Thanksgiving cooking boot camp

It’s time to apply for Wishbone U., the St. Petersburg Times' annual holiday cooking class for people who haven’t had much luck preparing the big feast. We always have lots of fun . . . look at these two guys from last year! Bring your own apron!

This year’s class will take on desserts. Anybody can buy a pumpkin pie, but the oohs and aahs will really come your way when you prepare something the Pilgrims never dreamed of. The class will tackle five desserts, some traditional, some completely new.

To gain admittance, you’ll have to plead your case by sending a brief note about why you need help. We’re suckers for a sob story, especially when it involves disapproving mothers-in-law and dry turkey.

The 12 most desperate students will be selected to attend a hands-on class Oct. 19 at Apron’s Cooking School at Publix supermarket at Shoppes of Citrus Park in Tampa. Apron’s resident chef Bil Mitchell will share his expertise and recipes.

E-mail your entry to features@sptimes.com. Put THANKSGIVING in the subject line.
Deadline is Oct. 8. Nominations of bad cooks by good cooks will be accepted, but they cannot be submitted anonymously. Participants must be willing to be photographed during the class, because it’s not just their skills we want to improve. The experience — and recipes — will be shared on Tampabay.com (and in the Times' food section) in mid November. That's plenty of time to practice!

*