Penne with Shrimp and Herbed Cream Sauce

David and I decided to cook Christmas Eve dinner for the family this year. We wanted something simple but with a lot of flavor. I found a recipe by Giada De Laurentilis on the Food Network website for Penne with Shrimp and Herbed Cream Sauce. Below is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 pound penne pasta

1/4 cup olive oil

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled, and deveined

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 (15 oz) can whole tomatoes, drained, roughly chopped

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 cup white wine

1/3 cup clam juice

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup grated parmesan

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of slated water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and set aside.

2. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Cook, stirring frequently until the shrimp turns pink and is cooked thoroughly, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon remove the shrimp and set aside.

3. Add the tomatoes, 1/2 cup basil, 1/4 cup parsley, and the red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the wine, clam juice, and heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 7-8 minutes until the sauce thickens. Add 1/4 cup Parmesan, the cooked shrimp, the cooked pasta, and the remaining herbs. Toss together until all ingredients are coated.

4. Transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and serve immediately.

The meal came together very quickly and was delicious. We will definitely be making it again!

NOTE:

- You can replace the heavy whipping cream with milk to make it less fattening.

- If the sauce does not thicken you can add a teaspoon of corn starch to aid the process.