by Jen Daks

I once heard someone say, nothing is more impressive than an extraordinary, ordinary person. And I love that. It takes the pressure off of all the striving and keeping up with Jones’ – or in my case the Rabinowitz’. It reminds me of the extraordinary, ordinary people I have known (all of you), who instinctively impress me far more than the gauche and glamorous and complicated. I was blessed to be raised by my grandparents who had this simple yet beautiful “extraordinariness” about them, knit into their very being. During this very difficult, unsettling and complicated time in our world, I remember them as extraordinary, ordinary people- and it grounds me.

As Autumn and the Jewish New Year begin (a time for the Jewish people to turn inward and to take an accounting of and align to our highest selves), it reminds me of how this time of year, as the natural cycle unfolds, we all have the capacity to use creativity as a catalyst to elevate our ordinary selves or something ordinary in our lives and turn it into something extraordinary – just as the leaves show their essence and beauty as they change.

What does this have to do with Eggs? To start with something tactile, I think this video of how to make a French Omelette from the very extraordinary, ordinary person Julia Child, is a wonderful example. Have a look at her kitchen – and take a deep breath and exhale – no fancy William Sonoma implements here. Watch how she takes a simple egg and turns it into a culinary treasure. And as a nod to my granny, put some warm homemade strawberry jam and a dollop of cream cheese in the middle before rolling it – a Hamish Jewish Brooklyn spin on a sweet crepe. As the weather gets cooler, I start making these for breakfast, close my eyes and think of how extraordinary my ordinary life is – and I am so grateful.

WATCH THE VIDEO: