Old family recipes are often treasured like priceless gems. But all too often, those handwritten instructions get pressed into a scrapbook and relegated to a dark corner of the attic.

Maybe we lack Great-grandma's skill in the kitchen. Perhaps we have no concept of "butter the size of a hen's egg." Or it could be that the dish is simply too plain or outdated for our more worldly palates.

That doesn't mean the recipe is no longer relevant. Some of the best contemporary cooks draw inspiration from the past to create their masterpieces.

And so, with that in mind, we introduce to you the Southern Recipe Restoration Project. We have called upon four acclaimed Atlanta chefs to breathe new life into those beloved mementos. All are eminently qualified for the task. Besides having extensive professional culinary backgrounds, they're all native Southerners whose pride in their heritage is reflected in their menus. So here is your task: Share your story about the family recipe that all your siblings dote on. Tell them which aunt bequeathed it, and how you came to love it. And if the recipe was never written down? Not a problem. Send us as many details as you or your family can remember.

Our panel of chefs will sort through them and select some for interpretation. Periodically, we'll feature those updated recipes in Food & Drink ? along with your stories. The new dish may even turn up on a restaurant's menu, along with a tribute to its creator. Our panel promises to be respectful of the past. It promises to deliver a modern adaptation suitable for a Friday night dinner party or a Sunday night supper. The chefs promise to do your aunt proud.

Submit your recipe: