Do you ever get stuck in a pasta rut? Or better yet a ‘what’s for dinner’ rut?  We have become such fans of Spaghetti & Meatballs that we have it almost weekly.  No complaints, but I was ready for a change.  Enter cream and vodka.  Voila Penne with Vodka Sauce {penne alla vodka}.

This past summer weather was ideal for growing tomatoes and as a bonus the season spanned several months.  Each week the Farmers Market was lined with table after table of this gorgeous fruit.  I’ve shared before that I have a huge soft spot for local farmers and buy something from each of them, every week.  Which is precisely how we have ended up with a freezer full of Homemade Marinara Sauce.

This is a good time to talk about Mother Sauces.  I learned years ago that there are five classic Mother Sauces from which most all secondary sauces are derived.  At that pre-Lemony Thyme period I was certain I would never become a foodie geek….but I listened.  I’ve come to understand that there is something to be said for understanding Mother Sauces.  Here’s an article I found helpful and informative on this topic.

While Penne with Vodka Sauce has a wonderful rich flavor, one serving comes in under 400 calories.  Making this 15-minute dish the perfect weeknight meal.

Vodka Sauce, might be one of the simplest variations of Mother Sauce #5 ~ Tomato Sauce, coming together in mere minutes.  Which is precisely why Penne with Vodka Sauce is being added to our easy weeknight meal rotation.

Begin with your favorite marinara sauce, add vodka and simmer 5-7 minutes (cooking off the alcohol).  The vodka gives the sauce a nice crisp flavor, a bit hard to explain but really nice.  Stir in heavy cream and a pinch of red pepper flakes, toss with cooked penne pasta, sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil.  Such a rich, yet fresh flavored dish.

Recipe Note:  We’ve found that when making Healthy Choices it’s best to only prepare the number of portions = to the number of people you’re serving.  May seem like common sense but we’ve been guilty in the past of cooking the entire box of pasta vs. weighing out two ounce portions.  Serve Penne with Vodka Sauce with a tossed salad and you’ll find one portion is plenty.

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Penne with Vodka Sauce

While Penne with Vodka Sauce has a wonderful rich flavor, one serving comes in under 400 calories. Making this 15-minute dish the perfect weeknight meal.

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

• 1 lb. penne pasta
• 4 cups Marinara Sauce see recipe link in post
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• pinch red pepper flakes
• freshly grated parmesan cheese
• fresh basil

Instructions

• Cook penne according to package instructions.
• Heat marinara sauce over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in vodka. Return to a low simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and red pepper flakes and heat through.
• To serve, toss penne in vodka sauce. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

The post Penne with Vodka Sauce {penne alla vodka} appeared first on Lemony Thyme.

Blueberry, Basil & Goat Cheese Pasta Salad.

I recently saw an article in Cooking Light Magazine that featured 250 Calorie Pasta Dishes.  The idea was to start with a portion of your favorite cooked pasta, then add 3-4 of your favorite mix-ins to create a fabulous meal.  That got me thinking.

I’ve discovered a love for blueberries and goat cheese paired together.  I’ve also discovered, thanks to Gabby’s Olive Branch, a love for Tuscan Herb OVOO paired with Blueberry Balsamic Vinegar.  Add fresh basil, and in our case the lovely lemon basil, with chopped macadamia nuts and I had visions of this beautiful pasta salad dancing through my dreams.

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Blueberry, Basil & Goat Cheese Pasta Salad

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Libby with Lemony Thyme

Ingredients

For pasta salad…

• 4 oz. penne pasta prepared according to package directions
• 1 Tbl. olive oil
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/4 cup goat cheese crumbles
• 2 Tbl. macadamia nuts chopped
• 2 Tbl. fresh basil leaves
• sea salt & freshly cracked pepper

For blueberry herb vinaigrette…

• 1/4 cup Tuscan Herb EVOO
• 1 Tbl. blueberry balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard

Instructions

For pasta salad…

• Prepare pasta according to package directions. Rinse under cool water and toss with 1 Tbl. olive oil. Chill or serve room temperature.
• Divide cooked pasta into two bowls. Sprinkle each serving with half of blueberries, goat cheese, macadamia nuts, and fresh basil.

For blueberry herb vinaigrette…

• Whisk together vinaigrette ingredients until they emulsify. Drizzle over pasta salad. Season with sea salt & freshly cracked pepper to taste.

The post Blueberry, Basil & Goat Cheese Pasta Salad appeared first on Lemony Thyme.