OK, so no lists this week, just really super duper giddy about the release of our Something Extra Cookbook!

If you haven’t picked yours up yet, it’s $4.99 for 75 of our best recipes and tips, with all net proceeds going to Food for Families, Raley’s organization to help feed the hungry in the communities we serve.

It was certainly a labor of love for the SE team to go through and select our favorite recipes over the last 11 or so years. We also selected some of our favorite shots, or took new photos to better match where we are today as a magazine.

I think we’ve certainly come a long way over the years – but some things haven’t changed. Still recipes with ingredients you can find at our stores. Still lots of pretty pictures. And still lots of idea that pass the sideline chef test (read: easy to do). Still ways to shave with peanut butter from Joey Green.

As excited as we’ve been here at SE HQ, I loved reading the responses of our “Extra Peeps,” the fans of Something Extra on our Facebook page (facebook.com/somethingextra). Not only have they told me – and each other – which stores had it first, they’ve already started whipping up recipes from it!

I know I talk a lot about our Facebook page in my blog, but do love getting a chance to check in with our readers and see what’s on their minds – whether it’s running potential cover ideas for a vote, seeing what recipe is thrilling them this weekend or checking out their pix of their latest creation from SE.

And..we’re already sneaking pix and covers of the next issue on the Facebook page.

I’m not sayin’. I’m just sayin’.