The Leader Holiday Recipe Contest is alive and well but will look a tad different this year.
The contest is open to home cooks of any age throughout Jefferson County and Eureka, and like always, and five winners will receive a cash prize.
But the Leader Holiday Dinner has been put on hold for another year due to COVID -19 restrictions on the Jefferson College campus.
Since its inception in 2014, the dinner, a collaboration between the college and Leader Publications, has raised more than $15,000 for the Jefferson College Foundation, which uses the money to send students to culinary competitions across the region.
“We really hate to not have the event, but safety has to take precedence over everything else,” Leader assistant publisher Peggy Scott said. “We feel it is wiser to cancel for now and come back next time stronger than ever.”
For this year’s contest, recipes are sought in five categories: appetizers, soups, salads, side dishes and desserts.
A finalist will be selected in each category and will win $50 cash. Then, judges will choose the overall winner, who will receive an additional $50. As many recipes as space permits will be published in the Nov. 24 Leader Holiday Gift Guide Special section.
Jefferson County and Eureka residents are welcome to submit a recipe in any or all the categories, up to a maximum of five entries per reader. The deadline for submitting recipes is 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15
Recipes that are family favorites or that have a history or story attached are preferred. Recipes taken directly from websites or cooking shows do not typically score well.
Recipes may be submitted by email at news@leaderpublications.biz; by mail at P.O. Box 159, Festus, 63028; or in person at 503 N. Second in Festus.
To be eligible for the contest, entries must include the submitter’s full name, address, and contact telephone number.
For more information about the contest, call the Leader at 636-931-7560.