One of our nephews took the family out to eat tonight. Being a single young man who does not like to shop, this is his Christmas gift to his grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins. He selected an upscale Italian restaurant and ordered for all of us.

They brought three appetizers: bread with olive oil, pizza squares and stuffed mushrooms. I took one mushroom and removed the breading. Underneath was a layer of spinach, which was very tasty with the mushroom. Next came two salads. I ate a lot of salad, not knowing what else he had ordered.

I shouldn't have worried. We had spaghetti with marinara sauce, fettuccini Alfredo with broccoli, chicken Parmesan, and a grilled chicken with spinach. I passed on the spaghetti and picked several stems of broccoli out of the fettuccini. Both chicken dishes were excellent, especially the one served with spinach. At the end were two desserts, one chocolate and one apple. I chose apple.

By any culinary standards it was an excellent meal. By BTD standards, I did remarkably well. I'm not sure what kind of mushroom I ate, it might have been neutral or it might have been avoid. There was a little breading on the chicken Parmesan, and a little Alfredo sauce on the broccoli. There was wheat in the apple dessert, but I didn't eat enough to cause concern.

From one of my favorite Christmas cards: The best present of all is the presence of Jesus.