Unnatural in my natural state

With direction from the gals at Outside Media I was pulled in front of a camera on Wednesday to shoot a few cooking demos for the website. Honestly, it wasn't the direction I ever thought I would go but the opportunity arose and everything came together smoothly, I guess it was just meant to be. I was able to use an amazing kitchen in what is my future dream home. The Seasprite Hotel in Cannon Beach, Oregon owns and operates it as a vacation rental and they were so kind to let me use it. Hilary and Kirsten from Outside Media came early on Wednesday and set up shop while I got busy getting my ingredients together.

We started with Biscuits and Gravy and ended with Salmon. I wasn't nervous before but once I was suppose to be "on" I found that I stumbled for words and it felt really unnatural. Normally, cooking and talking and being loud comes easy for me but when I need to be for a shot it was more difficult then I could ever imagine. By the end of the day it started to feel smooth and if I ever get to do this again I will be more prepared.

Stay tuned to the website for them and check out the Seasprite in Cannon Beach Oregon if you ever want to host a huge family weekend, http://www.seasprite.com/.

Bruce's Candy Kitchen

As Easter draws near I find myself spending more time in the "holiday" isle at Fred Meyer then a 29 year old woman with no children needs to. I'm not letting that stop me because I LOVE EASTER and I'm putting together and Easter basket for my husband Steve and Little does he know, he's going to wake up on Easter morning with a little something from the Easter bunny.
I have such great memories of the baskets my mother would put together for my brother and I. My mother never glorified the Easter bunny because Easter Sunday was about going to church in a new dress and hat and having a meal with the family. My mother wasn't big on giving us candy but she always made those baskets so special with silly putty, or sparkly hair clips, maybe a stuffed bunny, and something like a box of raisins.
I'm taking a little of my mother's creativity today and I'm working on filling a basket of sorts for my husband Steve. Steve has been spending most of his free time salmon fishing this Spring and I'm working on incorporating a few items he could take with him on the boat for his basket.
Just the other day I went to Bruce's Candy Kitchen in Cannon Beach to pick up a few Easter themed pieces of candy. Now, when I moved to Cannon Beach at the age of 8 Bruce's was a staple. I was in the same class as the owners granddaughter and we even got to walk there on a field trip in the second grade. Oh, I was so envious of that girl. She got to hang out at a candy store all the time and eat all the candy she wanted. Heck, my mother would can our jams with honey instead of sugar let alone let me eat a piece of candy! I mean now looking back I couldn't have eaten any better but at the time I would see other friends gnawing at large solid chocolate Easter bunnies while I sat back and ate my box of raisins, poor me.
Bruce's Candy Kitchen has just recently been renovated and it looks better then ever. Growing up and walking into that pink and white striped building was pretty cool. The sound of their wooden screen doors creaking and clanging shut, the salt water taffy machine humming in the background, the sweet smell of whatever flavor was being pulled, and the rustling of candy bags being filled will always bring a youthful smile to my face. They have everything from taffy, jelly beans, chocolates, hard candies, sour candies, suckers, gummy candies, and lots of fun non-candy items.

I walked away the other day with small dark chocolate, and a milk chocolate baby chick, some gummy worms, a few chocolate covered candied pecans, and some chocolate eggs. I had a hard time choosing but I think I have a few good items to pull together a very clever and tasty basket for Steve.

Those on the Oregon Coast looking for great candy visit http://www.brucescandy.com/.