Welcome one and all!

With the holidays literally knocking on our doors, it is time to pull out our aprons and oven mits, and get ready to play in the kitchen!

So to really kick things off with a bang, we are going to get to know everyone and as many Thanksgiving traditions as we can all at once with a recipe contest.  With Thanksgiving just 2 weeks away, what better chance could we have to send out an all call to everyone for your favorite Thanksgiving recipes and what makes them special to you!

The idea of the contest is this:

We will be opening for your competing pleasure 8 categories (to be explained in detail in a moment).  Each submission must include a clear recipe, with an optional explanation of what makes that item a favorite for you or your family (the explanation will not factor into the judging).  The deadline for submissions is November 22nd, with the winners being announced each day of the following week.  Simply email your submission to handmadeheritage@gmail.com by the deadline, or leave a comment at the end of this post.

The prizes are being hosted by The Handmade Heritage.  Each winner will receive a prize package including a handmade Magnetic Recipe Board and an array of handmade gourmet candies worth over $30.  The prize posted is for the winners of each category, though each complete recipe will be posted.  With winners will start being posted each day starting the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, that could make for a lot of recipes to choose from!  The categories and pertinent details are as follows:

Turkey: nothing is as traditionally important for Thanksgiving dinner as the turkey.  Due to time constraints, we are asking this year that all turkey recipes submitted be for a roasted turkey (no deep fried, barbequed, or smoked).

Potatoes: the fun starch found partnered next to turkey each season is an american staple throughout the year.  But there is so much more that can be done with it than to simply boil, mash, and serve!  So bring on your creativity, lets see what you can really do! 

Cranberry Relish or Sauce: one of only two items that can be said to actually enhance the flavor of a perfectly roasted turkey is the relish...yet it has been relegated to a back seat so severely that most have forgotten that it is meant to be a key for "the perfect bite".  So no canned cranberry sauce.  Let's see what will really make that turkey sing!

Gravy: I know it seems to be the simplest, easiest thing placed next to the tukey and potatoes, but there is no better way to spread the delicious taste of the turkey all around the plate.  Yet there are so many different ways to make each gravy or sauce distinctly different, so let's bring them on and explore everyone's own favorite!

Bread: Nothing makes you think of a fine cooked meal more than the aroma of freshly baked bread!  But every region of the world has their own traditional flavors, so we wanted to find out just what you do to make this tradition special for your Thanksgiving table!

Stuffing: Tradition has said that stuffing was a dish made and served along with a turkey.  But this time we wanted to make sure that it could take it's own place in the spotlight!  And for safety's sake, please don't submit this cooked inside the turkey.  I know that there are many fantastic cooks out there who do, but we want to make these available to everyone...of any ability or experience.

Side Dishes: These can include everything from a fruity waldorf, to a traditional green bean casserole to a stuffed mushroom or squash, or even simple buttered carrots.  With the wealth of options, it shouldn't be difficult to find at least one traditional favorite to submit!

Pie: Sweet, soft, crunchy, fruity, or nutty, nothing signifies the end of all the feasting like a Thanksgiving pie!  Make sure that each pie recipe submitted is a fresh pastry shell (rather than refrigerated or frozen), and please no commercially prepared fillings.

With so many options, and so many traditional gems that are enjoyed each year, we can't wait to see what everyone sends in!  So tie that apron sash, and good luck to everyone!