  PENNE ALA VODKA AND SMOKED SALMON

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  12      ounces        penne pasta
   2      tablespoons   olive oil
   1      whole         shallot -- thinly sliced
   4      whole         Roma tomatoes -- seeded and chopped*
   2/3    cup           whipping cream
          pinch         ground nutmeg
   2      tablespoons   fresh dill -- chopped
                        ***OR***
   1/2    teaspoon      dried dill weed
   1/3    cup           vodka
   6      ounces        smoked salmon -- cut into strips
                        white pepper
          sprig         fresh dill

Cook pasta and drain well. 

Heat oil in a wide frying pan over medium-low heat.  Add shallot and cook,
stirring often, until soft but not brown (about 3 minutes).  Stir in chopped
tomatoes, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.  Add cream, nutmeg, choped dill
and vodka.  Increase heat to high and bring to a full boil.  Boil for 1 minute.

Add pasta to sauce and mix lightly using 2 spoons, until pasta is well
coated.  Remove from heat, add salmon and mix lightly.

Season to taste with white pepper and garnish with dill springs.

*Note:
I sometimes dice the tender upper half of 5 or 6 asparagus and add them a minute or two after the tomato.        




