The holidays are a time for sharing meals and reflecting on the year.

To celebrate with our readers in Richmond County, the Daily Journal will launch a new online contest, Meals and Memories. This will be a special online contest open to all readers to submit their favorite recipes and photographs of their most memorable events of 2011.

The recipe contest will begin tomorrow and the photo contest will begin later in the month.

To submit a recipe, head to our website at www.yourdailyjournal.com. There you will see a ‘Contest’ category in the center of the home page. Click on the image that says ‘Holiday Recipe Contest’ and register by clicking on ‘Registration’ on the tabbed menu. Once you have registered, return to the ‘Holiday Recipe Contest’ page, login and select ‘Submit a Recipe’ from the tabbed menu.

If you have a Facebook profile, you can also registered by signing into your Facebook account on the registration page.

Recipe submission will be open until Dec. 17. Voting will begin on Dec. 18 and will end on Dec. 31.

“There are going to be lots of prizes,” said Daily Journal Publisher Rick Bacon.

The recipe contest has several categories. The ‘breakfast’ category is sponsored by Sandhills Office Systems, and the winner of the category will receive an office calculator. The ‘main course’ category is sponsored by World of Windows, Inc. and the winner will win a $75 Visa gift card. The ‘appetizers’ category is sponsored by the Daily Journal, and the winner of this category will win a $25 gift certificate. The ‘desserts’ category is sponsored by Medical Center Pharmacy, and the winner of this category will win a $75 gift certificate.

“There are two contests in one, starting with the recipe contest,” said Bacon. “There are lots of valuable prizes to win in both. We will have more information about the Memories Contest later. Submit your recipe for a chance to gain bragging rights.”

For more information on the Meals and Memories Contest, or to ask questions about submitting or registering, call the Daily Journal at 910-997-3111 or visit the Daily Journal at 105 East Washington St., off of Harrington Square in Rockingham.

— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.