I had the joy of hosting a prom Dinner at my home this weekend. My oldest daughter celebrated her senior prom with 22 friends by having dinner and pictures here beforehand. They were joined by all of their parents and together we had a wonderful evening.

The rain could not subdue or dampen the high spirits and beautiful attire. The kids all arrived in their prom gowns and tuxes- full of nerves as well as excitement and behind them were their parents equally excited but also full of sentimental emotion. It isn’t hard to remember our own proms and that evening we all shared the same mixed emotions of loving them all so much and knowing that soon we will have to let them go a little bit more than we have ever had to before.

As the rain fell, we snapped pictures indoors of couples, best friends, beautiful smiles and a group of young adults sharing in a memory making night. Together the parents all prepared and served dinner, poured drinks and waited on them as if they were our most VIP customers. As they finished dinner and readied themselves to leave for the Prom cameras were again turned on and ready to snap another round of pictures. Seeing all of them walk down the driveway with umbrellas, some running in heels that would break my neck and others that were lucky, being carried by their gentlemanly dates, I wished silently that we could do it all again.

Having a house full of kids, their parents and sharing together in a special meal is about as close to heaven as it gets for me. There were many thanks from the kids as well as parents for us hosting the event and cooking the meal. But I will say, I was the most thankful that evening. I am thankful for the blessings that are the simplest ones. Children that have the opportunity to grow up and experience life, good friends and that have parents that love them. Parents that can share in an evening joined together simply by that love for their children and the blessing that our chidren actually want to be with us! And the sharing of food amongst old and new friends, stories that bind us and a pang in our hearts that is shared.

It was a perfect night- and for a time or two, it felt like 1978 all over again.

Soups:

chicken tortilla

chicken wild rice and mushroom

Roasted red pepper and tomato

Cream of asparagus

Entrees:

Pork tenderloin with dates, onion, pine nuts and balsamic reduction

Todd’s Macaroni and three cheese

Chicken kabobs with couscous and pita

Crab Cakes (week’s end)

Assorted whole quiches

Tabouleh

Signature Chicken salad

Curry chicken salad

Potato salad

Pasta Salad Montalcino

Carrot cake

Signature chocolate chip cookies

Soups:

Italian Tortellini

Chicken Wild Rice and Mushroom

Potato Corn Chowder

Tuscan Tomato

Entrees:

Ellie’s Lemon Chicken

Vegetarian Lentil and Brown rice with apricots, carrots and carmelized onion

Crab Cakes over mixed greens, raw corn, sweet bell peppers and black beans with lemon tarragon dressing

Pulled Pork Bbque

Pork Tenderloin with dijon mushroom sauce and wild rice

Ravioli, mushrooms, asparagus, sundried tomatoes, pine nuts with a light basil cream sauce

Stuffed shells

Chicken Salad

Caprese salad

Pasta salads

**Breakfast, Saturday, April 24    8 a.m.-11 a.m.

Baked Oatmeal with warm apple compote

Fresh fruit

Quiches- whole or by the slice

Sausage, mushroom and onion and white cheddar

Tomato basil

Lorraine

Muffins, Scones, Croissants and House granola

I have now learned that having strept throat as an adult is no piece of cake…in fact, it was absolutely miserable! I am now through that ordeal of last week and back on track, ready to cook and wanted to share some of the exciting upcoming events for you.

Saturday Breakfasts:

Our breakfasts will continue and I hope you will join us on Saturdays from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. for hot and deliciois breakfast to go. Each week we have freshly baked croissants, scones and muffins. In addition we have quiches sold whole or by the slice and our housemade granola. There is always one featured breakfast entree and this week it will be Baked french toast with Orange Marmalade syrup and our own sausage loaf. You are welcome to dine in if there is room at the table or on the front porch, or take home ready to eat for your family or house full of guests. we will continue this all summer long!

Kitchens of Zionsville Tour:

This Saturday, April 17, To The Last Drop will be on theullivan Monce Cultural Center Tour for “Kitchens of Zionsville”. Tickets may be purchased at the shop or through the Sullivan Mince Cultural Center. You can visit six kitchens in Zionsville and see what creative and beautiful ideas others have had for this special room in the house. We will be serving tastings throughout the day beginning at noon and ending at 4. Come by and see us!

Opening Day at Lions Park:

This Saturday is also opening day for the season at Lions Park. I have sponsored a team again and am so excited about being part of “The Glory”- a group of great girls who love the game!!! If you are also planning on spending a lot of time at the park, please remember that we are just up the hill and will have soups, salads and cuisine to go. You can grab some breakfast for the early games, pick up some lunch to eat at the park or stop by for dinner to go after a long day of games and carpooling! We will have what you need to fill all the tummies n your house!

Class Lists:

Our new class lists for summer June through December will be available at the shop and online May 1st! Lots of fun classes for the summer including classes for teens, a Farmers Market class on Saturday morning and the usual favorites- Thai, Sushi and Soups! Hope you will take a look, choose one, and join us for the fun and relaxing joy of cooking together.

Mothers Day/Graduations/Weddings/Showers:

We have menus and catering services for all your festivities- just call for an appointment to schedule catering. Our menus are full of wonderful and creative dishes and there is always room for your suggestions and special requests. We prefer to book at least one month in advance and weekends are getting full so please plan ahead and allow us to share in  your special event.

Open House:

We will have our annual Spring Open House on Saturday, June 12th at the shop. Please join us from 11-5 for tastings,drawings for classes, private dinners and retail items. It is a nice place to stop for awhile, see what we are offering in our summer menus and for classes and have a tasting of many of our new as well as favorite items. Hope to see you- bring a friend and join us for the day!

Closings:

Please remember that the shop will be closed from May 10-May 21 as I will be traveling to London and the Cotswold area of London. You are most welcome to call and schedule events as well as sign-up fpr classes. we will be checking email regularly as well and business will go on as ususal for those areas. The shop itself will be closed for the cuisine to go so do plan ahead and order what you will need for the weeks and we can have it ready to go and ready to freeze if you wish.

I hope you all enjoy this beautiful week ahead! I plan to do so now that I am back on my feet and able to breathe in the spring!! I hope you will stop by, see what is in the coolers, catch a game at the park on opening Day, take the Kitchen Tour or simply open the door to say hello- it is always great to see you-

Claudia

Soups:

Chicken Noodle

Italian Tortellini

Potato cheddar with leeks

Corn Chowder

Entrees:

Pulled Pork Bbque

Spicy Thai noodles with Roasted Peanut Chicken

Crab Cakes with Lemon Aioli

Lemon Chicken

Brown Rice with lentils, carrots, carmelized onion and apricots

Ravioli with asparagus, sundried tomatoes, mushrooms and fresh parmesan

Pesto Pasta Salad

Signature Chicken Salad

Caprese Salad

Brushetta

Baked goods: Cinnamon Scones, croissants, baguettes, chocolate chip cookies, breadsticks

***All menu offerings will be available after Tuesday this week as we always prepare all our food fresh and ready for you to take home!

Soups:

chicken noodle

tuscan tomato

potato leek with white cheddar

corn and sweet pepper chowder

Entrees:

Crab Cakes with waterfront sauce

To The Last Drop Meatloaf

Ellie’s lemon Chicken

Ravioli with house alfredo sauce

Emma’s Bella Pasta- penne pasta with sundried tomato, muchroom and asparagus in a balsamic reduction sauce with fresh basil

Smashed yukon gold potatoes with white cheddar

Roasted veggies

Pesto pasta Salad

Signature chicken salad

Caprese salad

Curry Chicken Salad

Pesto Pasta Salad

Breadsticks, baguettes, scones, assorted baked goods

BREAKFAST- Saturday from 8 a.m- 11 a.m.

Assorted stratas

Freshly baked croissants, scones, coffee cakes and sticky buns

House Granola

Come in and join us for breakfast at the dining room table, on our front porch or take it home with you and enjoy at your own cozy kitchen!!