Dear Readers: We’re inviting you to send us your best recipes for holiday cookies.

We’re not just looking for great recipes. We’re looking for good stories. Every recipe must include an essay – in 200 words or less – telling us the story of this cookie: where the recipe came from, how long it has been a family tradition, etc.

The contest has four categories: slice and bake, drop, chocolate and decorated. The deadline to enter is Nov. 7.

Please send your recipe, the category you are entering, the essay, name, address and phone number to aweigl@newsobserver.com with “Holiday Cookie Contest” in the subject line. Or send it by mail, postmarked by Nov. 7, to Andrea Weigl, Food Writer, The News & Observer, 215 S. McDowell St., Raleigh, N.C. 27601.

We will narrow the entries down to five per category. Volunteers will help us bake and judge the entries. We will choose a winner in each category and a grand prize winner will take home a set of CorningWare bakeware. The runners-up will each receive a cookbook.

Good luck! Look for the winning recipes in the Dec. 12 food section – just in time for holiday baking.