TASTE HOLIDAY COOKIE CONTEST

The deadline for our seventh annual holiday cookie contest is coming up fast. You might have a winner on your hands, but you'll never know if you don't submit your recipe within the next 15 days.

Original recipes always grab our attention, but we also appreciate cookies -- from newspapers, cookbooks, magazines, websites and other sources -- that have grown into cherished holiday traditions. Just make sure your submission stands out with a formula that even the most prolific of holiday bakers will want to add to their repertoire.

Finalists will be featured in Taste on Dec. 3, and the winner will receive a $200 gift certificate from a local cooking store. All finalists will be invited to bake for the public at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis on Dec. 5.

Because we love a good story, we ask that you include a letter that explains the recipe's origins and its role in your holiday celebrations. Good luck, and good baking.

HOW TO ENTER

Along with your recipe and story, please include your name, address, daytime phone number and e-mail address. Deadline is noon Oct. 30. By mail: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488. By e-mail: taste@startribune.com.