Cooking, with care

Taste of Home is one of my favorite sources for practical, family-friendly recipes. They've got a project going next week that's worth looking at:

At Taste of Home, getting into the holiday spirit begins in the kitchen and continues in the community with acts of kindness. Against the backdrop of our country’s tough economic conditions, the editors at Taste of Home are declaring the second week in November National Cooks Who Care Week -- to celebrate the generosity of those who are giving back through food-related efforts.

“We know many will be struggling this season, and through National Cooks Who Care Week, we can show that it doesn’t take much to make a difference in someone else’s life,” said Taste of Home’s Editor-in-Chief Catherine Cassidy. “By focusing our attention on heartwarming charitable efforts our readers have shared with us, we hope to motivate others to bake cookies, donate canned goods or prepare and serve food to those in need.”

The 1st Annual National Cooks Who Care Week will be marked through a variety of Taste of Home avenues from Nov. 10 – 16. Tasteofhome.com will serve as the hub for the weeklong celebration, highlighting stories of people giving back and offering ideas and tips on how to get involved in a food-based volunteer effort.

Taste of Home Cooking Schools throughout the country will host canned goods drives benefiting area food banks. Taste of Home staff and field editors will engage in multiple community efforts such as serving hot meals to needy families, organizing bake sales to raise money for charities and donating to food banks.

Cooks Who Care is a pro-social effort created by Taste of Home to celebrate acts of caring by home cooks and communities across the country. Introduced as a magazine feature in October 2006, Cooks Who Care unites compassionate real people across the country, who give back through food, and shares their stories of kindness in print and on-line

By establishing the 1st Annual National Cooks Who Care Week, Taste of Home is reaching out beyond its reader base and inviting others to join in this unique outreach opportunity.