The winners will be announced a bit differently this year for the 18th annual Star Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest, without the grand tasting of the five finalists at the Star Tribune building. Instead, please join Lee Svitak Dean and Rick Nelson as they discuss via Zoom the cookies that made the finals and, of course, their cookie book, which contains many of the contest winners over almost two decades. Free. Register at StarTribune.com/StribLive. (Pictured here, Espresso-Hazelnut Truffle Cookies, a 2014 finalist.)

Marcus Samuelsson chats with Lee about his new book,"The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food."

Co-authors Rick Nelson and Lee Svitak Dean Join Lee and Rick, co-authors of "The Great Minnesota Cookbook," at the Mall of America's Rotunda for the 20th anniversary of the Star Tribune's cookie contest. The first 15 years of the contest are featured in the cookbook. There will be music and loads of cookies (the winners from this year) -- and Lee and Rick. And look for the 5 featured finalists in the Dec. 1 Taste section of the Star Tribune.

Lee talks cookies and more with Lakselaget, the women's group focused on contemporary Norwegian issues and all things Norwegian. There will be special attention to the 20th anniversary of the Star Tribune cookie contest. Members only.

Former Star Tribune food editor Lee Svitak Dean chats with the Eagan group, the New Sociables, about her 40 years in food writing. Members only.

Lee talks about her unexpected path to food writing and her long tenure at the Star Tribune. For members of Senior Adults Learning Together.

Lee and co-author Rick Nelson will be at the Duluth DECC holiday celebration -- and, of course, will have their cookbook for sale! Come by and tell us about your favorite Christmas cookie. We love stories!

Lee will speak about her unexpected path to food writing and her four decades with the Star Tribune.. She was the editor of the Taste section for 26 of those years. She will be speaking to the Bloomington Federated Women's Club.

Join Lee and Rick Nelson, co-authors of "The Great Minnesota Cookie Book" and the forthcoming "The Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book" on Saturday as we celebrate the harvest AND cookies at the Farm at the Arb event all morning. Lee and Rick speak at 11 a.m. in the kitchen with chef Beth Fisher at the Farm, and there will be cookies to sample from "The Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book." Plus many harvesting events at the Farm: sugar beets, corn and potatoes. Flower arranging and storytelling and much more also take place.

Lee Svitak Dean and Rick Nelson will be at the Twin Cities Book Festival on Saturday, Oct. 19, from noon-12:30 to chat with visitors. Come see us at the University of Minnesota Press booth! Our new book will be featured: "The Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book." The free festival takes place in and around the Progress Center at the fairgrounds.

Lee and Rick will be chatting with Angela Davis on MPR from 9- to 10 a.m. Nov. 26, with a call-in for listeners. The topic is cookies and cookie traditions (of course it is!).

Lee and Rick will talk cookies on Fox 9 "Good Day" on Nov. 14, sometime during the 10 a.m. hour.

We are headed for television with Belinda Jensen on Kare11 on Nov. 2. We will be talking holiday cookies, of course, and our new cookie book. Time TBD.

Lee talks cookies on KSTP's "Minnesota Live" and demos a recipe on Nov. 4. Which it will be? Tune in and find out. The segment will be on sometime between 9-10 a.m.

Lee and Rick talk cookies on WCCO-TV (CBS, Channel 4) about 9:35 on Monday, Nov. 11.