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Southern Living, Jun 2004 by Floyd, John Alex Jr

Dear Friend,

I don't know of a better dessert than the Mississippi Mud Cake that my wife, Pam, makes. Whether she makes it from a brownie mix or from scratch, it's just plain delicious. (And guess what? I'm not even that much of a chocolate lover.) So when the Foods staff asked for my favorite sheet cake, I immediately sent this one to the Test Kitchens for consideration. It's also a recipe with an important history to me. We got it from a member of our church when our congregation celebrated its 125th anniversary several years ago. Pam, along with many other church members, was asked to make this cake for the celebration. The recipe appears on page 143. I bet you have a favorite recipe with a fond memory like this one; if you do, send it to our recipe contest, and let our Test Kitchens professionals see if it qualifies to be one of the finalists. Remember, the last day to submit your recipes is june 16. see the instructions on page 155, or visit southernliving.com for details (AOL Keyword: Southern Living).

Everyone in our neighborhood knows that the Floyd household has more than two boys. We are the proud owners of three dogs: Andrew and Callie (West Highland white terriers) and Bradley (a springer spaniel). Dianne Young, our Executive Editor in charge of the "Healthy Living" section, has two dogs herself-Jessie (a yellow Lab) and The Dude (a black chow). Not to be outdone, Associate Foods Editor Joy Zacharia owns three catsCaviar, Sushi, and Nubs (breeds unknown)-and Associate Foods Editor Shannon Satterwhite has two cats-Cooper (a Maine coon) and Slinky (a black-and-white shorthair). all of these folks provided plenty of inspiration and information for Sara Jones as she wrote her story "The Dog (and Cat) Days of Summer" for this month's special section. The article reminds you how to keep your animals safe and healthy so they can enjoy the season with you. The story is on page 76; the special section starts on page 67.

Also, because of her two dogs, no one is more qualified than Dianne Young to write about the good works of Hand-in-Paw, a nonprofit organization focused on animal-assisted activity and therapy. Her story, "Puppy Love," starts on page 102. It's sure to touch all of us who love our pets. So whether you're more interested in Mississippi Mud Cake or in finding better ways to care for your dog or cat, I hope this issue helps you enjoy this first month of summer.

Best regards,

John Alex Floyd, Jr., Editor

John Alex Floyd, Jr., Editor