Food

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. It’s the only day I don’t have to set my alarm, though, between the two dogs, my whole family is up by 8. All of my homework is finished and responsibilities dealt with by Saturday afternoon, leaving me with a day off. I don’t even have to run. But my favorite part about Sundays is my family’s morning tradition: breakfast.

By 8:30, my parents are back from their Sunday run. By 8:45, the kitchen has erupted into organized chaos. I check the chicken coop for eggs and dash back inside to start whisking them in a giant glass bowl. My brother is slicing Saturday’s everything bagels and methodically toasting them to each person's specifications (I like mine almost burnt, while my brother enjoys his slightly warm). In the meantime, my youngest brother harvests oranges from the tree outback and starts on the orange juice. My dad makes pancakes, while my mom turns leftovers into a delicious addition. From mushrooms in a scramble to mashed potato patties to diced meat, we always have something fun and unique to add to the spread. Sometimes we play music, usually 80s pop, as we clean the dishes as we finish
Breakfast is served at 9:30. We dish heaps of scrambled eggs and pancakes, bacon and bagels, and sliced fruit onto our plates, and pour fresh-brewed coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice into various cups. The music turns off, and we pass around different segments of the Sunday paper, with the comic and sporting sections being the most coveted pages. No phones, no distractions, just a delightful meal. By 10, we clean up together, and the kitchen is spotless by 10:15. Then it’s off to whatever activities we have for the day. 
Sunday breakfasts bring my family together. My dad regularly travels for his job, oftentimes he’s gone two weeks out of a month, and having this special time as a family is what keeps us working together. Between me and my two brothers, our sporting schedules and various activities keep my family incredibly busy. Breakfast is where we can laugh and share in the gratification of making food for each other. It’s impossible to feel anything but love. 


Comments

  1. fmcmahonNovember 13, 2019 at 8:27 PM

    You really brought the reader into your kitchen with this piece, Sara. I think you did an excellent job doing a deep dive into your meal and then taking your reader back out and summing up why it's so important and relevant to you. I think if you wanted to add one more thing to your writing, you could talk about the smells in your kitchen such as your almost burnt toast.

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  2. Shreya GargNovember 13, 2019 at 9:59 PM

    This tradition is so heartening! I love that your family takes a moment every week to be together and enjoy a free Sunday morning. Your connection to how this event is a way for you all to break away from the normal rush of your lives was very impactful and relatable. To tie it all together, maybe you could add what this activity means to you on a deeper level at the end. I really loved your writing!

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  3. Srija PonnaNovember 13, 2019 at 10:08 PM

    I really liked the way you organized the blog chronologically, by separating the different phases of breakfast using specific times. I also think you did a really good job of explaining why these Sunday breakfasts are so meaningful to you. One recommendation I have is describing the taste of the actual meal itself, but other than that, I love the imagery your details create!

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  4. Amelia GleixnerNovember 14, 2019 at 7:43 AM

    This is really descriptive and I think you did a really good job making the reader feel like they are in the kitchen with your family. The imagery is great. One recommendation would be adding another of the senses, like smell or taste, to make the imagery even deeper. Overall great job though.

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