Breakfast on a stick

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois - Mix one egg with other ingredients of choice. Put results on a stick. That's about all the recipe requirements involved at the Illinois State Fair's newest culinary contest, the battle to make the best breakfast on a stick.

The state's agriculture department and the American Egg Board deemed two entries worthy of first place Saturday. Beverly Cutler's sensational sunrise dippers - sausage, egg and cheese wrapped in a biscuit with a side of gravy - shared the top prize with Anthony Karas' bacon-wrapped savory buttermilk crepes.

Rachael Eden won the junior division with slightly healthier fare featuring curry, bean sprouts and snow peas in a wonton wrapper. And eggs and a stick.

The entries were judged according to taste, appearance, creativity and ease of preparation, said Karen Fraase, a marketing representative for the department of agriculture.

Among the dozens of other, more traditional food contests at the fair are competitions for best chocolate chip cookie, blueberry muffin and banana bread.

Cutler's stick dish will be distributed at the Illinois Department of Agriculture tent during the 2008 fair, while Karas' entry will be offered to local restaurants.