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. Linka | March 28, 2011 at 2:43 pm
I first found you when I was in New Brunswick, NJ! I’m back there now, but I loved reading when I was in Dublin, Ireland. Baking and cooking were my hideaways from bad roommates. Keep up the good work! :)
2. Cacau | March 29, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Hi from the south of Brazil!
Elissa, baking is such a challenge for me. But I love food, have created my own blog (still working on that) and now I am learning how to use a digital camera ;).
Love to read your posts, to browse through your photos and think to my self “Gosh, I wish I could to that” and then lock myself in to the kitchen, grab the ingredients and … you know … I’m not the baking Quenn … so, my cakes aren’t that beautiful, my cookies usually are undercooked or overcooked … But it is all right! I am having lots of fun!
Your blog is pure inspiration!
Thanks for sharing!
Lots of love,
Cacau
3. cookie112811 | March 30, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Love your blog! I’m viewing from the Dallas metro-plex.
Keep up the super things you are doing here.
Best Wishes. Cookie
4. Liz S. | March 31, 2011 at 9:50 pm
Hi Elissa,
I just found your blog today via the blog Amy Bakes Everything — she made your Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites, which I’m in the process of making now! I love what you’re doing, you’re a great writer, baker, and food photographer. Your love of baking and photography reminds me of my sister, who is your age and loves the same things! I’m posting from Boston, too. While it’s far from Seattle, I hope you’re liking it here on the East Coast!
5. Gina @Addicted Baker | April 1, 2011 at 12:37 am
Hi love this blog and you totally made me create my own! Check it out if you get the time!
6. Laura | April 1, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Paris, France!
& we have the same age (18)
By the way i love your blog :D
7. cherijustyne | April 1, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Hi Elissa!
Your photos are so damn gorgeous! I’m from Singapore and I’ve never had the courage to try my hand at writing till I starting reading 17andbaking :) So thank you for that! :)
8. Leslie | April 2, 2011 at 8:10 am
Love the site – I think I need to bake today myself!
9. Embla | April 3, 2011 at 2:20 am
Hello from Honolulu, Hawaii! Love your blog! :D
10. McKenzie | April 3, 2011 at 9:47 am
I am from Wilsonville Oregon!!
11. chelsea | April 3, 2011 at 8:46 pm
I really enjoy this blog. I also really love your photography!
12. Jamie | April 3, 2011 at 10:42 pm
Boulder, Colorado
This blog brightens my day :)
13. Hannah | April 5, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Salt Lake City, Utah
Love looking at your blog!
14. Keiri | April 6, 2011 at 12:59 am
Rexburg, ID while at college, but originally from New Hampshire :)
15. Morgan | April 8, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada!
I just found your blog and it’s making me super excited… I finally get a real kitchen next year (I’m in university dorms now), and fully plan on using some of your recipes.
:D
16. Janet | April 10, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Okay, you HAVE to keep writing, cooking, and publishing – photographs, words, thoughts. Wonderful. My 40 y.o. daughter found your recipe for one of her parties, and was kind enough to share with her mom – me! TOO COOL!! Keep on keepin’ on, girlfriend! You rock like the Dead used to!
17. L | April 12, 2011 at 6:05 pm
So I’m from England, UK… and I have to say I love your blog, literally adore it. I’m pretty much your age and am big into baking… but a food blog is such a great idea – one day I may make one! Anyways, keep doing what you’re doing, keep being wonderful at writing/baking/photographing! I stumbled on this recipe, as I’m aaaaalways baking sweet, sugary goods, my dad’s more of a savoury guy and has requested something of that ilk. So I’m going to try this recipe and, as with everything else I’ve tried on your blog…I’m extreeemely sure it’ll be a hit :) Thank you so much, and good luck with your studies, you’re right food is so uniting. And there are so many people from all over – reminds me of a quote I love from the Baha’i Writings – “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens” :) take care of yourself, and thanks for making the food magic happen.
18. Kiona | April 13, 2011 at 1:20 am
Kailua, Hawaii! Absolutely love your blog. I’m from the Great Northwest as well and I love reading your blogs, not only for your inspirational food recipes but for your writing. You are a very talented lady. Keep on writing girl!
Aloha from Hawaii!
19. Mykelin | April 13, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Temecula, CA!!
btw, I absolutely love reading your blog! And not only the amazing writing, but the food.. you put your own twist on every recipe, making them original, and delicious :) I am sixteen, and I love to cook… it’s great knowing that I’m not alone :)
20. Meghan | April 14, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Denver, CO, but I just moved here. I’ve been readying your blog for a while now and when I started reading it I was in Atlanta, GA.
21. elyse | April 14, 2011 at 8:10 pm
just stumbled here from another blog and after reading a bit, i had a feeling i knew what school you were describing! i went there too, and stayed in boston until just last summer. you’re in such a great location! enjoy! current location. . . st. louis!
22. Lo81 | April 16, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Ciao from Italy!
23. Brittany P.S. | April 16, 2011 at 8:20 pm
Normally? Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada :-)
Lovely Blog!
24. Sandra Akkerman | April 19, 2011 at 7:46 pm
Love your Flag Cake. My nephew is leaving to go overseas in 2 weeks and I am going to make this as a tribute for him. Love your blog!
25. Erin | April 19, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Kingston, ON CAN
love the blog!
26. kate | April 20, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Hi! Your blog is terriffic! I am also in university and love to bake. Your blog is inspiring to all. Keep up the great work!
Toronto, Ontario,Canada.
27. Emily | April 22, 2011 at 12:27 am
Austin, TX!
Your food looks delicious, and your writing is incredible.
28. Marlene | April 25, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Vienna, Austria! :)
29. Fumbi | May 2, 2011 at 4:14 am
One word, amazing! From London.
30. Megan | May 2, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Shepherdsville, KY! And I just found you today, but I am loving everything I see!
31. Agus | May 4, 2011 at 6:15 pm
Hi Elissa!! I have been a -secret follower- for over one year more or less!!! I really love your blog!! I love the way you write, you cook, and you take photos, but what I love more is that your a teenager too!!! I am 16 and I also have a blog, baking is like my second hobbie and I always get inspired by you (:
Greeting from Neuquen – Argentina – South America
Agus
32. Charlene | May 4, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Metamora Ohio. Found your blog a year or so ago. Love your recipes and your style of writing!
33. cocomeetscocoa | May 5, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Dallas, Texas! I looove your blog (:
34. Eadaoin | May 7, 2011 at 5:58 am
Dublin, Ireland!
35. Michaela K. | May 7, 2011 at 9:32 am
Prague, Czech Republic :)
36. Xiomara B. | May 8, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Orlando, Florida
37. Merce B | May 9, 2011 at 8:56 pm
I’m originally from Barcelona, Spain. I lived +10 years in Seattle, then Oregon, then Illinois and I have been in Brisbane, Australia for the last three years. I found your blog recently. Nice photos, recipes and writings.You are very talented!
38. Emily | May 10, 2011 at 7:58 am
Belfast Northern Ireland! Really enjoy reading your blog:)
39. Mita | May 12, 2011 at 8:07 pm
San Antonio, TX. Just found your blog and am making these along with the Jasmine Vanilla Rice Pudding :-)
40. Liana | May 19, 2011 at 11:36 am
Chantilly, Virginia! :o)
41. Alice | May 19, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Dublin, Ireland.
I really love your blog and your pictures are amazing. Can’t wait to start baking everything! :)
42. Ruth | May 20, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Co.Offaly Ireland!
I’m 16 and mad about baking!
absolutely love your site!..the recipes, the photography all amazing!
Making your doughnuts tomorrow..can’t wait! :) I’ve previous experience with yeast, my favorite yeast recipe being Swedish cinnamon buns! Keep up the great work! :D
43. laura | May 20, 2011 at 9:02 pm
seattle, WA! (originally from raleigh, NC.) i found your blog after reading a lovely article (complete with recipe for pistachio chrysanthemum cupcakes) that you’d written for the seattle times. was stunned to discover you’re so young – you’ve got such a special way with words, with photography, and of course with food! you rock!
44. Anna | May 21, 2011 at 3:47 pm
This post is very upbringing, I’m quite shy about my blog & thanks to you I’ll start telling people about it! Your history is great and I love your site, apart from recipes, you tell a story which is wonderful!
HUGE thanks
Warsaw, Poland, Europe
45. Laurel | May 21, 2011 at 4:32 pm
I love your writing, stories, photography, and recipes! I love to bake, write and take pictures and your blog inspires me. I’m 18 years old and from Aurora, Nebraska.
46. megan {a dash of megnut} | May 25, 2011 at 4:45 pm
From Chicago but studying in Madison, Wisconsin.
I love your blog Elissa. You’re an inspiration!
47. Lacey | May 27, 2011 at 1:10 pm
In Minneapolis, Minnesota. I came upon your site through a google search for a recipe. I’ve bookmarked it, and I’m coming back!
48. Jan | May 27, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Charleston, West Virginia – good work with the blog AND the baking!
49. Annika | May 27, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Seattle, Wa!!! I love your blog and am sooo jealous of your photography! Keep up the good work!
50. Hannah | May 28, 2011 at 6:49 pm
Santa Rosa, Ca