Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

A big WELCOME to the new Field Editors who are receiving this newsletter for the first time. If you participate in the private Field Editor Forum at tasteofhome.com, you’ve seen posts from some of our new team members as well as posts from longtime Field Editors who are new to the boards.

If you haven’t registered and joined the forum discussions, you’re missing out! The conversation is warm and lively…just like chatting with your neighbor over a cup of coffee. So while the coffee’s brewing, get registered and have some fun! Here’s how to get started:

REGISTERED USERS: If you are already registered, send an E-mail to Bob Ottum (Bob_Ottum@rd.com) or a PM to love2cook (Bob’s on-line nickname.) He will add a Field Editor badge to your on-line “siggy” and give you access to the forum.

NOT REGISTERED: Visit www.tasteofhome.com and follow the simple step-by-step instructions. Then, contact Bob for your Field Editor badge and access to the forum. We look forward to seeing you soon on-line!

Get Involved

We know you’re busy, but don’t forget to include Taste of Home on your list of things to do. We NEED your participation! In each newsletter, we offer ways for you to play an important role, from submitting recipes for upcoming issues to sharing your cooking knowledge with the on-line community.

You can also participate through community activities, such as presenting a cooking demonstration at your local library, giving a Girl Scout troop a cooking lesson, judging a cooking contest at the county fair and so on.

Make sure to use TOH recipes in your presentations and identify yourself as a Taste of Home Field Editor. We can supply you with background about the magazine and other items to help you spread the word about Taste of Home.

Have questions? Post them in the Field Editor Forum or send an E-mail to fieldeditors@tasteofhome.com

Field Editor Fun

Alcy Thorne

Here’s how some Field Editors are spreading the word…and having a great time doing it!

• When Alcy Thorne’s potato bar idea was featured in Taste of Home (Feb/March), her bank asked Alcy to help promote a food chopper giveaway. “They made a big fuss and are using the party idea for the next bank potluck,” says Alcy from Los Molinos, CA. Thanks, Alcy!
• Crystal Jo Bruns is a TV star in Iliff, CO after doing a cooking demo on KWGN (Channel 2) in Denver. Crystal made Turkey Alfredo Pizza from the Taste of Home Comfort Food Diet cookbook. To see her video, visit www.2thedeuce.com. Great job, Crystal!

Let us know what you’re doing to promote Taste of Home in your community!

Future Food Topics

We have some terrific topics lined up for future issues of Taste of Home. Please share your best, most creative recipes (and tips) in these categories.

E-mail recipes to fieldeditors@tasteofhome.com. Remember to include your name, phone number and mailing address on each recipe along with the category name. Please put “newsletter response” on the subject line. Deadline for these topics is Friday, May 22.

• Girl Scout Cookies. How do you use up all those cookies? We’re looking for recipes and other fun ideas that use these tasty treats.
• Dutch Oven Meals. Do you rely on your Dutch oven to make easy, comforting main-dish meals? Recipes can start on the stovetop and finish in the oven…or simply be one-pot, stovetop meals.
• Almonds. Our Food Director Diane Werner recently traveled to California to learn all about these healthy nuggets. Now, we’re eager to try your recipes that use almonds—in cookies, cakes, pies, tortes, salads, meat coatings and more.
• Spices/Herbs. Share your best recipes that use black pepper and fennel (bulb and/or fronds) to add flavor.
• Christmas Cookies. We’re always looking for new and different holiday treats. Send us your tried-and-true favorites, too!

Exclusive Travel Discount

Three Taste of Home Tours are scheduled for 2009, and you are personally invited to utilize our exclusive $200 per person Field Editor discount. (Make sure you mention Promotion Code FE09 to receive your discount.)

These tours offer flavorful dates throughout the summer and early fall.

Taste of Home’s Flavor of Maine

Taste of Home’s Homecoming Weekend

Taste of Home’s Culinary Cruise

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That’s it for now! See you next month!

Best wishes,
Barbara Schuetz, Managing Editor
Bob Ottum, Web Community Manager