Oven Baked Penne alla Vodka

Boil your pasta to al dente, drain (saving a cup of pasta water), and cool the pasta so it stops cooking. If you are adding sausage, cook in your oven safe skillet and then remove. Add the oil and butter along with the chopped shallots. After a few minutes add the garlic and about half of the red pepper flakes. After 30 seconds add the tomato paste, 1/2 the red pepper flakes, 1/2 the salt, 1/2 the pepper. Mix, then pour in the vodka and reduce. Lower the heat and pour in the heavy cream the remaining salt and pepper. Mix and start to warm through, adding in about 1/2C of pasta water (more as needed). If you made sausage add the cooked pasta and sausage here. Once everything is reworked, spread flat and cover with cheese. Broil on low for about 4 minutes until golden brown. Top with fresh basil and more red pepper flakes!