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.
1,595 Comments Add your own
Leave a comment
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
17 and Baking 
1. Sophia | December 10, 2010 at 8:27 am
I live in Karlsruhe, Germany. I’ve been following your blog for about a year now, and I love it. Thanks for sharing with us!
2. Missy | December 12, 2010 at 8:08 pm
La Grange, Texas
3. Ryan | December 13, 2010 at 10:59 pm
I live in South Carolina :) I love your blog!
4. Dan | December 14, 2010 at 7:55 pm
I live in Denver CO. Like you, I have always had a passion for baking, and started baking bread in 5th grade. I continue to bake, even though my schedule is packed with IB high school classes. I recently started a baking club at my high school, to teach everyone how to bake all sorts of goodies. I have had a hard time teaching, especially teaching pastry, but we are still learning and having a lot of fun!
Please check out this website and read the article about my baking club! It made the front page, below the fold!
I love your blog, and hop to use it to teach more pastry baking!
Sincerely,
Dan
5. Lea | December 15, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Basel, Switzerland
6. Ann Flora | December 15, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Flemingsburg KY
I’ve kept my (mostly) food blog quiet for over a year now because of fear, too. And I’m way older than 18. Your story is one more reason to stop hiding. Thanks and keep baking and telling your story.
7. Lizzie Laessing | December 16, 2010 at 5:44 am
Bristol, UK
Fantastic blog, really inspiring and I’m trying so many of your tasty recipes. Brilliant photos. I wish I had your passion aged 18…! Keep it up, it’s really special.
Lizzie
8. Kimberly | December 16, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Wallingford, Connecticut, USA.
Love your blog! Keep it up! :)
9. Aline Vanessa Coelho | December 17, 2010 at 12:40 am
Hi, I live in Osasco, Brazil . Your blog is fantastic !!
10. Penny | December 17, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Bainbridge Island, WA
Love the blog – best of luck at school.
11. Alison | December 19, 2010 at 10:35 am
Arlington, VA
Love your blog and your writing!
12. Kim | December 23, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Love your photo’s of the Brigadeiros!!! I’m going to try them this xmas.
Thanks so much for sharing,Love the way you write too btw.
Good luck in school.
13. Nicole Tang | December 31, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Malaysian student in Singapore, currently reading this from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
As a soon to be 18 year old, hoping to enter college in the US, your blog is fascinating.
As a lover of pretty pictures of food, your blog is pure happiness.
You make me simultaneously happy and jealous of your skills.
14. Vivian | December 31, 2010 at 6:35 pm
San Francisco, California
I love your blog, your photos, and your writing. Your are amazing and an inspiration! I hope to try out some of your tasty-looking recipes soon! Thank you for bringing me joy this winter break :)
15. Elizabeth | January 1, 2011 at 9:02 pm
Palo Alto, CA :]
16. Ashley | January 4, 2011 at 7:07 am
irvine, ca
you inspire me! (:
17. Krithi Karthi | January 4, 2011 at 11:20 am
Hi Elissa, You have a wonderful collection of Cakes and cookies here.. I’m Gonna bookmark and follow you… Keep rocking
18. Ana | January 4, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Portugal, Lisbon
Keep going, you’re doing a great job XD
19. Shannon | January 5, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Buffalo, NY
You’re quite an inspiration!
20. Zuckerbäckerin | January 7, 2011 at 4:14 pm
lower bavaria, germany
your blog is really, really cool :)
21. Char | January 7, 2011 at 6:20 pm
dubai, united arab emirates.
your photos capture the beauty of good food. thanks for sharing! :)
22. Makey-Cakey | January 8, 2011 at 4:04 pm
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Lovely blog – I’ve been reading it for a while and it makes me smile
23. Cherie | January 9, 2011 at 1:23 am
Christchurch, New Zealand – our Google brings up New Zealand and American websites so quite a few of us find you near the top in searches. Love the photos and your writing; you go girl. Your self confidence for one so young is very refreshing :)
Cherie
24. Jenny | January 9, 2011 at 6:52 am
Adelaide South Australia Australia – have just stumbled upon your site – love it!!
25. Roda | January 10, 2011 at 3:34 am
A lovely blog and nice to know you are so young.
26. Dora | January 10, 2011 at 4:29 pm
I love reading this blog! I just finished my first semester of college too. I’m actually from Boston and am currently going to school in Cambridge and I have an aunt from Seattle. I can hardly imagine how different living in Boston must be from living in Seattle but I hope you are enjoying yourself over on the east coast. I’ve also been a huge fan of baking and I love reading about all your new recipes whenever I have the chance. Your photos are also awesome :)
27. KATHERINE A. LONG | January 10, 2011 at 7:18 pm
HERRO AND GREETINGS FROM PROVIDENCE F-ING RHODE ISLAND MY FRIEND. I CAN ONLY READ YOUR BLOG WHEN I HAVE JUST EATEN A REALLY GOOD MEAL, OTHERWISE I GET JEALOUS. ALSO. I WISH YOU WOULD STOP USING SUCH RITZY INGREDIENTS SO THAT IT’S LESS EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO ASK MY FRIENDS HERE TO MAKE YOUR RECIPES.
THAT IS ALL.
LOVE, AND CONGRATS (as always :)
28. Rahul | January 11, 2011 at 9:26 pm
Hello from Naperville, IL. You are an absolutely awesome baker and your work inspired me to create my own blog!
29. viri | January 12, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Nice!
Mexico, DF!
30. Ali | January 12, 2011 at 11:28 pm
You had the same feelings I did when coming home from college. It made me feel better. Thanks!!
Suffolk, VA
P.S. Your baking is amazing and inspires me!
31. Meha | January 13, 2011 at 5:56 am
I’m a fan! :D
Brunei Darussalam
32. Laura | January 13, 2011 at 6:59 am
♥
Bucharest, Romania
33. Leia | January 13, 2011 at 9:56 am
Hi Elissa!
This is my first time on your blog. I’m a fashion/food blogger and I found you from a link on Sea of Shoes.
I’m currently reading from Dhaka, Bangladesh. :)
34. Sruthi | January 13, 2011 at 5:14 pm
A huge fan! You’re truly inspiring :)
From Naperville, Illinois
35. Catherine | January 14, 2011 at 6:58 am
Just stumbled here, Really love your pictures and tone! :)
From the outskirts of Seattle, however, have been aboard in Spain for yeeeaars!
36. Maggie | January 14, 2011 at 11:35 am
Milwaukee, WI:)
37. Marialuisa | January 14, 2011 at 12:43 pm
CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE BLOG. I´m new on this, if you fancy a good read or any spanish recipe, drop in. HI FROM SPAIN
38. natasha | January 15, 2011 at 3:21 am
Got here from Sea of shoes. I’m from Malaysia :)
39. wadi | January 15, 2011 at 6:01 am
found your site from smitten kitchen’s brigadieros post. brilliant site!
regards and respect from Brunei Darussalam.
40. Kristín | January 15, 2011 at 6:31 am
I am in Reykjavík Iceland, like your pictures in your webpage : )
41. Madeleine | January 16, 2011 at 1:50 am
Toronto/Vancouver Canada
42. Katie | January 16, 2011 at 5:15 pm
I’m reading you from Belgium, I’m a fellow journalism student and it feels sooo good to read your blogposts and see that no matter where in the world we’re studying, we go through the same things !
I’m very new to reading your blog but I’m definitely already a fan :)
43. Ondrew | January 16, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Toronto Canada – Love your blog.
44. Sabine | January 17, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Burlington, VT
45. Mark | January 17, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Reading from Boston.
46. Brittany | January 17, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Plainville, CT
Your recipes sound delicious and I can’t wait to make some of them! Plus your writing is just as good as I assume the treats taste. Keep up the awesome work!
47. Dee Rasmussen | January 17, 2011 at 10:40 pm
Just discovered you this evening through Sea of Shoes. I’m located in Wake Forest, N. C. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading your beautifully written blog post, fantastic photography, and delectable recipes. You will definitely bookmarked as a favorite. Lastly I hope an illustrated cookbook with your journalism is somewhere in your near future.
Ciao,
Dee
48. DB Lowe | January 18, 2011 at 4:48 am
Wonderful blog! Following you from Los Gatos, California. I have 3 kids, 1 is a junior in HS and we are getting ready to head out to the East Coast to check out colleges. I had my kids read your blog during your college application process…loved your honesty and writing. You are so mature for 17 then and 18 now! Hope you are enjoying your college experience thus far any advice to my kids would be welcomed and appreciated!!
49. Kristina | January 18, 2011 at 11:56 am
Cheshire, England :)
50. lettucetree | January 19, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Waterloo, Belgium.
I tried reading every comment on this post… that was until i realized there were 1103 of them!
Elissa, your blog is incredible. It’s amazing. Am I going too far by saying it’s an inspiration? I don’t think so:) I started a food blog myself with a friend last year but it didn’t last long; I’m 16 and unlike you, I didn’t manage to keep it going. But now I’m having second thoughts and might start a new one sometime soon…
I plan on studying journalism or creative writing in college, and i love how you write just as much as the recipes you post.