Lighting Up For the First Time

No, it's not what you're thinking.  Been there.  Done that.

Today I lit up VODKA for the first time.  I made a new recipe that required me to light it ON FIRE.  What an adventure!  And nobody was home at the time to witness my absolute and total terror finesse.

The recipe for a vodka pasta sauce was given to me by my gym friend Joan, and I decided to make it tonight for company.  They were out visiting friends while I had my culinary adventure.  Here is the recipe:

Vodka Sauce

Bring 1/2 cup of vodka to a boil in a dutch oven pot.

As soon as it boils remove from heat and light it on fire.

Once the fire goes out put back on heat and add the following:

8 oz. heavy cream

1 stick of butter

1 cup chicken broth

16 oz. of marinara sauce

2 cloves of garlic cut in half

crushed red pepper to taste

1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Cook the sauce on low for 1 hour, stirring a few times.

Mix a few tablespoons of corn starch with water and add.

Cook for another 1/2 hour and sauce should thicken.

Serve with 1 lb. cooked pasta.

Maybe it's because I doubled the recipe, I don't know, but when I lit the boiling vodka I had a fairly good bonfire going on in my kitchen, which frankly scared the bejesus right out of me.  I had the fire extinguisher out of the cabinet in a flash, and was speed reading the directions on the canister.  Never mind that the extinguisher is about 14 years beyond its expiration date.

There was a lot of sweating on my part, and the saying of a few nasty words.  I held quite a debate with myself about whether or not to pull the pin and put the fire out.  The ceiling above the pot was becoming quite hot, but eventually the fire burned down and I was able to continue with the recipe.  And breathe again.

There is only one mistake modification I made in doubling the recipe.  I used one stick of butter instead of doubling and using two sticks.

Additionally, I did not use any crushed red pepper, simply because I thought I had some in my spice cabinet, and once I was into cooking mode, I realized I had none.  Oops.

Other than that, the recipe came together nicely.  This recipe is enjoyable to make if for no other reason than the good smells that were filling the kitchen.

I served the vodka sauce over pasta, and accompanied it with grilled asparagus and italian bread.  In the end, it was a delicious meal and everybody raved about it and said it was some of the best pasta sauce they had ever eaten.  

Thank you Joan!  It's a keeper!