Sadie’s Anniversary Pasta

So many of you were so kind to wish me and my husband “Happy Anniversary” after my darling chum Jackie did that lovely post yesterday.

Our plan was to dine out since the opportunities to do that have been very, very few and far between this past year. But about a week ago a “better offer” came up and we took it. Our oldest granddaughter, Sadie Rae, 15 years old, offered to come over to our home and be our personal chef for the evening and make us dinner. So we took her up on it and we had the most delicious pasta, which she said was a copycat of Gigi Hadid’s Vodka Sauce recipe but which will now be known to us as “Anniversary Pasta”. Sadie set a beautiful table, lit candles all over the room for ambiance, including a beautiful fire in the fire place, put on Italian opera to complete the mood, made dinner and served us all by herself.

She did everything to perfection…most especially the pasta. It was truly so tasty I’m already dreaming about having it again.

So in case your anniversary is coming up or you just have a craving for rich creamy delicious pasta, here is Sadie’s recipe for our “Anniversary Pasta” 🙂

Buon appetito! Mangia!

Sadie’s Anniversary Pasta
(aka Gigi Hadid’s Pasta with Vodka Sauce)

1/2 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic finely minced
1 shallot diced small
1/2 cup tomato paste
2 Tablespoons vodka
1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons chili flakes (optional)
salt and pepper
1 lb. pasta (we had gluten free spaghetti but penne works just as well)
1/2 cup received pasta water
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup parmesan cheese

In a large sauce pan heat olive oil and add garlic and shallots and cook until soft. Add tomato paste until it turns a bit darker and begins to caramelize. Add vodka and cook just to allow it to mostly evaporate. Add cream and chili flakes and stir until sauce is combined. Season with salt and pepper and then remove sauce from heat.

Cook pasta according to directions on the package. When it is done reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Add cooked pasta, reserved pasta water and butter to the sauce in saucepan and cook until butter is melted and the sauce is “saucy”. Stir in parmesan cheese and taste. Adjust seasoning of salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately and enjoy every bite of this divine experience!