Make My Mouth Water

Thank you for faithfully sending the magazine from the local electric cooperatives. I especially appreciate the section on recipes.

That note was written by my grandma, Vivian Holten, in her recent Christmas card to me.

My grandma is a voracious reader, so I know she enjoys the diversity of stories and features in North Dakota Living. From energy and local cooperative news to rural issues and legislative updates, she consumes it all. And, knowing no one can bake a ham or peel a hard-boiled egg better than my grandma, I figured she found the recipes interesting, too.

We hear similar sentiments often from readers (who aren’t members of my family, I promise!). Recipe Roundup is well loved. Our readership surveys validate the popularity of the magazine’s recipe section.

We’ve dug in the archives to find previously featured recipes for members who couldn’t locate their copy. Others call with recipe questions, or to share what they liked or didn’t like. In conversations with readers, when they learn I am the editor of North Dakota Living, I am never surprised to hear about “that one recipe” they make for every potluck or family gathering, which they found in this magazine. Those conversations always make me smile.

In recent years, we have pulled recipes from many sources: readers, co-op people, regional cookbooks, NDSU Extension resources, local restaurants and business owners, or individuals featured in the magazine. My favorites always accompany a story about a cooperative member. Food tastes better, to me, when it has a story to tell.

Which leads me to my plea: We want your food stories!

We are on the hunt for recipes and good food stories. Maybe a favorite restaurant is a staple in your local community, or a neighbor makes the best blueberry pie. Spill the beans. What is “that one recipe” you’re always asked to bring, because you make it best? What recipes would you like to see in North Dakota Living?

This year, we created a recipe calendar, with themes to help generate recipes and draw good food stories from our readers. Please share with us, so we can share with all of you. Simply email your recipes and ideas to ndliving@ndliving.com or call 800-234-0518 and ask for Emily, our test kitchen queen.

My sister and I played a made-up game when we were younger. We called it “Make My Mouth Water.” One of us would try to make the other’s mouth “water” by describing, in great detail, a favorite food. “Water,” in other words, meant salivating like a dog at the thought of something so tasty and delicious. It was mostly played when we were hungry. Hehe.

As I sit here on the precipice of my lunch break, I invite you, our dear readers, to send us your food stories, recipes and make my mouth water! (Thank you in advance.)

Cally Peterson is editor of North Dakota Living. She can be reached at cpeterson@ndarec.com.