Today we got out of work at 12:30. I love days at work where a holiday is coming up and you just know that that day is it for awhile.

We had a Secret Santa gift exchange also.

I really didn’t want to go. I really just wanted to get off early and go home. Yet, I had to go because I already “RSVP” to the tattle tale lady who I had also bought a gift for.

I was dreading this also because I am so shy and get nervous in situations like that.

So we were meeting at this restuarant Maggianos.

You know it was really, really nice! Not even miserable a little bit!!!

There were 5 different tables in a room that was all decorated and pretty.

The food was absolutely AMAZING! AMAZING! Every single thing we ate was so freaking delicious and I don’t think I’ve eaten food that was THAT good, well EVER.

Here’s what we had…and it was all family style.

APPETIZERS

Crispy Zucchini Fritte
Strips of zucchini hand battered and fried, served with a zesty lemon aioli cream sauce.

The lemon aioli cream sauce was to die for!!! The zucchini was in super long strips and fried to where it was light and crispy.

Mushroom Ravioli al Forno
Ravioli stuffed with mushrooms, marsala wine, parmesan cheese and baked with alfredo sauce until golden brown.

Fabulous! Ravioli stuffed with the most amazing mushrooms!

DINNER

Angel Hair, Coach Joey Z’s Pomodoro Sauce
Angel hair pasta served with a chunky plum tomato sauce with roasted garlic, white wine and fresh basil.

This was tasty! I love angel hair!

Lasagna, Our Special Recipe, Meat or Marinara Sauce
Whipped ricotta cheese layered with pasta sheets, crumbled meatballs, Italian sausage and marinara sauce. Topped with provolone cheese and your choice of our meat or marinara sauce.

I’m not a huge fan of lasagna unless I make it, but this was very good!!!

Chicken Scaloppine, Marsala Style
Chicken breasts sautéed with marsala wine, veal sauce, mushrooms, onions and basil.

This was amazing!!! Loved it!

Salmon, Lemon & Herbs
Filet of Salmon sauteed with fresh herbs and spinach; served with a light lemon sauce.

Oh my god!!! The salmon was the best thing EVER! It was so delicious!

Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Potatoes mashed to perfection with heavy cream and roasted garlic.

These weren’t all that great. They weren’t bad, but they weren’t creamy enough. More like if you squeezed the inside of a french fry out into a bowl and added garlic.

Fresh Asparagus
Asparagus sauteed with garlic and olive oil.

This wasn’t cooked enough for my tastes. They were a ittle to crunchy for me.

DESSERT

Tiramisu
Ladyfinger cookies soaked in espresso and coffee liquer layered with mascarpone cheese;dusted with cocoa powder and served with chocolate

I am not a huge tiramisu fan. I would never order it for myself but don’t mind a few bites, but this tiramisu was absolutely amazing. I would order this one if they I didn’t try this…

Apple Crostada, Caramel Sauce
Warm apple filling of Granny Smith apples, sugar, butter, nutmeg, cinnamon, baked in a pastry crust dipped in cream and crystallized suar. Served with caramel sauce and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Garnished with mint.

Literally the most amazing dessert I’ve ever had! The crystallized sugar was crunchy and the filling with the ice cream. Orgasmic!

Then we also had cesear salad and a garden salad both good!

I have to go back there again sometime!

Then they raffled off the center pieces which were a pretty flower arrangement. I won one of them!

Then we all got gift cards to Vons. I got $50! That was nice, since I’ve only been there for 3 months.

Then we did the gift exchange. I got tattle tale lady this… with her name engraved on it. Although they did a shitty job engraving her name on it and it wasn’t centered and was really small. I was irritated at that, but I just picked it up last night and couldn’t really do anything about it. She seemed to really like it, and all the women at my table were like  “Oh pick me next year!” HaHa! 

So then I got my gift, and let me be totally ungrateful for a second.

After we picked names for the secret santa, I got an email from the girl that had everyone pick names. She said my secret santa wanted to know what I liked/wanted. So I made a little list of things the could get me that I would like.

I put on my list:

• The Notebook DVD
• The Family Stone DVD
• Bath & Body Works Country Apple lotion and spray.
• A gift card to Michael’s & Joann’s.
• A gift card to Outback Steak House

Simple no?

So, I got a gift set of Au Lait Bath stuff and lotions. I think it totally smells BAD! It’s a smell that I wouldn’t wear because like the Cotton spray from bath and body works that I used a couple weeks ago would drive me insane, and not in a good way. It kinda has that same scent to be honest with you.

So, I was a little bummed. I mean I gave you a list of very specific things. Spelled out for you all well within the budget of $20-25 like we were to spend. I mean just stop by Michael’s and get me a gift card for $20 and I would have been stoked.

I guess because if I would have gotten that list I would have gotten something on the list knowing that is what the person would want and would use and enjoy. Or if I was going to totally stray I would have gotten something else that was more thoughtout and not something that smells, because who knows if that person would like that. Hence the reason I gave a scent for the bath & body works…and didn’t just say whatever lotion/spray at bath & body works.

Oh well. I thought I was safe, but apparently I wasn’t. Now the kids have some stinky bath stuff & lotion.

Okay enough being ungrateful. It was a totally pleasant end of the day though.

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