Penne with Vodka Sauce

The Weight Watcher's website has come through with some very impressive, healthy and delicious recipes lately.  The only thing I would do next time with this recipe is add some grilled chicken, but other than that it was perfect!

Recipe courtesy of:  WeightWatchers.com

Ingredients:

*1 Tbsp unsalted butter
*2 medium shallot(s), minced (about 1/2 cup)
*2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
*2 Tbsp parsley, fresh, minced
*1/2 tsp sea salt, or other coarse salt
*1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
*3 Tbsp canned tomato paste
*2 oz vodka
*1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste (for cooking pasta)
*12 oz uncooked penne
*1/2 cup(s) heavy whipping cream
*20 leaves basil, fresh, cut into ribbons (chiffonade)

Directions:

*Heat a large skillet over a medium-low heat. Add butter, shallots and garlic; sauté until shallots start to caramelize, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add parsley, sea salt and pepper, stirring once or twice. Add tomato paste and mix to form a paste. Cook for about 5 minutes, moving paste around pan occasionally; add vodka. Scrap bottom of pan with a wooden spoon and cook for about 5 minutes more.

*Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.

*Add cream to tomato sauce; reduce heat to low and simmer for about 3 minutes. Add pasta to sauce and mix to coat; top with basil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

(On a side note: Squeezable tomato paste is the way to go!  I recently came across it in Publix, and never again will purchase the canned stuff!  I seem to waste so much when buying the can because I usually only need a tablespoon or two, and it lasts a long time in the fridge.)