The West Coast Women's Show

This past weekend we took a leap into unknown territory when we said yes to the invitation by Winks Home Garden and Gifts to join them at the West Coast Women's Show. Winks owner, Wendy, with her capable staff set up one of the most beautiful displays of the entire show. Maybe I'm saying that because she sells beautiful things ... whereas the guy next door, selling pots, may have sold practical stuff, they just did not look as pretty. And this coming from someone who likes to cook?

Just look at those displays ... are they not beautiful and attractive? And since the reason to be there was to have a look, people just had to stop.
Sitting at the table to sign books or standing and visiting with guests, we met so many women . . . always happy to share the story of the book. And it sold. So did a lot of Winks merchandise. There was a beeline to the handbags, scarves and especially the jewelry. I must confess I did some shopping too.

On Saturday, as well as on Sunday, we took a turn on the kitchen theatre. We were honored by Chef Dez introducing us and hanging around to sample after the shows.

At our first presentation, we did up a brunch idea calling it Gathering Family for Breakfast. I did waffles . . . Judy, the vanilla custard . . . Julie (behind me) the triple berry sauce . . . Marg and Ellen, ham and egg cups. Ellen came up from Seattle for the show and she helped wherever she was needed . . .

while Lovella M.C.'d about what was going on and told our story.

The berry sauce and the milk for the custard . . . on the monitor . . .

for a while we were all watching to see if  the milk would ever come to a boil . . . while Lovella continued to talk . . . because she is good at that. Come to think of it, she is good at a lot of things.

The ham and egg cups came out of the oven

and out of the pan, beautifully . . .

and it all came together just in time. We made up tiny samples of the waffles with toppings and they disappeared quickly.

In the end we had some left-over custard with berries to taste ...

and the eggs.. which we did not serve, deciding to be on the cautious side of health concerns.

By Sunday, Ellen and Marg had left us, but Bev joined us for the Autum Soups and Scones theme on stage to make savory cheddar scones. We made a cauliflower soup (which is in the book) from scratch.

The second soup was a roasted pepper soup, made with home-roasted peppers and yams.

Again ... it was so good to see friends as well as those who had never heard of the MGCC in the audience.
I must say that the second time up there was quite fun! It is a good thing to be challenged to keep growing in this journey with sister-like friends!

By noon, on Sunday, I did not have much of a voice. Can't say it was due to too much talking . . . just so happened to come on this weekend. I went home and enjoyed the last cup of roasted pepper soup with a sliver of the scone. It was just what the doctor ordered.