Oh Yes It’s Ladies Night

Tonight I met up with four of my favorite girlfriends for a belated birthday dinner at Season’s 52. (You may read about a couple of my previous meals at Season’s 52 here and here.)

I know I’ve professed my love for this restaurant before, but just in case any of you are new to the blog, Season’s 52 is a restaurant that uses fresh, seasonal ingredients to make the most delicious entrees, all for under 475 calories.

At around 7 p.m., my girlfriends and I met up at my apartment and headed out!

We arrived and were seated immediately in a booth. I love booth seating. I really don’t like sitting in chairs at restaurants. Booths just feel cozier!

Luckily, we got a big ol’ booth for the five of us.

Laurel, Cherayne & Me

Merri & Kaitlyn

We took a while to order because we were too busy chattin’!

Eventually we made up our minds and told our waitress what we wanted.

Guess what I got???

Scallops!

The scallops!

Judging by your comments, I figured my selection would make the majority of you guys happy since that particular dish seemed to call out to you, too!

The scallops were perfectly caramelized on the outside, but soft and flavorful on the inside. The pearl pasta and asparagus were the perfect sides.

I ate every single bite off my plate (except the lemon).

Dessert

You can’t go to Season’s 52 without ordering dessert!

They have the coolest single-size desserts, called mini-indulgences and brought out a big tower of them for us to choose from.

Dessert Tower

 One even had candles in it for me to blow out!

Make a Wish

After I made a wish, I picked the strawberry shortcake indulgence for one reason, and one reason only… whipped cream!

Season's 52 Strawberry Shortcake Mini Indulgence

It was great, but I could’ve used about 10x the amount of whipped cream. 😉

Once we licked our mini indulgences clean (literally), I opened my present from the ladies… a spa gift certificate and a candle that smells like heaven! They did such a great job and are such thoughtful ladies. I love my friends!

Now I’m at home cuddlin’ on the couch with Ryan and Sadie.

I sure wish it was Friday night already!

Cookie Stacks

Well, we made it. We’re safetly in St. Pete and are about to embark on a wedding-filled weekend!

Smilin' in St. Pete

But first, let’s back up to last night, which was full of deliciousness!

When we first arrived home, we hung out a bit waiting for my dad to get off work. My sister and I even had enough time to run out to T.J. Maxx where she succumbed to the trend and bought her first  running skirt (so cute!) and I found a nice pair of light blue Nike running shorts for $13. Score!

Once we arrived back home, it was dinn-ah time.

The Spread

For dinner we enjoyed lasagna, scallops with almonds and grapes, baked fish and veggies in a light butter sauce.

My Plate

I went back for seconds of everything but the scallops (but only because they were gone!).

As always, my favorite part of the meal was dessert.

My mom made one of my all-time favorite desserts and everyone overindulged as if we’d never have dessert again!

Chocolate Wafer Cookie Stacks

She made a ton of cookie stacks using Famous Chocolate Wafer Cookies and homemade whipped cream.

I had four stacks. Yes, I am a champ!

The First of Four

This dessert is always such a hit!

Whipped Cream and Chocolate Wafer Cookie Stacks

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

20 chocolate wafers

Directions:

In medium bowl, whip cream, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer until stiff. Place a daub of whipped cream on each cookie, and stack in groups of 4 or 5. Chill in refrigerator 15 minutes.  Cover and chill 3 hours before serving.

Guest List

As you know, our wedding guest list will be finalized this weekend. Eek!

I loved all of your comments and advice regarding wedding guest lists. You guys are awesome!!! Thank you to the amazing Donna, who emailed me with this fabulous diagram to help with guest list decisions.

Who To Invite!?

How cool is that!?

Today’s Plans

After breakfast, my dad, sister and I are taking a spinning class together before the weekend madness sets in!

We have two wedding-related appointments, including:

• Appointment at the Vinoy to meet with the catering manager
• Appointment at 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House (possible location of our rehearsal dinner) to discuss pricing

Annnnd, I’m off!

A Can of Whoop Ass

Since I opened up a can of whoop ass chickpeas to include in my lunch today, I wanted to use the little guys in my dinner, too.

Side note: Who remembers the “open up a can of whoop ass” days? According to UrbanDictionary.com the saying is “one of the most over used and lamest of all sayings. Bears little meaning anymore. In the same outdated category as terms ‘don’t go there’ and ‘talk to the hand.'”

I also enjoyed this definition of a can of whoop ass: “Something Chuck Norris never has to open because he makes his own.”

 

Chuck Norris

Those Chuck Norris “facts” entertain me for days. Some favorites include:

• Chuck Norris can divide by zero.
• Chuck Norris can touch MC Hammer.
• It takes Chuck Norris 20 minutes to watch 60 Minutes.
• Chuck Norris can win a game of Connect Four in three moves.
• Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

Feel free to share your favorite Chuck Norris “facts.” 😀

Okay, I think I got a little off track there… a can of whoop ass and Chuck Norris will do that to ya, I guess.

Dinner

Dinner tonight incorporated the aforementioned chickpeas into a pasta bowl.

Chickpeas!

Along with Carba Nada egg fettuccine noodles, I added scallops, yellow squash, spinach, chickpeas, marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese to my noodle-y meal.

Pasta + Scallops

Sizzlin' Veggies

Marinara Sauce

Parmesan Cheese, Please!

To me, pasta is one of the most satisfying meals in the universe.

Monday Night Dinner

Free Fresco Taco

As you may have heard, Taco Bell recently launched a Drive-Thru Diet ad campaign, featuring one woman who lost 54 pounds while eating select Taco Bell menu items.

The Drive-Thru Diet contains seven menu items with 340 calories or less.

Taco Bell's Fresco Taco

As part of the campaign, Taco Bell is offering a free fresco taco! Click here to read my latest Examiner article about the Drive-Thru diet and receive your free taco. Yum!