School, Seattle, The Northwest… The World?
October 9, 2009 at 10:40 am 1,595 comments
I think the first time it happened was near the end of April last year.
I was standing in line for lunch, feeling bored and hungry and a little irritated, when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and faced a girl I didn’t recognize, whom I’d never met before. She looked a little nervous and said, “Sorry, I just had to ask – are you the girl with the food blog? My mom and I really like your photography.”
It was such a strange feeling and such an unexpected moment, to be recognized. It didn’t feel like fame, but I had no idea how else to put it. I thanked her, gave a real smile because I was grateful and honored, and went on with my day in a much better mood. But it’s happened over and over again since then.
On Facebook, I have an album called “Food Photography.” It has around 250 comments and is “liked” by 40 people, many of whom I never talked to until they complimented me on my baking. I’ll be sitting in environmental science when someone will quietly complain, “I’m so hungry!” and give me a meaningful look. The sophomores who ride my bus smile at me and ask if I’ve made anything neat recently. And teachers stop me in the hallway to say they’ve heard about my blog, and could I please write down the address for them?
Even though I’m a senior and my high school is relatively small, I’m not well known. I have classes with the same people over and over, and I’ve never been much of a social butterfly. And I know I’ve said this before, but it’s true – when I first created 17 and Baking I didn’t tell anyone about it because I thought it was embarrassing. I didn’t think it would be cool to have a food blog. I thought people would think I was weird. So I kept it to myself and tried to hide it from the world.
I only showed it to one of my friends when I’d written about him, and I thought he would get a kick out of seeing it. To my surprise he ended up making a blog of his own (suited to his own interests) and linked to mine. Unlike me, though, he wasn’t shy about sharing, and soon many of my classmates had seen his blog – and through it, mine. (If you are interested, he has a great economics blog called the Marginalist.)
To my surprise, people didn’t think it was uncool or strange. Food is universal. Food brings people together. Because really, when it comes down to it, who can resist anything warm and fresh from the oven, whether a sweet chocolatey cookie or a soft chive-studded cream cheese biscuit?
As I began to write this post this morning, I received a message on Facebook from an old friend I haven’t talked to in four years, N-. “Hi Elissa,” she wrote. “I don’t know if I’ve told you this before, but my big sister goes to Berkeley and she loves to bake, and she likes your blog.” N- continued on to tell me that her sister decided to have a bake off with her new roommates. One of them suggested a certain cookie recipe from “this blog… seventeen something…” to which N-‘s sister (whom I’ve never met) exclaimed, “That’s Elissa!”
It was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever heard, to have spread not only through school and the food blogging world but to college students in California simply having a bake-off. It lifts me off my feet and makes the sun shine out of my heart. Thank you for reading my blog – thank you, thank you, thank you!
Normally I wouldn’t, but I’ve got to ask – if you’re reading this, please leave a comment! Whether it’s your first time visiting or I’m welcoming you back, I’d really appreciate it if you left your location. I’m just curious to know where my readers are. I’ll start… Seattle, WA!
I don’t often opt for savory over sweet, but breakfast is one of those things where I crave salt over sugar. I’d had my eye on these Chive Biscuits for a while when I decided to make them. Part of the appeal was the inclusion of buttermilk and cream cheese. More than anything, that made me think of soft, flaky, and savory biscuits. They didn’t get as tall as I expected, but with chives from our own backyard and a squiggle of clover honey, they felt like home.
Cream Cheese and Chive Biscuits
From Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook
Makes 12 biscuits
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh chives
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces
4 ounces cream cheese, cold, cut into small pieces
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugar, and chives. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter and cream cheese until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with a few larger clumps remaining.
Pour in the buttermilk; using a fork, mix in buttermilk until incorporated and the dough just comes together. The dough will be slightly sticky; do not overmix.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. With floured fingers, gently knead about four times, until all the crumbs are incorporated and the dough is smooth. With a lightly floured rolling pin, gently roll the dough to a 8-b-11-inch rectangle, about 1 inch thick. Using a bench scraper or long offset spatula to lift the ends of the dough, fold the rectangle into thirds (like a business letter). Give the dough a quarter turn. Roll out the dough again (to the same dimensions), and repeat the folding process. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Return the dough to the work surface. Roll out as before, and repeat the folding process. Give the dough another quarter turn; roll out dough one more time, again into a rectangle about 1 inch thick. Using a sharp knife, divide the rectangle into 12 equal squares or rectangles. Place on prepared sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Bake, rotating the sheet halfway through, until the biscuits are golden and flecked with brown spots, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer the biscuits to a wire rack to cool.
Printer Friendly Version – Cream Cheese and Chive Biscuits
Entry filed under: Breakfast/Brunch. Tags: breakfast, chives, cream cheese, herbs, savory.
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17 and Baking 
1. Carina | January 26, 2010 at 9:33 am
Love your blog. Found it a couple of weeks ago, and now I’m totally in love. I visit your blog several times every day.
Greetings from Gothenburg, Sweden
2. Nicole | January 26, 2010 at 9:34 am
La Crosse, Wisconsin. Your blog is adorable :)
3. April | January 26, 2010 at 10:14 am
Monroe, Washington State
Thanks for the sweet blog!
4. Caroline | January 26, 2010 at 10:36 am
I have to tell you that I am absolutely in love with your blog. All of your pictures and recipes look beautiful.
I’m 14 and unfortunately I’m not a very advanced cook, but I love to do it and I’m learning so much from reading your posts.
I have tried quite a few of your recipes, and while mine never seem to look as perfect as yours, they do taste incredible.
Oh, and I’m from Aberdeen, Scotland.
5. Sara | January 26, 2010 at 2:03 pm
I´m 18 and I love to bake; have been doing it since I was 12 or so, and I just found you at Joy the Baker, and decided to place a comment on this post since you mentioned in one of your most recent posts… Everything I´ve read so far from your blog is really nice… I specially like this post… I´ve been thinking about writing my own blog for a very long time now, but I´ve had the very same fears that you talked about here… so, congratulations and good luck!
Sara, Guatemala
6. tiff | January 26, 2010 at 2:05 pm
so much talent! hope you get a car soon.
vancouver, bc.
7. Laura | January 26, 2010 at 2:08 pm
hi there!!! im from Buenos Aires, Argentina :)
just discovered your blog when i went to vote for the bloggies awards… and now i LOVE it!
keep it up!!!!
xo!!!
Laura.
8. Katie Callaway | January 26, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Just stumbled upon your blog from Joy the Baker! I so enjoy your writing, as it just oozes love of food and baking! Keep up the good work and good luck in College-take time to enjoy it- it’s the most exciting time of your life!
9. Katie Callaway | January 26, 2010 at 2:11 pm
OH, and I’m in Salt Lake City, Utah… :)
10. Lexi | January 26, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
All of your creations looks divine! You are one very talented lady & you’re going to go so far!
Keep it up!! ^_^
11. Erica | January 26, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Hello! Commenting from Los Angeles, CA. Just wanted to say that both your photography and recipes look phenomenal! I can’t wait to try making some of your creations.
12. Lindsay | January 26, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Brookline, MA
13. Charles | January 26, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Saint Louis, Missouri. And what a cool idea!
14. Anna | January 26, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Right now I’m in college in NYC. From Austin though, and before that Krasnoyarsk Russia (it’s in the southern part of Siberia).
You seem so sweet and your recipes and pictures look great. Can’t wait to go through your blog and start making stuff!
15. Katy | January 26, 2010 at 9:26 pm
I’m from Gorham, NH. But I currently go to school in Rindge, NH. Although I’m hoping it’ll be Providence, RI again soon! :)
16. Su Bermingham | January 27, 2010 at 8:26 am
Palo Alto, CA
My brother in law, Mike Oliveira, directed me to your blog. He claims he’s responsible for your suberb writing skills, but I know better than that.
Your blog is wonderful and terrific, your writing far superior to many of the editors that I work with (shh, don’t tell them I said that) – I publish branded cookbooks for a living. I publish all of KitchenAid’s cookbooks (including the Use and Care Guide that you received with your stand mixer), so if you are in need of more inspiration and cookbooks, drop me a line, I’m happy to send.
Cheers and Happy Baking!
17. Katy | January 27, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I just happened to read the posts about school size. And to me, your school would be huge! There are only about 300 kids in my entire school (that’s 6th-12th grade, by the way) and my graduating class had 48…
18. Lindsay | January 27, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Great work on the baking, photography, and blogging!
I’m from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
19. Alexis June | January 27, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Hi! I’m from Toledo, Ohio. I stumbled upon your blog somehow and am enamored. I love baking as well but didn’t start making homemade items until recently. I love your photos and your writing is equal or better to articles I read in some more prominent Food Mags. Happy Baking!! =)
AJ
20. Rima Aue | January 27, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Singapore
One word… Awesome!
21. Charlotte | January 27, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Hello from San Diego, CA! :)
22. Sarah | January 27, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Medford, MA!
23. Jan | January 28, 2010 at 7:13 am
Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada
I just found you through Joy the Baker, and I am so looking forward to strolling around your archives!
24. Lynne Frappier | January 28, 2010 at 10:37 am
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
I heart your blog! You are so adorable… it reads well, your photos are amazing and you make me giggle. thanks for being such fun to “cyber visit”. Joy the Baker introduced me to you… and I’ve added you to my blog so that others get to meet you too.
Thanks!
25. putingtikbalang | January 28, 2010 at 10:54 am
I saw your blog on the list of the 2010 Bloggies, and with some encouragement from Joy The Baker, here I am.
I’m a reader from The Philippines. I work in bustling Quezon City, but rest my head in rurban Cainta, Rizal.
I love your writing — how simple, honest, and earnest it is. No frills. No big words. There’s a good heart that beats in that chest, and your love translates beautifully in your words as it does in your baking. Keep true to yourself, no matter how you age with each day.
Oh my, you have great, great days coming for you. Yes, you do. :)
26. Jenn | January 28, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Hi there! I came across your blog this afternoon while voting for How About Orange in the 2010 Bloggies – what a beautiful blog you have! Your writing is articulate and sincere, and your photos are gorgeous! It is blogs like yours through which I live my photography and writing dreams vicariously!
Coming to you from a very cold and blustery Hamilton, Ontario.
27. Jaime | January 28, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Santa Cruz, CA (but was born in Seattle!)
28. denise fletcher | January 29, 2010 at 2:13 am
Hi : )
Stumbled on your blog and had to tell you what a lovely blog this is. You write beautifully and the photos are something else! Can’t wait to try your recipes. I voted for you – hope you win!
29. Carolyn | January 29, 2010 at 12:53 pm
This is a beautiful blog. I live in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
30. Kimberly | January 29, 2010 at 2:14 pm
home is saratoga, ca but for now home is ithaca, ny.
my friend ashwin linked me to your blog asking me to vote & i love it! I don’t have as much time as i would like to bake in college but I can’t wait to try your recipes when I get the chance :)
keep sharing your talent for writing and baking with the world – i hope you win the contest!b
31. Grace | January 29, 2010 at 9:31 pm
I love 17 and baking!
It’s such an awesome combo of writing, photography, and baking: three of my favorite things!
And by the way I live in Idaho
32. shelly | January 30, 2010 at 1:36 am
just outside of Jerusalem, Givat Yearim to be specific, in the Yehuda mountains, Israel.
this is my first time leaving a comment on a blog, though i read and follow quite a few.
something about your innocence, both in your writing and in your perspective, is refreshing and endearing and i was hooked from the first time, and the lovely lovely buttercream flowers didn’t hurt either.
your dad’s comment up top brought tears to my eyes, you’re a lucky lucky girl.
you’re gonna do anything you want in this life, count on it.
33. betchacanteatjustone | January 30, 2010 at 8:49 am
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
34. Jordan | January 30, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Annapolis, Maryland!
35. Evelyn | January 30, 2010 at 8:16 pm
From Calgary, Alberta, Canada (that’s above Montana, for you Americans, but we’re pretty much like the Canadian Denver, CO). Great photos, great work. So impressed with all of you young bloggers out there! You are so much better than this old gal…(okay, so I’m turning 26, but you know…).
36. April | January 31, 2010 at 12:26 am
Hi! I just discovered your blog and I think you are so amazing! Keep it up…you have a bright future ahead of you! Your photography is beautiful…I can’t wait to try out some of the recipes you’ve posted. I visited Vashon Island, WA this past summer, so I got to see Seattle for the first time. It’s a beautiful city! I live in Austin, Texas!
37. Ruthie | January 31, 2010 at 7:36 am
Found your blog through Joy the Baker – it’s great! Your writing is what makes it truly outstanding. So many people can make food and take pictures, but so few actually have something (interesting) to say.
-A college student in Middlebury, Vermont!
38. YADIRAMAMA29 | January 31, 2010 at 1:30 pm
I LOVE YOUR BLOG.
MCALLEN,TEXAS
39. Rhys | January 31, 2010 at 1:52 pm
South Wales, UK.
I really love your blog. Like you I am “17 and baking” and there really is something special about being known as the one who makes the cakes among friends. I bake mostly using the “Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook” (with my own variations) which has some pretty standard American recipes but considering the lack of a cupcake culture in the UK it’s definitely a baking bible to me. I wish you all the luck in your future and I can already see that yours is a bright one. x
40. EmLue | January 31, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Your blog is awesome – I found it through the 2010 Weblog Awards and was totally thrilled. Unlike you, I am “Nearly 15 and Baking”, but your posts draw me in and I’ve been able to relate to a lot of things you talk about – unlike some of the “adult” food blogs I read, where I often find myself wondering, “Will my Friday nights ever be like theirs?” I often have to stop myself from scrolling through pages of recipes, wasting time that I meant to spend baking. Best of luck, from (oh yeah – this is what I came here to post) Minnesota. :)
41. nina | February 1, 2010 at 12:37 am
hi :) i’m new to here, but i think i’d visit regulary :)
i’m form Krakow in Poland. Yeah that far :)
42. Rachel O. | February 2, 2010 at 7:51 am
Excellent work. Keep it up!
Ephraim, WI (Door County)
43. MacKenzie | February 2, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Seattle, WA! (Greenwood Neighborhood)
Thanks for the great Seattle representation in the blog world.
44. Amber | February 2, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Eugene, OR :)
45. Rhoda | February 2, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Amazing! Pursue your passions and be an unstoppable force. Maybe I can dine in one of your restaurants someday! From Vancouver, BC
46. Sara M | February 3, 2010 at 1:50 am
I’m reading you from Uganda! Although it’s a bit of a cheat as I’m a Peace Corps volunteer. Otherwise back in the states it would be Kansas. But I discovered your blog over here in UG, so I’m claiming Uganda…for now :)
47. Stacy | February 3, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Chicago here. Love the blog, wish I was articulate as you are at 17!
48. Aislinn | February 3, 2010 at 7:04 pm
From Berkeley, CA! I find your blog quite inspirational :]
49. sparky514 | February 3, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Singapore :)
Youre a pretty kickass 17 year old. Rock on, darling.
50. Kirsten | February 4, 2010 at 7:03 am
I’m from the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada.
Great blog!