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FIELD EDITOR NEWSLETTER MAY 2015

Field Editor News

Susan Stetzel
Field Editor Manager
Taste of Home
sue.stetzel@rd.com

Hello, fellow Field Editors!

May somehow always seems to be a crazy, busy month. We kick off with Mother's Day and finish up by celebrating the lives of those who sacrificed everything to keep us safe—with a few proms and graduations thrown in just for fun. My favorite thing about May, though, is finally being able to sit on my front porch after a long winter inside. I have a little buddy who lives next door, and the minute he sees me on the porch he starts hollering, “Roooo!”—toddler-speak for "Sue." Last summer he would toddle over and we'd sit together eating animal crackers and sipping juice. This year he's 3 and talking up a storm. I can hardly wait for the stories he has to tell me.

The back porch, though, is where the action is. Friends and family gather, and dishes overflow. From salads to casseroles to desserts, I never know what we'll get, but man oh man, it's always good eats. Kids running around and splashing in the pool, adults laughing and telling stories. Makes up for the long winter hibernation. Porch potlucks are one of the themes we plan to share with our readers in an upcoming issue, and your favorite recipe and story could be the star. What do you like to serve on the porch when guests come to call? You can share your recipes here.

NEWSFLASH! We've decided to add a private Facebook group just for you. This is just another place for us to connect to one another. Please don't consider it one more thing to do; joining is optional. We're playing with ways to keep in touch, and this is one of them. You can find the Taste of Home Field Editors page here. This is a private, exclusive group only for you—another place we can talk shop, or, better yet, kitchen!

How are you making out with your recipe submissions? I know I have three recipes all chicken-scratched up on my desk waiting for me to send them in. What's your recipe notebook look like?

Here's where we stand with last month's requests. There's still time to add your recipes:

Healthy Slow Cooker: # submissions - We really need your input on this one!

Breakfast & Brunch Contest: # submissions - Hurry on this one, May 22 is the deadline!

Cheesy Game Day Food: # submissions

Be sure to check out this month's requests, below.

Get Cookin'

Topic 1:
Healthy Avocado Mains & Snacks

Avocados are so good for you. Share your favorite recipes using these gems in salads, sandwiches or even breakfast! Pasta with avocado puree, avocado baked eggs, avocados stuffed with Southwest chicken salad? Send us your best recipes..

Submit Recipes >

Topic 2:
Spring Picnic Platters

Think about sitting at a concert in the park with a beautiful tray of fresh spring flavors to pass. Grilled vegetables, crostini with asparagus or peas, maybe fresh radish bites. Wraps filled with fresh meats and cheeses. Share your platter creations today!

Submit Recipes >

Topic 3:
Family-Friendly Recipe Contest

When the entire family makes a beeline for your house at dinnertime, you know you have a winner. Share it with us for a chance to win $500 and much love from Simple & Delicious magazine!

Submit Recipes >

Field Editor Program in Focus

On the list of things we asked you to commit to was being an active participant in the Taste of Home online community. Some time ago I started a thread in the Field Editor Forum that gives you a basic tour of the community. You can read that here.

It can be intimidating to start posting in an online community, almost like walking into a room full of strangers. Here's the thing, though: You have each other, and you have me! Once you start responding to other people's topics and poking around a bit, you make new friends. I will tell you that you might not get a lot of response the first few times you post, but be persistent and consistent. Folks will respond. We have recipe challenges, book discussions and just general chitchat. Start off by asking or responding to What's for dinner? or Does anyone have any ideas about chicken (or ground beef, or whatever's on your menu that day)? Ask what kind of dishes they use, what their favorite pan is. Anything to break the ice. Stumped for ideas? Email me and we'll come up with something fun together. Getting to know our online fans is a great way to keep in touch. If you share one of our recipes on your blog, share a link to it in Cook's Corner and tell about it. Most importantly, have some fun! Life is too short to fret. And message board regulars, let's make sure we welcome newbies to the fold!

Happy cooking, my friends!
Sue
sue.stetzel@rd.com