"Love Me" Some Italian Food!!!

"MI PIACE IL CIBO ITALIANO!!"

There's a really quaint restaurant in Greensboro I've had the pleasure eating at several times!  My oldest daughter introduced me to it several months ago.  I enjoy Italian food and she took us to Vito's Italian Restaurant (http://www.restaurant.com/rdc/vitos-italian-restaurant-greensboro-italian-rid=368338?&rpid=3670 or http://afoodysquest.blogspot.com/2010/09/vitos-italian-restaurant-greensboro-nc.html) and I must say the food is really good and the atmosphere is great.  If you're ever in Greensboro, NC, you need to check it out!

Now my oldest daughter makes friends with everyone... so it was no surprise she had made friends with the owners and if there's a dish she wants that's not on the menu...the owners will make it for her!!  (Nope...they won't do this for anyone else!!)  They are really great people and oh, so nice!!!  (They even made my son-in-law a special cannoli to use in his marriage proposal to Bree...how cool is that!!)

We were there not too long ago...we try, as a family, to get together weekly and catch up on what's going on with each other.  It's something we've been doing for several years now... especially since the girls are grown and on their own.  While we were at Vito's, there was a dish she really wanted but they couldn't make it because they didn't have one of the ingredients that night. So she had to choose a runner-up!! She was soooo disappointed! :(  (But let me tell you all the dishes are delicious and the homemade bread is to die for!!)

Anyway, I was checking my emails; lo and behold...a recipe came up and reminded me of her and our latest visit to Vito's, so I decided to post it for her.  I haven't tried it yet because I'll have to get one of the ingredients and that means a trip to the ABC store!!  Now that should be an interesting trip....I haven't been to an ABC store in more years than I care to remember.  lol 

Anyway, here you go Bree...it isn't exactly what you wanted at Vito's but it does have that missing ingredient!!!

Buon appetito, Bree!

Fabulous Penne a La Vodka        

From Food.com (5 *****)

Ingredients

o        1 tablespoon olive oil

o        1 onions, chopped

o        1 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes

o        1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

o        6 -8 fresh basil leaves, chopped or 1/8 teaspoon dried basil leaves

o        1 teaspoon salt

o        1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

o        8 tablespoons butter, divided

o        12 ounces fresh white mushrooms, quartered, about 3 cups

o        1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes ( to taste)

o        1/2 cup vodka

o        3 cups heavy cream

o        1 tablespoon kosher salt

o        1 1/2 lbs rigatoni pasta or 1 1/2 lbs penne

o        1/4 cup dry Parmesan cheese, plus additional for the table

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan; when hot, saute the onions until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes to the saucepan.
2. Stir in the oregano, basil, salt and pepper and simmer 1 hour to concentrate flavors.
3. While the sauce is cooking, heat 4 T of the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Saute the mushrooms and hot pepper flakes until the mushrooms are golden.
4. Carefully add the vodka and simmer for 5 minutes to cook off the alcohol.
5. Add the heavy cream and bring to a simmer; pour the cream mixture into the tomato puree; stir to mix. Keep the sauce warm while cooking the pasta.
6. Add the kosher salt to 6 quarts of water. Bring to a rolling boil. Add pasta to boiling water; cook uncovered until pasta is al dente, about 12 minutes. Drain well.
7. Melt the remaining 4 T of butter in a large skillet. Stir in pasta to glaze, then add Parmesan cheese and mix thoroughly. Stir in 1/3 or the sauce and mix with the pasta; divide among plates. Top each plate with some additional sauce; pass remaining sauce and additional cheese at the table.