On Thanksgiving Eve it's been my tradition to offer up thanks to everyone who's shared a recipe with me during the year, by paying it forward. In other words, I return the favor but by passing on the good intentions to someone else down the line.

If that's too obscure, here's what actually happens: Make a $5 donation to the Star-Bulletin's Good Neighbor Fund and I'll send you copies of the best five recipes that have run in this space in 2008. Your donation will go to help families in need.

That's paying it forward (the opposite of paying back), which I've learned (from Wikipedia) was an idea originated by Benjamin Franklin, and given its name by Robert Heinlein in his 1951 novel “;Between Planets.”; In case you were wondering.

Make checks to the Good Neighbor Fund and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Send it to “;By Request,”; Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813. You can't order by e-mail or phone, and if you only want one of the five, sorry, there's no discount. Deadline is Dec. 31.

THE TOP 5

Jean's Bakery Danish Tea Cake: If you remember Jean's Bakery in Kailua (it closed in 1972), the maple flavor of baker George Abe's tea cake probably survives in your tastebuds. Jean Sumimoto, for whom Abe named the bakery in 1950, dug up her father's recipe and retested it several times before sharing it. She even brought me a cake, and it was fabulous.

Stewart's Pharmacy Orange Bread: Another blast from the past, this quick bread was a favorite served with coffee at Stewart's Pharmacy in Waikiki in the '60s. After making it myself I can see why. It's a soft, pretty bread that uses only 1/2 tablespoon butter per loaf, making it low in fat. I've since tried adapting the recipe with lemons; that variation will be included for those who order these recipes.

Muriel's Manju: This one, from veteran cookbook author Muriel Miura, for a flaky manju dough that rivals anything you can buy ready-made. It ran in this column in a recipe for Sweet Potato Manju, but the Good Neighbor recipes will include some alternate fillings as well.

Coca-Cola Turkey: From chef Shane Masutani of the Alley Restaurant at Aiea Bowl. This recipe has been incorporated into my regular dinner rotation, although I make it with chicken, which is generally more available. It's easy, the flavor's great, the meat's tender and my family is quite enamored of it. By the way, it consists of grilled strips of turkey, not a whole turkey marinated in Coke, which is an intriguing concept, but just imagine the effort that would take.

Lemon Tofu Pie: My problem with tofu pies has always been that they taste like tofu. Somewhere, lingering in the background is that soy-beany flavor that just doesn't work in a dessert. This recipe obliterates that problem. I put it out on the office food table, where it fooled everyone. In fact, many were appalled that I had “;tricked”; them into eating such a thing. But they had to allow it was good. And a lot better for them.

  To recap: Send me $5; I'll send you these recipes. Feel free to include a larger donation. I'll pass it on, but tell me how many copies of the recipes you want. Your cash goes to the Community Clearinghouse, which uses it to give local families a little holiday happiness. Pay it forward.