Penne alla Vodka

4 tablespoons butter

1 medium onion finely chopped

2/3 cup vodka

¾ cup can tomato puree  

1 cup heavy cream

1/4-pound ham finely chopped

2 drops hot sauce or to taste

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper

1-pound penne pasta

¾ cup finely grated parmesan cheese

Melt butter in a deep heavy skillet over low heat, add onion and cook stirring occasionally until begins to soften about 5 minutes. Stir in vodka bring to a simmer and simmer for 4 minutes. Add tomato puree and cream simmer stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes. Add in ham, hot sauce, salt and pepper stirring well.  Keep warm over very low heat while you cook the pasta.  In a large pot cook pasta in salted, boiling water till pasta is al dente, reserve ½ cup of pasta water.  Now pasta to sauce and cheese along with some of the reserved pasta water to make a nice creamy sauce.  Heat well and serve.