Do friends gush over your holiday gifts of homemade flavored oils or pasta sauce? If so, we want you to enter The Sun's first Gifts from the Kitchen contest.

We're looking for distinctive gifts (think meat rubs, syrups, cakes, sauces), and tips on the best way to package them.

Send your recipes to Kate Shatzkin, Food Editor, The Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278, fax them to 410-783- 2519 or e-mail them to food@baltsun.com with "Gifts from the Kitchen" in the subject line.

Please include your name, address and phone number so we can contact you. The deadline is Nov. 7. Our picks will be published in early December.