The trick to cooking with confidence is to take shots while you're making the sauce.
Have you ever heard of that Korpiklaani song, Vodka? Because that is exactly what I thought of as I realized that I have never, in my life, tried vodka sauce (despite seeing it made time and time again). The lyrics of this song are goofy and unserious as all ever, of course, but given that our theme is courage, I felt that this specific spot in the lyrics was just... on the money for those of us who can safely and responsibly consume alcohol:
Vodka, wipes away your tears
Vodka, removes your fears
Vodka, everyone is gorgeous
Vodka, yeah vodka!
It's a mess of a song. I love this band.
Obviously, if you do not drink or even touch alcohol for whatever reason, this may not be the recipe for you. There are some replacement ideas, like lemon juice or chicken broth, but we're also using this energy and association with vodka for our magical element, so it's important we get this in here. And I gotta tell you: the power of vodka (along with our other magical ingredients, the chive, garlic, and basil) will not only give you the confidence and courage to stop overthinking things and just dive in headfirst to something, but it'll also somehow make it so that you can screw up just about every step (like I did) and still end up with a delicious meal.
So let's talk about it.
Magic in Fusilli alla Vodka with Chicken
So this is one of those times where the cultural connections we pour into an item or idea really help amplify the magic of our dish. Even though spirits are often called fire water, which, in and of itself, gives off a very Mars and Pluto vibe, the cultural associations people have with strong drink—the light of mischief it brings to one's eyes, the merrymaking and social settings that let one let loose, the infamous shot one might down before their nads to do or say something that terrifies the hell out of them—it's all wrapped up in something like vodka (or gin, or tequila, or anything else), and it's absolutely an energy you can grab onto.
(Keep that in mind for all your future parties, too.)
Energetically, this is pure fire through and through, with but a touch of Mercury's communicative talents in between all that rough and tumble Mars (because keeping our foot our of our mouth while we're having a good time with friends is... critical). If you need some help getting into scary or difficult situations, as well as expressing yourself in times where you might otherwise be too intimidated to speak up, trust the element of fire and the planets Mars and Mercury to help.
Fusilli alla Vodka
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Makes 4-5 servings
Ingredients:
1 lb fusilli pasta
1.5lbs chicken (breasts or thighs)
1 pint heavy cream
1/2 cup vodka
3-4 Tbsp parmesan cheese
1/2 cup pasta water
2 cans (12oz) tomato paste
2 onions, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 small bunch fresh chives
1 small bunch fresh basil
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Chop your chicken into bite sized pieces, then put in preheated pan.
Season and cook chicken until cooked through, 3-5 minutes.
Boil a pot of water for pasta.
Chop your onions, then fry in a pot until translucent, seasoning with salt and pepper.
Add garlic and fry until fragrant.
Deglaze the pot with vodka.
When the vodka is mostly evaporated, add tomato paste.
Once tomato paste is mixed with onions, add heavy cream.
Boil your pasta and reserve a half a cup of pasta water.
Stir the mixture as it cooks for another five minutes.
Add parmesan, chopped fresh herbs, and pasta water, stirring together until smooth.
Add pasta and chicken to pot and stir to combine, then serve.
Now that I have tried this for myself, I can say... yeah. Vodka sauce? Absolutely delicious. Tangy, bright, and so very easy to throw together, I find myself wondering why I never made this before! It goes great with those firmer pastas like fusilli and penne, and chicken is a delicious protein to include with it, so definitely try it out! ♥
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Sara Raztresen is a Slovene-American writer, screenwriter, and Christian witch. Her fantasy works draw heavily on the wisdom she gathers from her own personal and spiritual experience, and her spiritual practice borrows much of the whimsy and wonder that modern society has relegated to fairy-and-folktale. Her goal is to help people regain their spiritual footing and discover God through a new (yet old) lens of mysticism.
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