There is a common phrase, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Such a comment could be used in my return to Clanton after six years. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Over the coming weeks, you will notice some subtle changes to the newspaper — your newspaper. And, by saying ‘your newspaper,’ we need your help.

In Thursday’s edition of The Advertiser you will no longer see a weekly food page provided to us by a national service. We felt this did not provide our readers with consistently good information, and would rather use the space for news about you and your neighbors and the news that impacts your lives.

But, this is where you come in. With this column, we are calling on area cooks to provide their best recipes for us to share with thousands of others in a food page that we will create and publish once each month.

Each month, we will call on area cooks to help us with a specific holiday meal or portion of a meal. This month, for instance, we seek the best possible salad recipes.

With warmer weather coming, a cool salad, fresh potato salad, cole slaw or pasta salad is perfect alongside nearly any main course.

Now, if there is a secret family recipe that must remain secret; please keep it. We don’t want to be the cause of any family squabbles, especially when it comes to food.

Please send in your recipes to tim.reeves@clantonadvertiser.com by Friday, April 24. Please include the list of ingredients needed and full cooking or mixing instructions. Or, you can bring a copy of the recipe in to The Advertiser’s office on 7th Street in Clanton.

Features such as a monthly food page built from recipes and tips from our readers is a project that goes to reinforce our goal of creating the best possible community newspaper we can.

In the coming months, we will add other features seeking reader input. We also look everyday for feedback on what we can put into your newspaper to make it even better.

As for the recipes, my mother has a killer potato recipe that I will be adding. And, based on some of the cooking I’ve enjoyed living in Chilton County, I can’t wait to try some of the recipes provided.