COOKIE CONTEST Christmas is in just 84 days, which means it's time for our 6th-annual holiday cookie contest. We love original recipes, but brand-new isn't a requirement. A well-told tale of holiday cookie-baking traditions is just as compelling as a delicious recipe you discovered in a newspaper, magazine, cookbook or website and made your own.

A word of caution: We see a lot of spritz, Candy Canes, gingerbread men, rum balls and other seasonal standards, so make your submission stand out with a cookie that even the most prolific bakers will want to add to their holiday baking repertoire. Finalists will be featured in Taste, and the winner will receive a $200 cooking store gift certificate. All finalists will be invited to demonstrate their cookie-baking prowess for the public on Dec. 6 at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis.

Along with your recipe, include a letter that explains the recipe's origin and its role in your holiday baking traditions. Good luck, and good baking.