Penne Alla Vodka

"My wife is part-Italian, and Penne alla Vodka has been one of her favorite pastas for pretty much as long as I can remember. On the few occasions when we went out for Italian food in Atlanta, Penne alla Vodka was always her go-to. Like most Italian recipes, this recipe is super easy. In fact, the sauce comes together in about the same time as it takes to boil the water and cook the pasta. As such, I recommend using the best ingredients possible – San Marzano tomatoes, real Parmesan cheese, fresh basil. The one place where you can “cheat” is the vodka. Any standard vodka will do just fine here – no need to reach for the top-shelf stuff. Save that for your martinis!"