Penne a la Vodka with a "Kick"

Decided to pull an "Aarti Party" and add some Indian spice to a traditional non-Indian dish! Love that girl!

Anyhoo... if you are tired of your everyday penne a la vodka, try this for a change! You won't go back!

Ingredients:
penne pasta - 1 package
EVOO
1 1" cinnamon stick
2 green cardamom (a good idea to use a knife and "poke" through the shell, because these pop in hot oil)
1 bay leaf
4 cloves (try to break off the head so the oil doesn't pop and get in your eyes, trust me!)
1 tsp. minced ginger
1 tsp. minced garlic
1.5 tsp. garam masala
1 tsp. red chili powder
1 tsp. coriander powder
2 cups fat-free half and half
1/2 cup vodka (don't bother using expensive vodka)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2-3 tablespoons oregano
1 tsp. salt
some tomato base: diced, crushed, paste, whatever you have!

Directions:
1. Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions. I recommend cooking it to a point where it is "almost" cooked, but not fully cooked.
2. In a saucepan, heat up ~1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil. When hot, throw in the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf.
3. Once the cinnamon stick has opened, saute the minced ginger and garlic until their "simmer" slows.
4. Add in your tomato base... here I have puree. Mix it about and let it cook until it bubbles. If you wish, feel free to remove the cardamom shell, cloves, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick at this point (because you can't eat those, remember!).
5. Add the oregano.
6. Time to add those flavors! Use your own judgment in gauging proportions... everyone has his or her own preferences. Stir in the vodka, garam masala, salt, red pepper flakes, and red chili powder until you have found the flavor you are looking for!
7. Add half and half until the color of the sauce resembles burnt orange.
^^^Those chunks are chicken... if you want to do it with chicken you should add it here! Make sure you have sauteed the chunks separately until they are "almost" cooked.^^^
8. Stir in the "almost" cooked pasta. Let the sauce come to a bubbling simmer. Taste as you go along.
9. Plate with some parmesan cheese and prepare yourself for an adventure!