Published: November 02, 2009 09:15 pm      

Taste of Home cooks up ideas

Hungry for some new ideas for holiday entertaining and some new recipes to try at home, attendees at the Taste of Home Made Easy Cooking Show filled the Tamarack Conference Center in Beckley on Monday.

“I always come,” said Janie Smith of Alderson. “I love to come early and look around, not only at what the vendors have to offer, but my friends and I make a day of it. We have lunch at Tamarack and shop there and then come on down here when the doors open in the afternoon.”

Andrea Maynor of Beckley said she always learns something new at the show.

“I’ve been every year, and I’ve always learned something or found out how to do something an easier way or how to make a table setting or a prepared dish look nicer,” she said. “I look forward to it every year.”

Local sponsors for the show are The Register-Herald, Belk, Sears, Kroger and the Tamarack Conference Center.

Chuck Jessup, advertising director for The Register-Herald, said he’s pleased to see so many people come out and enjoy the shows.

“This is a high-quality show, and people know the good reputation of Taste of Home, so a lot of people come back each year, but we always have some newcomers, too,” he said. “From the feedback I get, attendees really enjoy the show, especially since it falls just before the holidays. I think they go away with a lot of good cooking tips and some new ideas.”

Vendors say the show gives them an opportunity to talk one-on-one with potential customers.

“We have come to the cooking show every year, but I thought this year would be a good time for us to participate as a vendor,” said Angie Powers of A Touch of Elegance. “The show draws a lot of prospective clients.”

Tupperware manager Marion Grant has been selling her product for 27 years. She and Beckley consultant Lisa Martin thought the cooking show would be an excellent place to show off some of the colorful and practical new changes in Tupperware.

“We have a much larger line of items from cookware to can openers and lunch boxes. We have items that everybody can use,” Grant said.

“People can’t believe we have a product in which you can bake a cake in a microwave,” Martin said. “Our containers can be taken right from the fridge to the microwave, and they last forever.”

Back for a second year, BeautiControl consultant Susan Belcher said she enjoys showing off the products to the crowds who visit the booths.

“It was awesome last year. I got so many contacts, it kept me busy all year,” she said. “People enjoy trying the products, and we give hand massages while they are in line. They have fun.”

Pampered Chef cooking consultants Brenda Webb and Linda Marrs said they hoped to meet lots of new customers. “People know this product line, and they like it. It’s fun to show them what we have that’s new,” Webb said.

“These are really good products, and people know they will always find something they like and that they can use for a long time to come,” Marrs said.

Sara Irons and Nita Johnson, consultants with Arbonne, had lots of items that have arrived just in time for the holidays.

“We have a whole Christmas line. There are lots of items that are good for Christmas gifts,” Irons said. “We also have a line of nutrition and wellness products.”

Johnson said both were surprised at the large numbers of people who attend the shows.

“It’s a very big crowd, and there are lots of opportunities to talk with people about our products. It’s fun, and it’s exciting,” she said.

National sponsors are Armour Eckrich Sausage, King Arthur Flour, Ocean Spray, Ziploc Bags and Ziploc Containers.

Today’s show begins at 3 p.m., but doors will open at 1 p.m. to allow ticket holders an opportunity to browse among the vendors’ booths.

This year’s vendors are: A Touch of Elegance; As You Like It Catering; Mary Kay Inc. (Ann Coleman); Arbonne (Sara Irons); Celebrating Home; Tastefully Simple (Leigh Ann Maddox); Pampered Chef (Amanda Slone); Tupperware (Lisa Martin); Belk; Sears; Tamarack Conference Center; Kroger; BeautiControl (Susan Belcher); Entertaining At Home (Cheryl Bates); Sam’s Club; Pampered Chef (Brenda Webb); Boresha and Taste of Home Cooks Who Care.

Ticket holders who attend the show today are reminded to bring donations of canned food and nonperishable food items for the Taste of Home Cooks Who Care program.

The food will be given to Fishes and Loaves Food Bank in Beckley to be distributed locally. Each ticket holder is asked to bring at least one food item or monetary donation. Fishes and Loaves will host a booth where these items will be accepted.

All items will be donated to the Fishes and Loaves, a food distribution center affiliated with the Church of God Family Worship Center in Beckley. The center provides food and other items for people who are in need.

— E-mail: bdavis@register-herald.com