Everyone knows delicious tried and true holiday recipes have a way of bringing everything and everyone together, but how many can say their holiday recipe is w inner?

Think your favorite recipe has what it takes? Then read on for directions on how to enter the Taste of Iowa Holiday Recipe Contest!

Official Contest Rules

The Taste of Iowa Holiday Recipe Contest features two recipe categories: Appetizer or Side Dish and Dessert. Judges will select a certain number of recipes per category. One winner per category will be chosen based on the number of votes their entry receives. Voting will take place at the grand opening of the Kirkwood Culinary Kitchen at NewBo City Market and on the Kirkwood Continuing Education Facebook page (www.facebook.com/KirkwoodCE). The winner of each category will be announced on November 15, 2012.

Entries: Each recipe must include at least one Iowa-grown or Iowa-made ingredient. Each entrant may submit one recipe for each category. All entries must include:

1. Recipe name and the category (Appetizer/Side Dish or Dessert)
2. Recipe, including the list of ingredients and cooking directions
3. A description of your dish highlighting your Iowa ingredient
4. A photo of you with your prepared dish (optional)
5. Entrant name, email address and phone number

Ways to Enter:

1. Email: Submit the entry information required above to kristi.stimac@kirkwood.edu. Entries submitted by email must be received by 11:59 p.m. CT on September 30, 2012.
2. Mail: Submit the entry information required above to: Kirkwood Continuing Education,     Attn: Kristi Stimac, PO Box 2068, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406. Mail entries must be neatly written or typed and postmarked by September 30, 2012.

Eligibility: The contest is open to anyone 18 years of age or older who resides in Kirkwood Community College’s seven-county region (Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn or Washington counties).

*Prizes: One winner in each category will receive a one-night stay at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, a free Kirkwood Continuing Education culinary class of your choice, a bottle of wine from The Winery at Kirkwood (Must be 21 years of age or older to receive the wine.) and an embroidered apron.