L’OBSERVATEUR’s Holiday Cookbook has been one of our community newspaper’s most celebrated and interactive productions.

As a super recipe swap, the River Parishes’ top cookbook acts as a catch all for the region’s best chefs — professional and home-based stars — to showcase and share what they serve to those they love most.

Traditionally, we have published the section the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but readers asked us last year to push the debut date up a little bit to allow local cooks more time to incorporate the selections into their Thanksgiving plans.

This year’s cookbook is scheduled to publish Nov. 19 — the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Thank you to the many readers and advertisers who suggested such a sensible improvement.

Each year the cookbook showcases the best and tastiest local appetizer, soup, salad, entrée and dessert recipes submitted from River Region residents.

We enjoy some of the best dining in the nation in the comfort of our own kitchens, and this special edition allows us to share those meals with everyone.

Recipes can be dropped of at our office on 116 Newspaper Drive in LaPlace, just off Main Street. You can also email your recipes to stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.

Please include your name and town of residence with all submissions. Recipes must be received by Wednesday.

If available, include a brief story about the history of the recipe or a photo of the delicious finished product. For more information, call 985-652-9545.

Great meals bring us together, turning strangers into friends and friends into family.

We hope this recipe collection allows friends and strangers the opportunity to share good food and good times.