom when it's inverted. You can it warm, but traditionally, it is chilled 24 hours before serving.

Honey-Kissed Acorn Squash

Happy Thanksgiving! Super quick recipe to share today that is PERFECT to add to your Thanksgiving menu. I found the Honey-Kissed Acorn Squash recipe earlier this Fall, and made this about 12 times already. The squash is super tender and the filling isn't too sweet and complements the squash perfectly.

Honey-Kissed Acorn Squash

(Source: Gooseberry Patch Recipe Book)

2 acorn squash, halved lengthwise and seeded (I used a whole Kabocha squash)*

8 oz can crushed pineapple, drained (I used a 16 oz can)

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey

1/4 cup butter, melted

Optional: ground nutmeg

Place squash halves, cut-side up, in a microwave-safe dish; microwave on high for 8 to 10 minutes until tender. Combine pineapple and next 4 ingredients, spoon into squash halves. Microwave on high 30 to 45 seconds or until thoroughly heated and lightly glazed.** Sprinkle with nutmeg, if desired. 

Note: 

* I usually keep mine whole until I'm about to serve it to people. 

** Instead of microwaving on high for 30 to 45 seconds, I baked mine in the oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. 

Almond and Raspberry Blossoms

I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but I decided to try out a few cookie recipes before the Christmas Cookie season is in full swing. I tried the Almond and Raspberry Blossoms recipe first because I absolutely love the Almond/Raspberry combination. Admittedly, these cookies are probably a little more time consuming than baking drop cookies, but definitely worth the time after taking a bite of these morsels.

Almond and Raspberry Blossoms

(Source: Better Home and Gardens)

1  cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup ground slivered almonds

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 egg yolk, lightly beaten

1 (3 oz) package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 tablespoons sugar

1 egg

1/4 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel

1 tablespoon orange juice

Nonstick cooking spray

1/4 cup seedless red raspberry preserves

Powdered sugar

24 raspberries (optional)

In a medium bowl stir together flour, 1/4 cup of the ground almonds, and the 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the 1/2 cup butter until pieces are pea size. In a small bowl combine egg yolk and 1 teaspoon water. Gradually stir yolk mixture into flour mixture, adding 1 to 2 teaspoons additional water, if necessary, to make dough cling together. Gently knead dough just until a ball forms. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill for 30 - 60 minutes or until easy to handle. 

Meanwhile, for filling, in a small mixing bowl beat cream cheese, the 1/4  cup softened butter, and the 2 tablespoons granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg, orange peel, and orange juice. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup ground almonds. 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat twenty-four 1 3/4 inch muffin  cups with cooking spray. Divide dough into 24 portions; shape each portion into a ball. Press balls onto the bottoms and up the sides of the prepared muffin cups. 

Spoon 1/2 teaspoon of the preserves into each pastry-lined muffin cup. Spoon filling over preserves. Bake about 25 minutes or until filling is set. Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove cookies from muffin cups; cool on wire rack. 

Before serving, sprinkle cookies lightly with powdered sugar. If desired, top each cookie with a raspberry. 

Weeknight Bolognese Sauce

The perfect Bolognese Sauce to make during the week! It's simple to make and hearty enough to eat on a cold autumn evening.

Weeknight Bolognese Sauce 

(Source: Ina Garden)

2 tablespoons good olive oil, plus extra to cook the pasta

1 pound lean ground sirloin

4 teaspoons minced garlic (4 cloves)

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 1/4 cups dry red wine, divided

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano

2 tablespoons tomato paste

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

3/4 pound dried pasta, such as orecchiette or small shells

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, lightly packed

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground sirloin and cook, crumbling the meat with a wooden spoon, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the meat has lost its pink color and has started to brown. Stir in the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 more minute. Pour 1 cup of the wine into the skillet and stir to scrape up any browned bits. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, stirring until combined. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a tablespoon of salt, a splash of oil, and the pasta, and cook according to the directions on the box. While the pasta cooks, finish the sauce. Add the nutmeg, basil, cream, and the remaining 1/4 cup wine to the sauce and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened. When the pasta is cooked, drain and pour into a large serving bowl. Add the sauce and 1/2 cup Parmesan and toss well. Serve hot with Parmesan on the side.

Homemade Pretzel Buns

I felt a little adventurous today and decided to try baking Pretzel Buns for the first time. I always thought they would be extremely difficult to bake, but was pleasantly surprised because the dough is very similar to other bread recipes. The only difference is you drop these buns in a pot of hot water and baking soda prior to baking in the oven. So why on earth would you do that? Because that's how these Pretzel Buns get the signature tangy/malty flavor on the crust.  Personally, I thought these buns were great right out of the oven and AMAZING after they cooled down for about 30 minutes. I'm definitely looking forward to using these to make sandwiches this week!

Pretzel Buns

(Source: Better Home and Gardens)

3/4 cup milk (not fat-free milk)

1/4 cup water

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 package active dry yeast

2 1/3 - 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt

3 cups hot water

1/2 cup baking soda

1 egg yolk, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon water

Coarse Salt (Optional)

In a small saucepan, heat and stir milk, the 1/4 cup water, and the sugar over low heat until warm (110-115 degrees). Pour into the large bowl of a freestanding electric mixer. Sprinkle with yeast; let stand about 5 minutes or until foamy. Add 2 1/3 cups of the flour, the butter, and the 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Using the hook attachment, beat on low speed for 2 to 3 minutes or until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat on medium-low speed for 8 to 10 minutes or until a soft dough forms. (The dough should pull away from sides of bowl but still be slightly sticky. If it is too sticky, beat in the additional flour.) 

Turn dough out onto a clean, dry work surface. Knead a few times, then shape dough into a ball. Place in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface of dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size (about 1 hour). 

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. 

Punch down dough. Turn out onto a clean, dry work surface. Divide dough into 12 portions. Roll each portion on work surface in a circular motion until it forms a smooth ball. Place balls on the prepared baking sheet. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes. 

Preheat oven to 425. In a deep dish or pot slightly larger than each dough ball, stir together the 3 cups hot water and the baking soda. Using a slotted spoon, lower balls, one at a time, into baking soda mixture for 10 seconds. Remove balls and place on paper towels to blot the bottoms dry. Arrange a 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. 

In a small bowl combine egg yolk and the 1 tablespoon water. Brush dough balls with egg yolk mixture and, if desired, sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake about 10 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool on wire rack. 

Very Basic Biscotti

If you know me, then you know I absolutely have to have coffee in the morning. I feel like something is missing in my life if I don't have a good cup of coffee and biscotti before I head off to work in the morning. I'm used to buying biscotti from Costco, but I decided to try Rocco DiSpirito's biscotti recipe at home and it's absolutely DELICIOUS! It's a very basic recipe, but these crisp cookies are perfect to dip in your morning cup of coffee. I'll add some dried chopped cherries and slivered almonds next time for extra flavor and texture.

Biscotti

(Source: Rocco DiSpirito)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon anise extract (I used Vanilla extract)

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, beat together the oil, eggs, sugar and anise flavoring until well blended. Combine the flour and baking powder, stir into the egg mixture to form a heavy dough. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Form each piece into a roll as long as your cookie sheet. Place roll onto the prepared cookie sheet, and press down to 1/2-inch thickness. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet to cool on a wire rack. When the cookies are cool enough to handle, slice each 1 crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Place the slices cut side up back onto the baking sheet. Bake for an additional 6 to 10 minutes on each side. Cookie slices should be lightly toasted.

Penne Alla Vodka

One of my favorite Italian pasta dishes is Penne Alla Vodka. I know it's pretty caloric, but it's also very hearty dish that is impossible to pass up. Plus, Dr. Sweetpea also loves this dish, so I decided to give it a try at home. Ree Drummond's recipes are always a win, and this recipes did not disappoint! So simple to make, and absolutely delicious :o)

Penne Alla Vodka

(Source: Ree Drummond)

1 pound penne

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 whole medium onion, chopped finely

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup vodka

1 (14-ounce) can tomato puree or tomato sauce

1 cup heavy cream

1 generous pinch red pepper flakes, plus more if needed

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Grated Parmesan, for serving

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Saute the garlic and onions in 2 tablespoons butter and the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat until soft. Pour in the vodka, being careful if your stove has an open flame (remove the pan from the heat before adding). Cook and reduce for 2 to 3 minutes, then pour in the tomato puree. Stir the mixture until it's thoroughly combined, then reduce the heat to low. Pour in the heavy cream. Stir to combine, then turn heat to the lowest simmer possible. Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes and add salt and pepper to taste. Finally, stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Pour the drained pasta into the sauce and toss to combine. Sprinkle on the Parmesan, then sprinkle on more red pepper flakes if desired.