Most of the time, we try to forget that we live in the gelatin capital of the nation. But the jiggly food is such a holiday tradition in the Beehive state, The Salt Lake Tribune is sponsoring an inaugural Tribune Jell-O Haiku Contest.
A haiku is a three-line poem. The first line has five syllables. The second line has seven syllables, and a third goes back to five syllables. It's short and easy to do. A Stephenson family haiku might go like this:
Red, green, white on top
Grandma's Jell-O really rocks.
Eat it all day long.
Now it's your turn to write a haiku about your family's favorite holiday Jell-O salad. Be silly, funny or - even better - sarcastic.
Send the haiku, the recipe and, if you're really ambitious, a high-resolution photo of you and the Jell-O creation. Include your first and last names and a daytime telephone number in case we have questions (numbers won't be published).
Submit as many poems as you like. Our favorites will be published on Nov. 21; cookbooks and other food swag will be awarded for the three best submissions.
Send e-mail entries tokathys@sltrib.com or snail mail to: Jell-O Haiku Contest, c/o The Salt Lake Tribune, 90 S. 400 West, #700, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 12.
