Family traditions and memories are often created in the kitchen and special family recipes can be passed down from generation to generation. Now, the makers of Smucker's jams, jellies and preserves invite families nationwide to dust off their cherished family recipes and enter them in the Smucker's Family Traditions Recipe and Essay Contest, for the chance to win a weekend in New York City and become a part of the online Smucker's Family Tree.

"Through this contest, we hope to get to the heart of family traditions and learn about the different ways families preserve their favorite recipes," said Maribeth Badertscher, communications manager, The J.M. Smucker Company. "We want to encourage families to pass down special memories and look forward to adding four lucky families and their recipes to the Smucker's Family Tree."

Whether it's the secret ingredient in grandma's cookies or the zesty glaze on grandpa's grilled chicken wings, Smucker's wide variety of jams, jellies and preserves gives home cooks the perfect opportunity to include any flavor or type in their favorite recipes - from breakfast to dessert.

To enter the Smucker's Family Traditions Recipe and Essay Contest, families are invited to submit an original family recipe that has been passed down for at least two generations and contains at least a 1/4 cup of Smucker's jams, jellies or preserves (including Low Sugar™ and Sugar Free products), along with a 100-words or less essay telling the story behind or memories associated with the recipe. Recipes and essays will be accepted from November 9, 2005 through February 18, 2006 and may be entered into one of four categories: 1) breakfast foods; 2) appetizers; 3) entrees; and 4) desserts.

Four grand prize winners - one from each category - will receive a trip for four people for 3 days/2 nights to New York City, NY in April 2006. In addition, the four families will become a part of the online Smucker's Family Tree, which includes having their recipe and essay posted on www.smuckers.com under the "With a name like Smucker's, it has to be good" Family Tree section.

The Grand Prize includes round-trip airfare for four, complimentary transportation between their home/airport and airport/hotel and hotel accommodations for four (two double occupancy rooms). Additionally, the Grand Prize winner will receive one Create Your Own Gift Basket of Smucker's products (choice of any six flavors from the Smucker's Pantry listing).

Recipes will be tested and judged on taste, creativity, ease of preparation, appearance and nutritional balance and essays will be judged on relevance to theme, creative expression and clarity by qualified judging panels.