Lunch Date; Baker's Crust in Short Pump, Virginia

Last Thursday, my Boy BFF whisked me off on a day trip adventure!  I was more than ready and over the moon with excitement.  We were driving approximately two hours to our West to visit someone special, at Baker's Crust in Short Pump, Virginia.  Short Pump Town Center to be exact.  Short Pump Town Center is this most amazing concept of a huge shopping mall...it is like dining Al Fresco because everything is connected outdoors.  Go ahead and take a few minutes to look over the array of stores and dining experiences one can find while visiting Short Pump.  I know!!  It's truly an amazing place.  I heart it there whether or not there is Baker's Crust or Boy BFF Time involved.

Boy BFF was excited to take me to his new "I'm in love" place and I was equally excited to accompany him on this trip.  Our destination for the day was the incredible "Virginia's Own" Baker's Crust.  We were greeted by smiles and hellos which was really welcoming right from the get go.  It wasn't too crowded as we arrived after the lunch rush, but before the dinner crowd started to come in.  This time allowed for lingering and much enjoyment.  The smell of baking bread wafted through the venue and as soon as we were seated, one could feel their heart rate slow down.  A much needed respite with a more than loved friend.

We started the libations with this yummy little number.  Hess Select Chardonnay was a lovely beginning.  I am typically not a chardonnay drinker, but Boy BFF, who is also studying to become a Master Wine Sommelier has broadened my perspectives.  It seems as if my palate veers towards the more expensive wines.  BBFF always knows what to order for me and I always love it.  Isn't it wonderful when you have a friendship like that?

Our first course quickly arrived and despite the fact that we were both really hungry, we took our time inhaling these.  There are eight different bruschetta's available at Baker's Crust.  You can mix or match your selections, but I will warn you now, the selection process is grueling.  Pictured above is the Riesling Poached Pear and Gorgonzola with watercress finished with a house-made vinaigrette, grapes, and diced buttery walnuts...then there is Prosciutto Di Parma which features fresh sliced prosciutto, oven roasted tomatoes, fresh "made in house" mozzarella, sprinkled with basil...and finally the Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese with oven roasted tomatoes and capers.  All three choices were outstanding.  My favorite was the Riesling soaked pears...OMG, never in my life have I dreamed of such decadence.  The Smoked Salmon did not arrive as the menu stated, as it was paired with fresh parmigiana and not the stated cream cheese, but it still sailed with high praises.  Then we had another glass of Hess Chardonnay...

Baker's Crust is warm and casual with an upscale vibe, but seriously reasonably prices.  The staff is wonderfully accommodating and well trained.  I felt like I was being spoiled...it was much needed and appreciated.

For our main course, we decided to go with salads considering we just polished off three of the above bruschetta selections and still wanting to leave room for the dessert course.  C'mon now??  You know me better than that.  Home Girl has to have dessert and I will not admit to asking if we could start our foodie adventure with dessert.  Nope, not me.

Boy BFF chose this stunning tee peed salad of Skewed Shrimp and Fresh Avocado.  The artistically divine plate arrived with mixed greens, bacon, tomatoes, and toasted bread points.  Honey mustard dressing was served on the side while the shrimp and avocado were bathed with a Cayenne Aioli.  This salad was both captivating in presentation and taste.  It is one of those dishes that you never want to get full of.

While on the subject of dishes you never want to get full of...this right here...this crispy fried nugget of loveliness...yes, this one..right above you...(don't look down yet...we will not discuss dessert until you hear about this dish).  I chose the Old Fashion Warm Spinach Salad, which was plated with large amounts of fresh baby spinach, hard boiled egg slices, crispy bacon, and sliced mushrooms.  It was served with a "made that day" sweet cider and bacon dressing that should be bottled and sold.  It could be the answer to the world's financial crisis.  The crispy nugget in all it's creamy sexiness...was fried goat cheese, and let me TELL you, this shiz was mind blowing.  I have become a fan of goat cheese in various forms over the past few years, but "homie up there" sent me through the roof.  I almost had an orgasm.  I could have eaten more...I could have eaten a whole plate of these suckers.  But...

there was this waiting for me.  Yes, hold on to your hats...we had Cheesecake on a Stick.  Go ahead and hate me now, but this dessert is to the moon and back again.  Thick slices of velvety New York Style Cheesecake dipped in a coffee and mild chocolate ganache.  You pick it up and dip it into the fresh made, real whipped cream.  Yeah, the true to one's soul stuff made with heavy whipping cream and scented with vanilla bean.

You would understand why there was little in the way of conversation during this episodic moment.  I had died and gone to food heaven.  The dessert course was lovingly seated with a Badger Mountain Riesling and once again my Boy BFF knew it was the perfect pairing.  Badger Mountain Vineyards produce completely organic wine.  I was very impressed.  Now, you could have called me done and sent me on my way, but that's NOT how Boy BFF rolls...

You must try these sometime.  Say hello to Gummy Bears.  Yes, you read that correctly.  This was the perfect ending to our wonderful afternoon of love and festive food.  It was the closing act.  Sweet and tart, but smooth to the finish.  I am including the recipe here for you to enjoy...consider this my consolation gift to you should you not live near Richmond or the Southeastern side of Virginia.

White Gummy Bears
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     1/2 ounce Raspberry Vodka
     1/2 ounce Peach Schnapps
     1 ounce Sweet & Sour Mix
     1 splash Lemon Lime Soda

Shake together vodka, schnapps and sweet & sour mix with moderate ice. Pour into a martini glass, top with a splash of lemon-lime soda and serve.
~
I can honestly not begin to thank everyone involved, for the joy this day provided me.  I thank Boy BFF and his love...I commend the staff at the Baker's Crust at Short Pump for an amazing meal served with incredibly wonderful skill.  Bravo!!

I will be back.  I promise.

This is Home Girl and I love to share my favorite places with you.  Shake together vodka, schnapps and sweet&sour mix with moderate ice. Pour into a martini g

Gloomy Winter Day

I had originally planned to have this gleeful, stunning, and salivating blog post for you today, and for some reason or another, I just could not get it together.  I woke up with a sore neck, there was no coffee in the house, it's dreary and cold outside.  I had a bad case of the "blahs" and I was not in a good mood.

I then posted on Facebook that I was in a bad mood and within seconds I got a message from a friend letting me know that a mutual friend of ours had just lost her 16 year old daughter to suicide last night.

My heart literally sank and suddenly my grumpiness felt so unwarranted and immaterial.  I felt guilty for being in a bad mood.  I do have so much to be thankful for.  It could have been me that was mourning the loss of a child.

I cried...for a long while.  I hurt for this mother and the little brother she left behind to pick up the pieces of her hurting heart.  There is nothing that could make sense of it all.

I decided to take a walk with my camera.  A winter day, with it's bite in the air and the grey, sad clouds above.  It was if the day matched my mood, but as I walked around my secret garden where I go to think and reflect, I noticed that even amongst the darkest of days...the saddest of days, God provides glimpses of hope and love.  From vines bearing fruit, and the port holes of leaves that resemble hearts, I was left with a hug from Him.

He never leaves us, even when we want to turn around and walk away.

He is always there to provide us shelter from the storm.  

Deaths of Flowers 

I would if I could choose 

Age and die outwards as a tulip does; 

Not as this iris drawing in, in-coiling 

Its complex strange taut inflorescence, willing 

Itself a bud again - though all achieved is 

No more than a clenched sadness, 

The tears of gum not flowing. 

I would choose the tulips reckless way of going; 

Whose petals answer light, altering by fractions 

From closed to wide, from one through many perfections, 

Til wreched, flamboyant, strayed beyond recall, 

Like flakes of fire they piecemeal fall. 

Edith Joy Scovell 

1907-1999

 Please join me in prayer for this family and for the little girl lost, who felt she had no one to confide in...to trust with the secret that she wanted to end her life so tragically early.

This is Home Girl and I love to focus on happiness, but sometimes the sadness of a day overwhelms me.

Q and A; Let's Ask Home Girl.

I apologize, but I am posting without photos today because I am away from my computer babysitting many small children.  I stress the word many.  I will be back to my regular shenanigans tomorrow and boy, do I have some wonderfulness to share with you.  Be prepared.  As a warning I would suggest that you do NOT read my post tomorrow, unless you have eaten...and I do mean a full meal. 


It will be tortuous if you you don't take heed in my warning.  I'm serious. 


In the mean time, let's play a game. 


You get to ask Home Girl any question you want and I will answer each of them on this blog post.  I will be checking in several times throughout the day, so feel free to be nosy and I will try my best to reply. 


Of course some subjects are off limits and I don't have a problem stating that certain parts of my life will not be discussed.  This includes anything to do with my children. 


So let's begin the interrogation. 


Sorry, no questions from anonymous commenter's.  I like to play fair.  You wanna know me?  It's only fair I know who's asking. 


You ask...I answer. 


This is Home Girl and I ain't scared.


~
From Laura-Peach..."what is your NUMBER ONE most favorite thing to cook and why... and of course share the recipe :)."  


Such a tough one for me.  There are so many things I love to cook and it depends on many factors such as season, mood, time of month, and economical availability.  Forgetting any financial concerns, I love to cook Italian and more specially Northern Italian.  I adore rich cream sauces over ricotta tortellini with prosciutto and fresh peas topped with fresh parmigiano-reggiano.  I normally serve this with a hand-made Cesar salad and just baked, buttered croutons.  This is a comfort meal that is both sublime and surreal.  I would pair this with a nice bottle of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.  


Of course, I cheat with store purchased pasta, but I do make my own white sauce.  The recipe is as such:  


North Italian White Cream Sauce or Creama di Salsa Marinara
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Ingredients
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded provolone cheese
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese

• Directions

1. In a medium saucepan combine whipping cream and butter. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently until butter melts. Gradually stir in grated Parmesan cheese, grated mozzarella cheese, grated provolone cheese, and grated Romano cheese. Reduce heat to low, and continue to stir just until all cheese is melted.
2. Serve immediately, sauce will thicken upon standing.

Enjoy!! 

From April..."If you could spend one entire day with someone famous, who would it be and why? What would you spend your day together doing?"

Great question.  This is an easy one.  I would honestly want to spend the day having good ol' girl time with Hilary Clinton.  

There is no political mandate for the reason why..it's just that I have always thought of her as this stoic, take no prisoners chick, who was also incredibly intelligent and kinda cool in a dorky/nerd sorta way.  I like that in a woman.  

I get her.  Instinctually.  

We would spend the day talking over great food and then I would love to shoot photos while mirroring her the rest of the day.   

From MPM..."Can I STOP the snow??"  

Hahahaha.....ha.  Ummmm...No.  I have gotten really good at predicting it and yes, it will stop eventually...then Spring will come and you will be so grateful for the lush green and colors around you that your heart will sing the Snow King's praises.  

Just try to enjoy it while it's here.  Snow is such a miracle and it makes me feel so inadequate to know that each snow flake is special and unique.  It can be a pain, but when sitting in the heat and the humidity of late July, you may recall the beautiful snow and then won't feel so completely miserable.  

Besides if I could make it stop snowing, don't you think that I would hog it all for myself and never let it stop in Southeastern Virginia??  

Are you still thinking Bali??  

Awesome Questions....keep 'em coming!!!!  
~
From Marlene, not me...but my homie, Marlene..."Do you have naturally curly hair? :) (And if it wasn't naturally curly before - is it curly now because of watching a bunch of kids?!!!) heehee..."


No, the many, many children did not wreck havoc on my hair, although I was called a punk by a two year old.  I will admit I felted punked.  


Yes I do have naturally curly hair.  I was born with these awesome, silky brown curls.  I was a stunning child, but when I hit puberty, those lushcious tufts became a curly, frizzy mess.  Before the time of hair products (i.e. gel, Bed Head, Frizzease, good conditioner, and mousse) I kept it very short, but then I said, "What the heck" and let it grow out.  


It looks permed, but natural...I like it, but I am struggling with two things now...grey hair and well, the ease that short hair provides.  Chemicals and curly hair = bad.  


I love my hair...I hate my hair...it all depends on the day.  


If I don't condition and oil my hair daily it starts to dreadlock and well...that just puts me in a very bad mood.  


I can usually be found with a scrunchie on my hair or on my wrist.  I have a basket of "Hair Doodles" and hair jewerly.  I love to play around creatively with my hair, but then there are times I wish I was bald.  


C'mon...who's next?  Don't be chicken to ask the good stuff...