Happy 6th Birthday Little A!

Jim and I picked up Little A's birthday cake from Cold Stone--Peanut Butter Playground. They were nice enough to write "Happy Birthday Little A" on the side of the cake. The cake was Devil's Food with chocolate ganache and Reese's peanut butter and chocolate ice cream. There were Reese's peanut butter cup wedges garnishing the cake as well. Yum-o.



I haven't been over to Jim's parents' house for dinner for a while. They had corned beef and the typical accompanying veggies. I ate bread. I had already eaten, so it wasn't a big deal. Jim's dad, who does 95% of the cooking, always does his best to accommodate my vegetarianism. He doesn't always "get" it, but he's never been anything less than incredibly thoughtful. I know it's hard for diehard carnivores to understand a diet free of meat, so I definitely don't expect gourmet vegetarian meals.

Anyway, the cake was delicious. Cold Stone cakes are some of the best ice cream cakes ever. In fact, they may be better than their ice cream, just because the cake breaks up some of the richness of the ice cream. Then I can appreciate the yumminess of the cake even more. We got a call from Sister J, who has discovered that the closest Cold Stone to her in Tennessee is 160 miles away. It may even be out of state. Crazy, huh? I know I take for granted all of the great chains we have out here in California, as do most of us Californians. In fact, I do turn my nose up at a lot of the chains, simply because I've got the attitude that they're "everywhere."

Olive Garden is one of those examples. I hate going to Olive Garden just because I feel so strongly that there a hundred better Italian restaurants in the Bay Area alone that aren't chains. That's not to say that I don't enjoy their salad and breadsticks. I love the salad dressing there, and there's something about those scat breadsticks that remind me of my childhood when they were actually good. Plus their portobello ravioli are amazing. My best friend M and I have had some great times there. But even in Vallejo I could rattle off several other Italian restaurants whose food I'd rather have any day of the week. However, if I was in Tennessee, I'd probably live for a place like Olive Garden.

Earlier in the day, I went to a Party Lite party at A's house. I haven't been over there yet and it's so cute! Cute isn't the right word. It's a big house and very, very nice. And I got to see her son A, who has gotten so big, it's insane. She was sweet enough to get me non-alcoholic wine, but it was some of the nastiest stuff I've ever tried, so I couldn't finish my glass. On the other hand, her salsa was macking. I have to have that recipe.