I f it's October, it must be time for the Good Food Hour Recipe Contest, now in its 22nd year on KSRO 1350-AM, with Steve Garner and chef John Ash. This year, they're throwing home cooks a slight hook. The main stipulated ingredient? Peanuts.

Urging contestants to think beyond those ubiquitous cookies marked on top with fork tines, Ash suggests considering traditional African recipes that utiltize this life-saving legume, Asian twists (you can do better than Pad Thai) and Latin American takes on the peanut. Cocktail recipes are naturally welcomed.

Original recipes are due soon—next Wednesday, Oct. 29—and can be faxed to 707.571.1097; emailed to [email protected]; or posted to KSRO Recipe Contest, PO Box 2158, Santa Rosa, CA 95405. Four finalists will be chosen and subjected, this is the tricky part, to a live "taste-off" on Nov. 1 before Garner, Ash and a panel of judges.

Send a letter to the editor about this story.