I Love Eggs

I love eggs. Nothing makes me happier than cooking up a pan full of buttery, fluffy scrambled eggs. You can often find me hanging around the Uni kitchen, making eggs for me and my friends. This love for eggs comes from my family’s weekly Sunday brunch, where I am the designated egg-cooker. Sunday brunch is a long-standing family tradition that follows a clear routine. My dad always wakes up first on Sundays and brews a strong pot of coffee while waiting for the rest of the family, then I come downstairs and begin whisking eggs. By the time the first omelet hits the pan, my sister and stepmom will likely have shown up in the kitchen. My sister usually appears half-awake and draped in blankets, like she just rolled awake and took most of the bed with her.

The Sunday brunch menu has varied over the years, but the staples remain the same. Eggs are the star of every brunch – whether they’re scrambled, cheesy, over easy, or sunny. My personal favorite egg method is the omelet because of its endless filling possibilities. Sometimes I make classic diner omelets stuffed with leftover veggies and massive quantities of cheese, or softer French omelets with just a sprinkling of herbs. Last year my stepmom decided to try some wackier filling combinations (lemon feta, garlicky butter, and roasted chard, to name a few) but I think simpler omelets are best. I’ll usually whip up a couple omelets while my dad toasts bagels, my stepmom makes potatoes, and my sister gets the veggie bacon ready.

Aside from the eggs, I absolutely love veggie bacon on Sunday mornings. This may be a controversial opinion, but veggie bacon is objectively an excellent food because of its crispy saltiness. I used to bring veggie bacon to school on Wednesdays to eat with eggs, but my friends were shocked and even offended that I could enjoy such a food. Every time I microwaved my delicious veggie bacon, my die-hard bacon-loving friends would complain bitterly about the “dog food smell”. As a person who lives with dogs that eat dog food, I can tell you that veggie bacon and dog food have absolutely no relation to each other. But in order to avoid unnecessary conflict, I now only eat veggie bacon at home.

Back to Sunday brunch. Once all the traditional foods are ready, we sit down to eat and discuss the week ahead. Though I love the warm eggs and veggie bacon, the best part about Sunday brunch is talking with my family. We’re almost always busy during the week, and my dad is often traveling for work, so Sunday mornings are a rare opportunity to spend time with each other and catch up after a long week. Lately I’ve been thinking about what it will be like when I move away from home, and for some reason that makes me think on Sunday brunch. This small part of my family’s life might not seem significant, but I’ve come to look forward to these meals together and I’ll definitely miss them when I leave. Also, who will I cook omelets for in college? What if my roommates don’t like eggs? I guess I’ll just have to enjoy my last Sunday brunches and worry about college later. Catch me in nine months showing up at my new dorm with a dozen eggs and my trusty spatula.