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. Karyn | July 12, 2010 at 7:50 am
Hi from Orrington, Maine!
My daughter & I love your blog.
2. Nancy | July 12, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Compton, Callifornia =)
3. Kelly R | July 13, 2010 at 11:47 am
Waukesha, Wisconsin!
4. Hannah | July 13, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Hillsboro, Illinois.
Its a little tiny town.
i love reading your blog. you’re a huge inspiration for me, since i’m 14 (going to be a sophomore in high school), and have a passion for food, cooking, and photography. its nice to have a well-written blog to read by someone only a few years older then i am. thank you!
5. Amy | July 13, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Hello from Denver, Colorado. I’m bookmarking the July 4 flag cake!
6. Rose | July 13, 2010 at 7:00 pm
NYC
7. Hannah | July 14, 2010 at 8:18 am
Merrill, WI
I just discovered your blog, and as I’m 17 and on a baking binge this summer it was only appropriate I add your site to my favorites. :)
8. Sonia | July 14, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Wow, I love reading your blog.
You’re a talented writer, don’t stop. :)
9. Sara | July 17, 2010 at 4:35 am
Dublin, Ireland
Hi, Your blog is sensational, you should be so proud- the recipes a relovely and the photos really beautiful. Your checkerboard cookies are on my to-bake list. I’ve been blogging about cooking and baking for about two months and your blog is a wonderful role model!
10. Garrett | July 17, 2010 at 6:47 am
Hi, I stumbled across your blog and I love it! I can’t get enough of your incredible recipes and pictures. In all seriousness, this site is fantastic. I’m 18 as well and I’m as obsessed as you are with cooking and photography :) and I’m from Boston!! Thanks for posting and keep up the good work.
11. alana | July 18, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Curitiba/Brazil
Great blog!! Very good writing and amazing pictures….
12. Mel | July 19, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Wooster, Ohio
13. outsideoslo | July 19, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Seattle (specifically Ballard)
14. Martha | July 20, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Melbourne, Australia. A friend made a version of your rainbow cake for her daughter’s birthday (it was a huge hit!) and sent me your link. Love your writing. Good luck at college, I’m hoping you manage to keep baking and posting periodically.
15. Jaime | July 22, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Corona California!
16. Madeline | July 23, 2010 at 4:24 am
Been reading for awhile and really enjoying! Keep it up!
Originally from Minneapolis, MN but now living in Nottingham, UK.
17. Rachel | July 24, 2010 at 1:03 am
Tel Aviv, Israel.
Beautiful blog and delicious recipes!
18. Leslie | July 24, 2010 at 10:02 am
Wow! From WV
19. Kristy Dunnigan | July 26, 2010 at 8:45 am
Farmington Hills, MI USA
20. Lynsie | July 27, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Highland, Utah
21. Georgina | July 29, 2010 at 5:54 am
Singapore!
And I have to say, yours is one of the nicest, most engaging food blogs I’ve come across.
Looking forward to the next post =)
22. Salena | July 29, 2010 at 10:06 am
Memphis, TN
23. Kelli | July 29, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Port Washington, WI !
I love your blog. It is one of my favorites :)
24. Joanne | July 29, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Cambridge, MA! Originally from San Jose, CA
25. Gina | July 30, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Christchurch, New Zealand
Just stumbled across your blog. Looking to do some baking today and needed some inspiration. You have given me loads! Not sure what I will bake first!!
Thanks!!
26. cherubskiss | July 31, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Brisbane Australia!!
Love your baking!
27. Michelle | July 31, 2010 at 10:15 pm
love your blog! just found it yesterday and made your banana bread last night ~ loved it, and can’t wait to try many more!! keep it up!
vancouver, canada
28. Bibi | August 1, 2010 at 1:28 am
Just found your blog and can’t stop reading it: you are an inspiration!
From the Netherlands
29. Shannon | August 1, 2010 at 3:10 am
Metro Detroit Area of Michigan!
30. selina | August 1, 2010 at 11:28 am
Leicester, UK soon to be Bergen, Norway :)
31. Megan | August 1, 2010 at 3:43 pm
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Just found your blog but it look great!
32. carolina | August 1, 2010 at 9:22 pm
i use to live in florida but i moved back o my homeland Colombia….im also a teen who loves to bake..congrats on your amazing baking and writing skills!
33. Lily | August 1, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Burnaby, British Columbia
Everything on your blog is soo delicious looking!
I’m currently trying to make the orange-cinnamon buns (:
34. Yael | August 2, 2010 at 1:02 am
Love your blog! I’m from Herzylia, Israel.
35. nikki | August 2, 2010 at 11:15 am
I am 36 and from Michigan. Great blog sweety.
36. Riddhi Gandhi | August 2, 2010 at 5:15 pm
I am 27 from Texas. You rock!!!
37. Sara Smith | August 3, 2010 at 4:24 pm
19 from Cocoa, Florida.
You’re awesome.
38. Lyndsey Gray | August 3, 2010 at 5:13 pm
I think what you’ve done is fantastic. I can only hope that my own blog, which has just started, will one day be as accomplished as this one. Best of luck to you!
~ Lyndsey
Columbus, IN
39. Melanie | August 4, 2010 at 7:07 am
This is my first time visiting your blog. What an accomplish writer and baker you are for such a young age. After reading your blog today it inspired me to bake my cinnamon caramel rolls for my two children who will be soon leaving for college. It is one of their favorites and after reading your blog it made me think about the connection we make with people and the food or meals we share together. Best of luck to in college and I look forward to reading more of your blog.
40. Renee | August 5, 2010 at 7:30 am
i love your blog!! Lindsay, CA
41. emily s | August 6, 2010 at 1:55 am
Love your blog! Reading it all the way from Minsk, Belarus : ))
42. claire gleeson | August 6, 2010 at 9:57 am
love the blog, from Claire. Dublin, Ireland x
43. Nalena | August 6, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Elissa!
I live in the lovely neighborhood of Capitol Hill in Seattle, originally from Puerto Rico. :) For some reason I recall somewhere in your blog you stating that you live in Issaquah, I commuted to Issaquah Highlands everyday this past year (working at the Habitat for Humanity site). If you ever have some free time I would encourage you to go visit the four lovely homes that are almost completed!
Anyways, I have been following your blog religiously for over a year now, and have made your sugar cookies twice!
You are an extremely talented individual and I look forward to your future posts.
44. Laura | August 7, 2010 at 9:57 am
Your blog is completely fantastic. It makes me so happy to see someone my age so eloquent, talented, and excited to share what they love.
I’m in Philadelphia, PA and Cincinnati, OH.
45. Janelle | August 7, 2010 at 10:21 am
Pittsburgh, PA :)
46. Nicole | August 8, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Love your blog!
47. Maryann | August 9, 2010 at 8:29 pm
GUAM, US minor outlying island
Always checking to see what new wonderful recipes you have tried! Thanks for writing and sharing!
48. Tami | August 9, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Very impressed with your blog. Your writing and photographs are wonderful and happy to see a teen engaged in something so creative. Good luck in college. I hope you are able to find some space to still create wonderful, edible art!
Twin Cities, MN
49. Jessiebelle | August 10, 2010 at 1:22 am
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
I’ve been reading your blog for a year or more now. I always enjoy it and I can’t wait to see how far you go in life. I know it is going to be a long, long way.
50. Sara | August 11, 2010 at 1:31 am
Hey Elissa,
This blog is really lovely, hopefully some day I’ll be able to get proper camera and take some amazing pictures too!
Good luck at college and don’t forget you don’t need a Kitchen Aid to do lots of recipes, I mostly use a big bowl and a spoon and had a box with tupperware jars of flour and sugar under my bed!
Sarah,Leeds, England