Not a holiday season goes by that I don't make my Grandpa's famous whiskey balls to share with my friends and co-workers, and it wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't make that batch of peppernut cookies from the recipe Carol Little and her mother shared with me during my college days.

Both recipes are time-consuming to make but are part of the season's tradition around my house. And these holiday treats are fun to share.

Surely you have some favorite cookies and Christmas treats that are passed around the table at the holidays or are baked in batches to share with neighbors and relatives.

This year the Southeast Missourian is looking for the best Christmas cookies around. The "Holiday Best" cookie contest begins today.

Area bakers are invited to share their favorite Christmas cookie recipes with our readers. Recipes must be submitted on an 8 1/2-by-11 sheet of paper, typed or legibly handwritten. Contact information with the cook's name, address and telephone number also should be included with each submission.

Entries will be accepted through 5 p.m. Dec. 5. A panel of judges, including columnists Tom Harte and Susan McClanahan, will select the winning recipes.

Semifinalists will be asked to bake their holiday treats and bring them to the Southeast Missourian offices Dec. 13 for judging. Winners will be announced the following week and the winning recipes printed in the Southeast Missourian.

Enter your favorite cookie recipes by mailing them to the Holiday Best contest c/o Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.

You can e-mail entries to features editor Laura Johnston at ljohnston@ semissourian.com. Be sure to include "Holiday Best" in the subject line.