Pasta With Vodka Cream Sauce & Ricotta

Sauce
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 bulb garlic, diced
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 large can tomato sauce
1 c. flavorless vodka
1 can tomato paste
2 Tbsp. fresh basil, chopped
1 small carton heavy cream

In a sauce pan, heat olive oil. Add onion and garlic and saute until onion is clear. Add tomato sauce, paste, vodka and basil. Simmer on low to medium heat for approximately 1/2 hour (long enough for the alcohol to evaporate). Stir in cream and let simmer another 7 minutes.

Prepared pasta (I like Penne or Farfalle for this)
Baby spinach (uncooked)
1 lb. browned Italian Sausage (I like Hot- can be mixed in with the sauce if you prefer)
Ricotta cheese

Layer on your plate: Pasta, sausage, ricotta, spinach and then sauce. Enjoy!


Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 5-6 people

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Thai Chicken in Peanut Sauce

2 boneless skinless chicken breast butterflies, halved
2 Tbsp. Garlic, separated in halves
3 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 can coconut milk
2 c. peanut butter
1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger
3 small limes
1/4 c. cilantro
1 bunch fresh, cleaned spinach (or bok choy)


Preheat oven to 425. In 9x13 baking pan, grease bottom with olive oil. Rub chicken with 1/2 garlic & place in pan. bake 20 minutes, flip over, and bake 20 minutes more, or until chicken is cooked through. In a large sauce pan, heat peanut butter and coconut milk on medium low heat stirring constantly, until smooth. Add the rest of the garlic, ginger & cilantro. Slice the limes in half and squeeze the juice into the sauce mixture. Reduce heat to low and stir constantly for 5 minutes or until smooth again. Serve with chicken layered over prepared Jasmine Rice and spinach leaves.

prep time: 5 min.
cook time: 40 min.
serves: 4-6 people

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Clam Sauce

I give credit for this one to my mom, who told me how she makes it... I have added a few things of my own.

2 c. milk
1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. olive oil
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 lg. can clams
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
pinch salt
pinch pepper
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese (OK to use the kind in the shaker- I do!)

In large sauce pan, mix together milk, olive oil and flour. Whisk to get the lumps out. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until creamy. Add garlic powder, Italian Seasoning, salt, pepper, cheese and clams (including the juice that is in the can). Stir constantly over medium heat until creamy and bubbly again. Serve over prepared spaghetti.

prep time: 2 minutes
Cook time: 1/2 hour or so
serves: 5 people

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Quick Guacamole

2 large avocados (soft, but still slightly firm)
1/4 c. Italian Dressing
1/2 Tbsp. Tobasco Sauce
Dash salt
Dash pepper
Dash garlic powder

Peel and take out the pit of the avocados. In a medium bowl, mash the avocados and mix in remaining ingredients. Cover and chill if not using right away.

Prep time: 5-10 min.
Serves: 4-5 people

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