The End of an Era

 A change is comin'.

My mother.in.law, after 35+ years in the pasta and fine food industry, officially "retired" last week. 

For those of you who have visited, Pasta Gourmet has officially been sold.

Her beloved recipes have been documented from where they originally came from, her heart. These have been passed along so that her adored customers can continue to have a piece of what was. 

I hope that the new owners appreciate the history. The love that goes into creating each and every dish.

It was always evident when you visited the store. 

Rita bustling around doing her best to greet every customer that entered. 

They all knew her by name and she made every one of them feel special. 

She really did. 

I came across this article recently and wanted to share this excerpt:

So, on my way back from Newstalk 1010, I popped into the wonderfully aromatic Pasta Gourmet in the Humbertown Plaza. This is a beloved mainstay of the community and it's home to elegant italian comfort food, like soups and pastas, salads, entrees, sandwiches, and so much more, all homemade. Owner Rita Liberatore (who hails from Le Marche region of Italy) is at the helm and her motherly touch can be seen - and tasted - everywhere.

{source: here}

Today, in the spirit of motherly love, I pass along one of my favorites from the store. And home. 

You can't help but feel the love in a bowl of this goodness.

Rita's Homemade Broth

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken

2 medium onions

2 medium carrots

3 stalks of celery

1 28 oz cans of peeled tomatoes

2 chicken bouillon cubes

Salt to taste

Directions:

Fill a large pot with water, adding all ingredients and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat and cook for one hour. In the last 10 minutes of cooking time, add bouillon cubes.

Strain.

Add your favorite noodle and a good sprinkling of parmesan cheese.

I make this simple but delicious recipe weekly. This recipe will yield enough for dinner and leave lots left over for the freezer. 

Seriously amazing and it seems to magically cure any illness. 

I know Rita will be sadly missed, of that I am sure. 

It's the end of an era.

A new chapter begins for this amazing woman starting now.

Here's hoping she enjoys every new adventure!

This post is dedicated in loving memory of my husband's Aunt Pina who passed away on Saturday morning after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. She, too, was an amazing, loving woman. I will miss her. 

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