Higher gas prices, but a lower dollar; smaller polar ice caps, but bigger children. The world has changed pretty dramatically in the 5 years since 2003. I'll bet your life looks pretty different than it did 5 years ago, too -- I know mine does. Back then, Solomon and Celia were only 6 and 4 years old, my first self-published cookbook (co-authored with Lisa Flaxman) was down to its last few printed copies, and I was reflecting on my next career move. I wanted a job that would do it all: keep me working from home, earn us some money, and support my passion for developing easy and healthy recipes.
The Scramble seemed like a promising idea, but I didn't have a long term plan, nor did I know anything about creating an online business (it sure would have saved me plenty of mistakes if I had!). Little did I dream that in 2008 I would still be creating recipes and newsletters each week, let alone for thousands of subscribers worldwide. I am still thrilled to spend each week sharing recipes with each of you, and am endlessly grateful for your support of The Scramble.
My storefront is a dusty computer screen; my officemates are the strong, silent (and smelly) types (though they keep my feet warm in winter and chase a mean Frisbee). Thus, I can't tell you how much it means to receive your wonderful emails, favorite family recipes, and innovative suggestions for the website and newsletter. Most of all I am touched by your stories of the difference The Scramble makes in your lives and the lives of your families. And thank you so much for driving The Scramble's success by telling your family and friends about it!
As we celebrate 5 years of The Scramble website and newsletter and our 250th menu, I want to tell you how deeply honored I am that you welcome me into your home each Wednesday morning and give my recipes a place at your dinner tables. I also want to thank the extraordinary team of people who help me run the newsletter and website, especially Jeanne Rossomme (marketing), Sheba Lux (customer service), Kathryn Spindel (editor), Lee Unangst (nutritional consultant), Robin Thieme and Rita Klein (finances), Sarah Chamberlin and Cynthia Frank (website design), and my amazing family, friends and recipe testers for their indispensable contributions to The Scramble.
Even though The Scramble's getting to be an old timer in cyber-years, I vow to stay ahead of, or at least keep up with, the latest in food and technology trends. If you haven't yet had a chance to read and contribute to the Scramblog (http://sixoclockscramble.blogspot.com/), I hope I can tempt you to visit it this week to sample my new recipe for Blended Iced Mochas (which gave Andrew and me both a brain freeze and a tasty mid-afternoon pickup the other day), and to share some secret recipes or suggestions of your own.
I hope you enjoy this week's menu, a compilation of subscribers' very favorite recipes from the past 5 years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and the top of my keyboard, and I hope, as this great adventure enters its 6th year, you will keep Scrambling right alongside me!
