As we enter the fall months and approach the one year anniversary of To The Last Drop- there is much ahead and much to celebrate.

Our one year anniversary will be September 16th. That day we will have special dishes for you to sample, wonderful give-a-aways and gifts and we would love to see all of you that have helped make this first year a happy and successful adventure! It is my hope that we have become a part of your life and that you have been able to share meals with friends, families and with us at your private dinners here! From the preparing of food, the sharing of meals and the fun of learning new cuisines and dishes- we have a had a year of experiences together and I thank you for that opportunity.

On November 14th, we will have our third Open House at the shop. Please join us for a day of holiday spirit as we enter the winter warmth of Thanksgiving and Christmas together. More details will follow but I hope you will make time that day between noon and 8 p.m. to stop in, stay awhile and share in the day.

In the meantime, come by and visit for lunch, dinner, tail gaiting treats, and schedule your class with us, your special dinner at the shop or an event in your home. We look forward to sharing in your lives and thank you sincerely for the opportunity to make a difference in your lives.

Looking ahead to the next year….with a huge open heart and an always open door!

Claudia

Soups:

Tuscan Tomato

Cream of Asparagus

Corn and Sweet Pepper Chowder

Chicken Wild Rice and Mushroom

Lemon Chicken

Baked and Baked Again potatoes

Sweet Potato Mash

Pork Tenderloin with Red pepper and Sundried Tomato Coulis

Caprese Salad

Signature Chicken Salad

Montalcino Pasta Salad

Sweet potato Salad

Mom’s potato Salad

Spreads, Tapenades, Salsas

Fresh baked Baguettes

Housemade Italian Breadsticks

Like many before me,  last week I took my oldest child to college for his freshman year. It was a surreal moment for me. All the anticipation and preparation were in line, I knew it was coming and had the plans all fine tuned. That being said, I was in no way prepared for the emotions I felt as I drove home alone from Georgia. I was happy for the silence in the hours of highway that lay ahead that day. I had such a wide array of emotions that it would have been impossible to have carried on a conversation or made any resemblance of sense to anyone. I did have a few short conversations with family members and friends who were going to be doing this same ritual in a week. However, the silence was needed and welcomed.

I thought about how fast life comes at us sometimes. With a turn of my head, my son was leaving home. Didn’t he just arrive on that late night in NYC? Didn’t he just cry as he walked into his kindergarten classroom only to be surpassed by my own crying as I drove home that morning? Here we were many years later in the same places and same roles. This time, however, his role changed a bit as he was more than ready to start his new adventure. Not like kindergarten where he was anxious about spreading his wings and being more than an arms length from Mom. He has been spreading those wings for some time now and they are strong and ready to face the winds of change. He is comfortable with the newness of life ahead and steady in his landings wherever they may be.

So, I drove home with a suitcase full of memories, emotions, and doing just as I did that fall day many many years ago, I cried. Pretty much on and off all the way home. I won’t be picking him up at noon today after his first day of classes and getting an icecream and a new book to read at bedtime. But I will continue to get those very special phone calls that always end with “I miss you and love you, Mom” and I will smile as I mail that first care package today. I will wait for the phone call to hear how the first week of classes went and when October finally arrives and I see him on the campus where I left him last week- I will know it is ok.

Sending off my other two high schoolers this morning brought another wave of feelings- I simply hate sharing my kids. However, it is inevitable and I think how fortunate I am to love them as I do and have that love returned. So, as they both drove away this morning, full of life ahead, I stood in the garage and gathered myself- knowing that there were more wings to be spread wide open and more goodbyes. Today though, when they get home, they will be just that- home. And I intend to soak in every monute of the next 365 days.

Claudia

Soups:

Tuscan Tomato

Italian Tortellini

Black Bean with Corn

Potato Corn Chowder

Empanadas:

Beef, potato, onion and blended cheeses served with a cilantro pesto

Chicken, black beans, corn, peppers and manchego cheese

Thai Peanut Noodles with Roasted Chicken

Pulled Pork barbeque

Assorted whole quiches

Signature baked Beans

Baked and Baked Again potatoes

Sweet Potato Salad

Tabouleh

Caprese Salad

Chicken Salad

Signature Spreads, Salsas, Olive Tapenades

Homemade Breadsticks

What ever happened to the lazy days of summer? Hard as I try….they are slipping away. Like many others, I am constantly balancing the many aspects of life and usually feel like I am falling off the highwire. Yet, the simple things are always able to bring me nback on track and be able to regain that balance.

Meals together and sharing of food, stories and laughter are one of the most precious simple things for me. Recently I gathered with all my own children, siblings, nieces, nephews, good childhood friends and we attended a Cubs Game at Wrigley and then all ate dinner out in Chicago. It was a perfect day in all its simplicity.

This morning I am fixing a big breakfast for one of my kids that just celebrated her 16th birthday and I am waiting for them to wake-up- can’t wait in fact. I love to see all their faces waiting for the pancakes, hear their chit chat about the night before, school starting, and most of the things that teenagers talk about. All in pj’s, hair everywhere, several dogs milling about waiting for food to fall and a cat or two hanging out- perfection, at least for me!

We will have a more regular week at the shop today and I hope you will stop in. It was so nice to see so many people at the Street Dance and I am sad that the rain scared a few away. We tried to stick it out to the end but also got a bit too wet! Thanks for stopping by and grabbing some dinner and snacks- sure hope you liked everything. Events like that are fun and part of the joy of being in a small town- lots familiarity and enables us to feel like we are “on track”.

Back on the high wire and to cook those pancakes. If only the balancing of time was between Cubs games and pancakes…..

Hope to see you in the shop-

Claudia

Soups:

Tuscan Tomato

Italian Tortellini

Cream of Asparagus

Corn and Summer Squash Chowder

Gazpacho

Salads:

Pasta Montalcino

Caprese

Summer Orzo Salad

Shrimp Salad

Chicken Salad

Potato Salad

Entrees

BBQue Beef with buns

Crab Cakes

Beef Tenderloin on  baguette with Boursin Cheese

Chicken Salad on Croissant

Chicken Kabob with Tzatziki Sauce and pita bread

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fresh Baguettes

Breadsticks (after wednesday)