Although she has been a very good cook both at home and as a professional, Brenda Jenkins had never entered a cooking contest before winning the blue ribbon at the recent Gloucester County Fair in "A Brunch for A Bunch" classification.

Brenda said the rules called for using at least six eggs in what you entered as a brunch dish. "It sounded like fun, so I started looking around. I have lots of cookbooks, putting things together and came up with my Asparagus-Potato Brunch Bake. I was so surprised and pleased to have won. The Gloucester restaurant, where I serve as prep cook, put this dish on their weekend menu as a special. The guests really liked it."

Not only does Brenda work with the Courthouse Restaurant on Main Street, she has been the cook for the Gloucester jail for 10 years. "I prepare three meals a day for about 75 to 80 detainees. It’s an eight to five job and I have about three trusties who help me in the kitchen. The Department of Correct...