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. Violet | September 19, 2010 at 12:51 am
Vancouver, BC
2. mayjin | September 19, 2010 at 4:39 am
Malaysia!
3. Ruby | September 19, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Tampa, Florida
4. Anna | September 23, 2010 at 12:54 am
Portland, OR
5. Britney | September 23, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Knoxville, TN
6. Sioux | September 23, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Everett, MA
I like reading you – hope classes are going well.
7. Heather | September 24, 2010 at 12:27 am
I love your blog! Keep Baking(you make me hungry!)
Oh, and im living in East Timor :)
8. MaryO1230 | September 24, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Great blog! San Pedro, CA
9. Laurel | September 24, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Aurora, NE
10. Laurel | September 24, 2010 at 10:24 pm
I’m 17 and I love to bake and I enjoy photography. I just found your blog and I felt a connection because you’re young.
11. Aunt Lollie | September 26, 2010 at 11:23 am
Wonderful food, stories and photos!
Los Angeles, California.
12. Ruth | September 27, 2010 at 9:38 am
Love all your pictures and receipes. I really need to try a few of them out ;)
Dublin, Ireland
13. Addy | September 28, 2010 at 2:19 am
How blessed you are be to so young yet so talented! I look forward to seeing wonderful things from you in the future.
Lynchburg, VA, USA
14. alifoodie | September 28, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Norwich, England (although in 5 days this will change to Madrid, Spain!)
15. Lynn | September 28, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Love your blog and applaud your talent!
Houston, TX
16. Ellen | September 29, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Your blog is so lovely and always makes me want to run into the kitchen and start baking.
Thanks!
Nova Scotia, Canada
17. Marga | September 29, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Trenton, Ontario, Canada
18. Nina | September 30, 2010 at 11:33 am
Tegucigalpa, Honduras! :)
19. Kirstianne | October 2, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Love your website and all of the yummy looking food! also love the photography you include – inspires me to want to bake constantly! ^_^
Cornwall, United Kingdom
20. Linda Robinson | October 2, 2010 at 7:41 pm
Love your blog and all the wonderful pictures.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
21. etudiant | October 3, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Wonderful blog!
Your parents must be very proud of you.
22. Debbie in WA | October 3, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Greetings! I live in Edmonds, a little north from your home back in Washington. The article in today’s Pacific Northwest magazine about the trunk you and your family refurbished in order to take all of your essential baking items to college with you is what caught my attention. Had to come and check out your blog and so far have been delighted by your talent. Once I catch up (based on how much time I’ve already been on your site today that won’t take long) I know I’ll become a faithful follower! And, yes, would definitely enjoy your pictures of Boston along with your stash of baking photos!
23. Christina | October 3, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Bellevue, WA
I love your blog.
24. deborah | October 4, 2010 at 12:18 am
I too found your blog through the Seattle Times this morning. Mmmm! Keep up the inspiring photos, writing and recipes!
Bellevue, WA
25. Sharon | October 4, 2010 at 1:34 am
Here in Palatine Illinois, a Northwest Suburb of Chicago.
I’m 50 and started baking at 11 and still love finding new ideas and techniques. I follow you to be inspired to see it all with new fresh eyes.
26. Diane Tulalip,Wash | October 4, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Great blog.
27. kate | October 4, 2010 at 5:41 pm
seattle, washington newbie
(recent transplant from chicago)
LOVE your blog – though i’m not much older than you (22), i wish i had done something like this when i was 16. i admire your passion for food & photography – keep it up, & enjoy college – i would give anything to have those years back – they’re a blast.
28. WhoDuh | October 4, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Hi there,
I just started my food blog and I simply lurrrve the way you take ur food pics. Mine still needs major editting with a capital M!;p
Anyhoo, love what you are doing , press on and can’t wait to drool at more entries! ^_^
29. Cyndi Parisu (Ok, fine, it's an alias.) | October 5, 2010 at 12:54 am
Vancouver, Canada!
Hiia! It’ been…a few weeks or so since I first stumbled here, and I’ve come back a few times to look around, it’s fun reading about other people’s baking and food and lives, too, I guess. Um, first review, so I tend to blab, but your blog’s great, and I’ll be sure to try some of the recipes soon!=)
30. Tracey | October 5, 2010 at 8:51 am
I love your blog Elissa, it’s always a pleasure to read.
Melbourne, Australia
31. Megan | October 6, 2010 at 11:11 am
Bigfork, Montana.
32. Julie | October 7, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Seattle, WA
33. Kristi | October 9, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Cleveland, Ohio
34. Becca | October 10, 2010 at 1:02 am
Montreal, Canada
35. ell.uu | October 10, 2010 at 1:55 am
denver/boulder, colorado
36. Kelsey | October 11, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Bellingham, Washington
Read your story in the PNW magazine about your trunk and going off to college, such great writing, I really look forward to reading your blog each week, such a treat! :)
37. tori | October 11, 2010 at 9:49 pm
maine/vermont
It’s so wonderful to know there are other college students out there who Love baking as much as I do!
38. Michelle San Agustin | October 12, 2010 at 6:17 am
Hafa Adai from Agana Heights, Guam!
39. Gustavo Fujimura | October 12, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Your blog, your photos, your recipes are incredible!
i’m from Florianópolis, Brazil
40. Meg | October 13, 2010 at 5:13 pm
I’m a Coloradan, but I’m going to school in Walla Walla, WA (hi from the eastern side of the Cascades!)
41. Lynn | October 14, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I recently stumbled upon your blog and have to say I’m a fan :)
I am Indian, grew up in the Middle East, Catholic by religion, educated in British schools (by Italian nuns), and now live in Houston, Texas.
42. Kat | October 14, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Hey Elissa :)
I been following your blog for nearly a year now and I just have to say I love your writing and photos!
I’m from Cebu, Philippines but currently studying in Switzerland^^
–Kat
43. Amy | October 20, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Gaithersburg, Maryland
I’ve been following your blog for awhile now….I’m amazed with all of your yummy recipes!
44. Lori Paulson | October 21, 2010 at 1:18 am
Hi! I’m from Seattle. I found you via links from Facebook. It just so happens that you went to the same high school that I graduated from in 2006. Crazy!
45. Rikke | October 21, 2010 at 3:23 am
Hi Elissa, I followed your fabulous baking blog and am now keenly checking for your updates on college life :-) Both are very different from life in Copenhagen, Denmark where I live, cook, bake and work.
46. Julie | October 22, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Hi Elissa,
I found your website via the EpiCute blog by the Cheezburger network (your Swine Flu Cupcakes made it there). I clicked on the link beneath the posting and there was the blog entry on the Swine Flu Cupcakes. I started reading and found myself lost in the eloquently frank way you described your feelings associated with the cupcakes and the reason for making them. I am an amateur writer, I mostly write for my own pleasure and not really intending it for anyone. One of the best classes I took in high school was a creative writing class senior year, it was there I grew as a writer and honed my skills.
Your writing is very heartfelt, beautiful and triggers memories, some happy and some not so happy. As a former college student, I remember the days of living in residence and being away from home for the first time. It was scary at first, but I formed strong bonds with the people there. You definitely start to find out who you are there and your beliefs and convictions are tested, sometimes harshly so.
I am also a big foodie and adore baking. There’s nothing like staying indoors on a harsh, Canadian (Southeastern Ontario) winter day and baking a fresh batch of raisin scones or cookies. I am more of a baker than a cook, not as confident cooking meat as I am whipping up a batch of chocolate chip cookies. I’m working on it though, when I have the time. Full time work kind of kills you on that front.
I hope you are enjoying your time in school. Keep on baking! and writing!
47. Hannah Tubbs | October 24, 2010 at 9:38 am
Stuttgart, Germany
Just started reading your blog today, gotta say I’m in love.
You are very inspiring, don’t ever stop. :)
48. Sarah | October 24, 2010 at 11:28 am
New York, NY
Hey, Elissa, I don’t think I’ve commented before but I’ve been reading for a while. I really love your newest posts about the beginning of college life. It’s such a wonderful time — savor every moment. (Cliche, I know, but true.) I also want to say how impressed I am that you are planning on continuing to blog throughout college. It seems daunting, since it can be such a busy time, but I’m really happy with your decision. More great posts for me to read!
49. Michelle | October 24, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Minneapolis, MN
I love your blog and have been reading for some time now. I’m new to the blogosphere and and am still having learning how to take great pics like you do. Everything on your blog looks amazing.
50. Rebecca Nelson | October 26, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Love your blog