Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

Hope you’re having a grand summer, filled with friends, family, fun and great food! Speaking of fun…

THE SEARCH IS ON

Remember scavenger hunts? We loved them as kids…now you can enjoy a mini hunt for Field Editors ONLY and maybe win a prize!

A Field Editor Scavenger Hunt will be held on Monday, Aug. 3 at www.tasteofhome.com. No going door-to-door to collect odd little items from your neighbors. Simply visit the private Field Editor Forum at 9 a.m. Aug. 3 and get your instructions from Erik. He will tell you what item you’ll be looking for on our Web site, along with four helpful clues throughout the day. When you find the hidden object in one of the recipe photos, send a private message (PM) to Erik with the name of the recipe. Respondents’ names will be put into a drawing, and five lucky winners will receive one of our delicious specialty cookbooks. This could be the first of many such hunts…so don’t miss out!

Remember, visit the Field Editor Forum at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3 to get in on the fun. Tally ho!

If you haven’t received access to the private Field Editor Forum, please e-mail Erik your TasteofHome.com username and he will grant you access. His e-mail is: erik_bergstrom@rd.com

SEND US YOUR FAVORITES

Food Editor Pat Schmeling is looking for recipes in the following categories for upcoming issues. If you have recipes that fit any (or all) of these categories, please send them to fieldeditors@tasteofhome.com. You may see one of them in print. Deadline is Aug. 17.

GLUTEN-FREE. Have you made adjustments to your recipes so you or a loved one can follow a gluten-free diet? We’d love to receive your home-tested favorites.

COFFEE. It’s such a wonderful flavor that we want to feature coffee as an ingredient. We’re looking for marinated meats, barbecue sauce, cakes, pies, brownies, waffles, bread, muffins, fudge or any other dish that uses coffee for flavoring.

SPRING VEGETABLES. We’re hungry for recipes that use such spring staples as peas, snow peas, asparagus, radishes, artichokes, arugula, spinach or spring mix greens.

SAUSAGE. From bratwurst to spicy Italian sausage, we’re looking for recipes that put the spotlight on this popular ingredient. Send us your family’s favorite recipes that use any type of sausage.

SPEEDY & SIMPLE. Food Editor Amy Thieding of Simple & Delicious magazine needs your help. She’s in search of 30-minute recipes for upcoming issues, including entrees (chicken, beef, turkey, seafood, pork, meatless), fresh or frozen vegetable sides, salads, fruit dishes and more. Please tag these recipes: Simple & Delicious.

TRAVEL DISCOUNTS

World Wide Country Tours, part of the Reader’s Digest family, has extended its exclusive Field Editor discount of $200 per person to the company’s entire line of tours. The tour company offers unique adventures packed with sightseeing and off-the-beaten-path experiences. Make sure you mention promotion code FE09 to receive your discount. For a full lineup of tours, visit www.countrytours.com

COOKING SCHOOL FUN

Taste of Home Cooking School will soon be contacting Field Editors to assist in its "Life Behind the Scenes at the Taste of Home Cooking School” program. Field Editors will be chosen based on their proximity to the fall Cooking School shows.  

In the morning, the Field Editor helps the Culinary Specialist cut, chop and prepare the trays for the evening school. During the evening's demonstration, the Field Editor has the opportunity to help the Culinary Specialist complete a recipe and tell the audience about the Field Editor experience. Each Field Editor gets to take home the dish she/he helped make on stage with thanks from the Cooking School.

Last year, Leann Meeds, a Field Editor from Klamath Falls, Oregon, was amazed at how much organization is needed to put on a successful show. “It was a lot of fun,” she says.
 
Interested in being contacted for this program? Send your name, city/state and a contact phone number to Editorial Assistant Jane Stasik (Jane_Stasik@rd.com) or call her at (414) 423-3194. Because the fall Cooking Schools begin in a few weeks, we need to hear from you by July 31.

Potential Taste of Home opportunity in your area

We're working with one of our business partners on a potential program that would allow our Field Editors to get more involved in their local community. The concept is simple: one afternoon you and a member of our partner's team will put on an in-store demonstration at a supermarket in your area. You'll help cook a tasty recipe that store patrons can enjoy. Naturally, we'll outfit you with Taste of Home gear so you can share your pride in your favorite cooking magazine. Training will also be provided in advance.

If this is something you'd be interested in helping with, please let us know! Drop an e-mail to Erik Bergstrom and he'll keep you posted if this project becomes a reality. You can reach Erik at erik_bergstrom@rd.com

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

Have you been recognized as a Field Editor? These ladies have. Please share your close encounters with us. Send them to: fieldeditors@tasteofhome.com.

“When I was visiting Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, where my son Lance goes to school, I went to cash a check at the bank. I gave the check to the teller, and she asked for a picture ID. I was about to get it out when a teller, two stations down, said, ‘She is who she says she is because I recognize her from her picture in Taste of Home magazine.’ It was a pleasant and unexpected surprise.” —Inge Schermerhorn, Kingston, New Hampshire

“Last month, when I was in church one Sunday, a woman I didn’t know came up to me and asked if I was ‘the Billie Moss who’s a Field Editor for Taste of Home.’ I said yes, and she said, ‘Love that magazine!’ and walked away. It caught me off guard but was fun to hear. —Billie Moss, Walnut Creek, California

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

Barbara Schuetz, Managing Editor
Erik Bergstrom, Web Community Manager