Across Part of the United States

I have never really driven East when leaving Kansas City. After living in Los Angeles for five years, most of the time - I head West. But thanks to needing to pick up the car here are some pics of my adventure heading East -

Leaving early, early in the morning - (as in before 8 AM . . .)

I grew up going to St. Louis on the weekends and I still love going through. We didn't have much time as I needed to get back to DC, but we did manage to stop at the Hill. It's the Italian section of the city. There you can find the most wonderful food. My favorites? Try Amighetti's for fresh baked bread, lasagna, and sandwiches. The whole place smells like heaven.

While your there, head down the street to the Missouri Baking Company located at Edwards and Wilson. Their pastries are awesome! Shelves filled with Josephines, Napoleons, cream puffs, cannollis, biscotti, and other delicacies await you! My favorite is the Josephine - white cake, a layer of strawberry filling, a layer of cream on a heavy base and dusted with powdered sugar. This bakery has been in business since 1915 (?) and it's now being operated by the family's 4th generation. While we were there an elderly lady stopped by and said she'd worked there as a teenager during WWII. Don't forget to check out the oven mitts framed on the wall - in use from 1915 to 2007!

So many options, so little time!

Ohh yum! In back are the Josephines covered in powdered sugar, a piece of German Chocolate cake peeks out of the corner, two chocolate cream puffs sit on the right, and a sugar rose tops a Napoleon.

We also drove through the beautiful city of Louisville, Kentucky! We didn't have a chance to stop, but I'm definitely adding this city to my list of must sees! It looked beautiful!

And of course there was a small surprise for us as we reached West Virginia . . .

SNOW! Just a light dusting, but enough to remind us that winter is well on its way.