What techniques have made you a happier cook? What mistakes have you made that've led you to a better way to cook something?

Do you roast your pasta for a pleasantly nutty canvas, stockpile cooked rice in your freezer for super-quick congee, or or use sweet potatoes for frosting that's as creamy as the canned stuff? Well, spill the beans! Your recipe could win you a suite of our cookbooks and $500 to the Food52 Shop.

Click here to enter the contest.

• The deadline is Thursday at 8 PM EST for a chance to win fame and glory—and prizes.
• You can enter more than one recipe—as many as your heart desires. (To enter a recipe, you'll click "Edit Recipe" and then choose the contest name under "Submit my recipe to a contest.")
• Please jot us a note about what makes it so smart in the headnote (so we don't miss it).

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For inspiration, here are some of our recent contest winners:

Time is running out. Head here to enter!