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. bubu | April 26, 2010 at 8:40 pm
hi! I’m from solo, indonesia
do you know indonesia?
I found your blog in girlfriend magz *indonesia edition* and your blog is really inspiring.
keep bakin’ girl :)
2. Clarice | April 28, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3. Jayne | April 28, 2010 at 9:02 pm
I’m from Selangor, Malaysia. I’m Chinese and live cooking + baking. :-)
4. Heather Simons | April 29, 2010 at 7:00 am
Philadelphia, PA.
Your blog is an inspiration!
5. sugar | April 30, 2010 at 1:15 am
so yummy :) sydney aus.
6. micaela | April 30, 2010 at 9:08 am
started reading your blog in tallahassee, florida and have continued in chapel hill, nc!! love it, you have readers from literally all over the world!
7. EdibLessons | May 1, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Just found your blog today! I currently live in Lynnwood, WA, but found your blog b/c a college acquaintance follows you, and we’re from Newport News, VA! The whole Seattle thing was a big coincidence!
8. Alisa | May 2, 2010 at 3:04 pm
northern virginia, usa :)
burke, to be exact.
9. Stacey | May 3, 2010 at 4:17 am
Grenoble, France… love your blog!!
10. Jessica | May 3, 2010 at 11:09 am
Takoma Park, MD
11. Julie | May 3, 2010 at 2:13 pm
I live in Fort Worth, Texas. Love your blog!!! I have a bunch of cooking blogs bookmarked but yours is one of my new favorites. You are a very good writer, photographer and cook. Amazing and can’t imagine what all is in store for your life being that you are just now 18.
12. Maddy | May 3, 2010 at 7:22 pm
Nashville, TN
Go Music City!
I love your blog. I visit it everyday and reread my favorite posts!
13. Party | May 4, 2010 at 9:07 am
Tel Aviv, Israel! Good vibes!
14. Veronica | May 4, 2010 at 10:13 am
Aw.. you remind me of myself when I was young. I am twice your age now :-) ‘Groetjes’ from the Netherlands!
15. Carly | May 5, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Hello, Elissa
Never before have I bookmarked a particular food blog into my internet’s tool bar. That is, until I came across 17 and Baking. I keep a small, ratty, old notebook in which I write down recipes that interest me. I have atleast 50 of the recipes posted on your blog written down. It must be the combination of your lovely photography (I have a Canon Rebel XTi myself), the impeccable, beautiful wording in all of your posts, and the flat out yumminess of your baking creations that kept bringing my fingers to type in the address of your blog time after time. You’re a sort of inspiration to me I think. I’m 18 as well, and I’ve been an avid baker for years, but never before have I spent so much time in the kitchen as I have in the past few months I’ve been reading your blog.
Thankyou for your words, and your creations, and the time and care you put into 17 and Baking.
Lots of love,
Carly (from Ventura, CA)
16. chelsi | May 5, 2010 at 2:45 pm
I love your photos. I have been trying to find some food photos to put in my kitchen. Would you consider selling any? Thanks!
17. Andrea C | May 7, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Melbourne Australia, think I clicked through first from Tasty Kitchen, maybe, or blogger awards??? great job! Andrea
18. Pawadee | May 10, 2010 at 9:45 am
I’m from Phuket, Thailand but currently studying in the UK.
I absolutely love your blog
:)))
19. ace | May 10, 2010 at 9:56 pm
VANCOUVER CANADA! :)
you’re such an inspiration to me.
I love to bake and I’m trying to get into a college/uni on the east coast too!
20. Trevor | May 11, 2010 at 2:40 pm
From Canada but live in Hanoi, Vietnam. Hope you get the job and then use that experience to open your own awesome “homemade” cafe.
21. Kate | May 12, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Pittsburgh, PA!
22. Anna | May 12, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Keep up the GOOD work! You’re inspirational!
23. Anna | May 12, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Keep up the GOOD work! You’re inspirational! All the way from THE BIG APPLE…. NYC!
24. Shazi | May 13, 2010 at 7:31 am
Heya!
I’m from Birmingham, UK. I’m totally addicted to your blog, it has got me through many a lunch hour at work!
Keep up the good work Elissa, you have alot to be proud of at such a young age :o) xxx
25. Rebecca | May 14, 2010 at 10:23 am
Just found your site – in Springville Utah – and can’t wait to get baking! You’re awesome!
26. christa | May 17, 2010 at 9:02 am
i’m from your city – seattle. what a beautiful site. thanks for sharing your creativity.
27. Michael | May 17, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Hi! I really like browsing through your entries, and the way you photograph those desserts make me drool. I’m a college student from Quezon City, Philippines. :D
28. Deb | May 18, 2010 at 4:59 am
I just discovered your blog and I love reading your posts! I will definitely be trying recipes soon, as well! I’m from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
29. Louise | May 18, 2010 at 5:18 am
I am from Adelaide, Australia! Love your blog! (:
30. Tami | May 18, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Hi, I’m from Grand Rapids, Michigan and recently found you. I love reading all the back posts that I’ve missed. I have a “16 and cooking” daughter who also enjoys reading your blog. Thanks for sharing a little corner of Seattle with us.
31. Sierra. | May 21, 2010 at 11:17 am
i was reading the recipe section on girls life, because i also love cooking, & i found some of your stuff. it all sounds delicious. (:
— can’t wait to use some of your recipes! :D
sierra; eastport maine. <33
32. Pam | May 21, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Elissa! WOW!! Gorgeous! Our mouths are watering just from the pictures! They look delicious, we just know they are even more yummy to taste!! Way to go!! Love, Your Dental Office!!
33. Jennifer | May 21, 2010 at 4:46 pm
The Bluegrass: Central Kentucky, small town! I was baking from an early age too and I adore you style!
Take care,
Jennife
34. Debra | May 22, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Way down south in Alabama!!
35. Anna | May 23, 2010 at 9:07 am
Lund, Sweden : ) Fun to see where everyone else is reading from !
36. Georgia | May 24, 2010 at 4:05 am
Sydney, Australia
One word to describe 17and baking- A-FREAKIN-MAZING!
37. Olivia | May 24, 2010 at 8:49 am
Flower Mound, Texas.
And yes… we do actual have a giant mound covered in flowers.
:)
38. Lidia | May 24, 2010 at 10:28 am
Girl, you ROCK!!! You’re every mom’s dream!!! Wish you the best as you end high school and enter college. Go get em!! Greetings from Southern California!! GO LAKERS!!!
39. Camille | May 25, 2010 at 8:43 am
Muncie, IN
I tried two of your recipes this weekend, Cold War Brownies and Bacon Brownies. They were both amazing, but unfortunately I only got to eat half of a Cold War Brownie before my boyfriend dropped the whole plate on the floor… oh well. The bacon ones absolutely made my day, though!
40. Bonnie Riffle | May 25, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Your writing is amazing and very fluid. I am in awe of your maturity at age 17, now 18. The way you appreciate the details in life is not often found in someone so young. I see a little of myself in you. I have been baking since I was a child and I have always loved writing. You have a lot of talent…I am 39 years old, and you are an inspiration to me.
41. Carla | May 25, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Whitestone, NY
Love your blog, the pics make my mouth water everytime. I love to bake but haven;t doen so much lately -( i am a new mom)
Good luck in college, u are an inspiration!!
42. Mitch Smythe | May 25, 2010 at 10:15 pm
as a Cook, molded by my mothers hands, I never could bake, but I can cook just about anything & everything else.
I love your blog
43. Awalia Prihantini | May 25, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Melaka, Malaysia.
I loved your blog! I find it simplistic, and the pictures are beautiful.
44. Barb Dute | May 25, 2010 at 11:34 pm
St Petersburg , Fl
I enjoyed your descriptive writing, and your photos and recipes, are making me, so very hungry !! : )
45. Julie | May 26, 2010 at 4:20 am
Boise, Idaho, but in Pennsylvania for another month. You are an inspiration! I found you via Poires au Chocolat via Tastespotting. Many happy recipes to you!
46. Honorata | May 26, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Wroclaw, Poland.
I just found your blog about 15 minutes ago & love it. Good job.
47. Emily | May 27, 2010 at 5:32 am
Evanston, Illinois
Great blog- I’m impressed!
48. Louisa | May 27, 2010 at 7:54 pm
I’m in Ontario, Canada! And I have to say that I just stumbled upon your blog and being a fellow high school student, food lover and blogger I can so relate to this post!! I just recently started my blog, but I haven’t told anyone about it… maybe now I will.
Your post has given me a bit of confidence I never thought I would have! :)
p.s I love your blog!
49. willoughbywhimsy | May 29, 2010 at 9:35 am
Greensboro, NC
What an accomplished young lady! Bravo! You should be very proud of yourself!!
50. Katherine | May 30, 2010 at 6:04 am
Queens, New York!