When in Doubt, Put it on a Bagel

Image courtesy of Healthline

By ADELAIDE COPE ‘22

Hello everyone, and happy Friday! As another busy week comes to a close, I’ve realized that there’s been something missing from my day-to-day that always takes the stressful edge off: home cooking. Since I live on campus, I primarily eat Sage food, which I am grateful to have, but it doesn’t bring the same comfort something homemade would. So, I’d like to share some of the ways I make the dining hall feel a little closer to home.

First, I think it’s important to note one of my core philosophies: when in doubt, put it on a bagel. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or some math homework, the bagel method works every time. If I’m not feeling the prepared foods at breakfast, one of my favorite combos is a toasted bagel with scrambled eggs, whatever Sage is offering, a slice of American cheese, arugula if it’s there, and a drizzle of Cholula. Escaping the Sage routine by putting together my own meal comforts me, and somehow, even though all the ingredients come from the dining hall, creating something of my own is like a breath of fresh air. Or maybe a bite of fresh watermelon. Or some other, better breakfast-related analogy. I find hominess in puzzle-piecing together a meal that is greater than the sum of its parts.

I’m also a fan of spicing up a waffle, although in a much less literal way than the Cholula breakfast bagel. Allow me to set the scene: it’s 9:30 am on a Saturday, the sun obnoxiously coming in through my window has woken me up, and I’ve rolled out of bed in my moose-themed pajama bottoms practically straight into Forbes dining hall. I’m groggy, I’m hungry, and I’ve got a hankering for chocolate. Here’s what I do: I mix chocolate chips directly into the waffle batter or add some Hershey’s syrup into the mix before pouring it onto the griddle. I top it with whatever fruit looks good, some whipped cream, maple syrup, more Hershey’s, or some combination of the above. Then, I make myself a little mocha using one part coffee and three parts hot chocolate. Afterwards, I’m ready to start my day. Kicking off my weekend by preparing, to some extent, my own breakfast both grounds and comforts me.

I hope the ways I make my meals feel more homemade help you think of ways you can do the same. Taking the time to do something small for yourself -- like putting chocolate chips in your waffle or coffee in your hot chocolate -- is both rewarding and delicious. And just remember: when in doubt, put it on a bagel. •