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. Carole | September 18, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Hi! I’m 17 and love to bake as well:)
-St. Louis, MO and soon Boulder, CO!
2. mrgreeeen | September 19, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Toulouse, France
Great blog ! Thank You for shearing your recipes !
3. New Pi Eats | September 19, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Iowa City, Iowa!
4. Charlene Mower | September 20, 2011 at 10:43 am
Atlanta, GA
5. miszide | September 20, 2011 at 11:25 pm
Johore, Malaysia
6. Jessica | September 22, 2011 at 11:08 am
United Kingdom, but moving to France next week!
7. Karen | September 22, 2011 at 11:15 am
Saramento, California — love your blog!
8. Claudia | September 22, 2011 at 9:02 pm
Durham, NC – I just discovered your blog and luv it!
9. Melissa | September 22, 2011 at 9:41 pm
I am from Sydney Australia, a mum of five children with another on the way. I adore baking and your blog is top of my favourites list! We have no oven at the moment and I have been waiting over a month for the new one to be installed – given me baking depression – sad face. Thank you for your inspiration – love reading your blog.
10. CHris | September 28, 2011 at 6:47 pm
Deer Park, Long Island….love this site!!
11. Leigh | September 30, 2011 at 11:58 am
From Forest,Va. Lovin’ this blog :)
12. Cayla | September 30, 2011 at 10:27 pm
Rakiraki, Fiji Islands!
Love your blog – makes me wanna’ bake all day!
But mist of all it inspires me to keep going even when it doesn’t come out right.
13. Jessi | October 1, 2011 at 10:28 am
Staffordshire, England; but I’ve been recently dividing my time between Italy (I was on a study abroad programme, so I can definitely relate to your stay in Amsterdam!) and Birmingham, UK. :)
I love the stories in your posts and, more often than not, your Dad’s comments make me cry.
14. Hazel | October 2, 2011 at 6:19 pm
16 and baking from Roscommon, IRELAND :)
15. Amy | October 3, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Leicester, England.
I am new to your blog (I found it only yesterday!) but have already made your yeast-raised doughnuts. Delicious! I love baking and photography so am now reading your blog with great interest. The doughnuts will be the first of many recipes I am sure.
Many thanks, keep up the great baking and blogging! :-)
16. Anya | October 6, 2011 at 7:01 pm
21 and in Portland, OR.
Just found this blog, and I really relate with it. Please keep it going, it reminds me to bake even when midterms are just around the corner :-)
17. Claire | October 10, 2011 at 4:37 pm
12 and from vancouver, canada :) Love the blog!
18. Hannah | October 10, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Palo Alto, CA!
I found your blog through a fortuitous comment on SmittenKitchen’s red wine chocolate cake post. What a treat – the recipes inspire, the photos soothe, and your writing makes me want to dust off a notebook and get back to it myself.
Thank you.
19. Alexa | October 16, 2011 at 11:56 pm
another teenage baker from Washington, DC
20. foodfaithandfinds | October 18, 2011 at 9:16 am
San Antonio, TX – Just finished reading all your old posts. Yay! Have fun in Europe!
21. kirstyFAERIE (@kirstyFAERIE) | October 21, 2011 at 7:42 am
I’m from Auckland, New Zealand.
I discovered your blog through FoodGawker, years ago, and lost it in a mass of computer bookmark resets and busy months.
I was thinking about you the other day, but couldn’t for the life of me remember your url, it was on the tip of my tongue but wouldn’t come, then suddenly tonight I remembered it, and have been reading ever since. It’s like catching up with an old friend :)
22. Charlotte | October 23, 2011 at 9:48 am
I’m from Konstanz in southern Germany. Keep on baking! I love what you’re doing!
Enjoy your time abroad! :D
23. Cookie | October 23, 2011 at 1:52 pm
I’m in Sedona, Arizona. I love your writing and your recipes! I’m a big fan!
24. Liz Marsden | October 24, 2011 at 7:16 am
Love the blog – I have the thing that sends me emails every time you write a new post, really love the photos and the recipes :)
I’m in West Yorkshire, UK xx
25. mvdanho | October 24, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Syracuse, NY and Boston, MA!
26. Elissa | October 24, 2011 at 7:40 pm
15 and in Alexandria, VA :)
27. srari1 | October 28, 2011 at 4:30 am
Melbourne, Australia
28. Astrid | November 1, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Kiel, Germany
29. Maria | November 2, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Madrid, Spain
30. Blue | November 5, 2011 at 5:21 am
Great blog! Love you writing! I’ve been reading and bookmarking your recipes all morning.
A warm hello from Enschede, The Netherlands
31. One Hungry Mama | November 6, 2011 at 10:50 pm
Brooklyn, NY, USA xo
32. Connie | November 8, 2011 at 7:53 pm
Studying in sunny San Diego, CA at UCSD. I love reading your blog posts so much! I get all giddy whenever I see a new post. You inspire me all the time to see the beauty everywhere and in everyone. Oh and lots of people have mentioned this, but I so adore the way you put your words to paper.
33. Sandy | November 8, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Atlanta, GA I’m a college student and drooling over your recipes because living in my little dorm i have no way to make them but the pictures are fun to look at!
34. ChinLin | November 9, 2011 at 3:20 am
Hey, Elissa! I’m from Singapore- and not the first to comment here, I see. Anyway. I just adore your photography- the way the lighting shows the full rosy bloom of a cherry, or a fruit, maybe a particular angle that somehow makes the pastry look a beautiful burnished buttery gold, and so delicious I wish I could reach through my screen and sneak a sample! And your recipes? Ingenious and awesome. Keep going; we’re cheering for you! Sorry to here about the Rome incident. Don’t worry, you still have your magnificent baking talent! :))
35. Sam | November 12, 2011 at 6:18 am
Ballarat, Australia,
found your blog after googling a peppermint meringue recipe. Your photos are just beautiful, the meringues are so very pretty, and I think, all the better for being so flat. I was sold. Didn’t bother looking at the oodles of other results.
I want to make meringue dinosaurs with chocolatey muddy “feet” for my son’s 3rd birthday. They’re NOT going to be pretty!!!
36. Julia | November 13, 2011 at 7:28 pm
Hillsboro, Oregon
Found your blog after seeing your fabulous Cream Cheese Rippled Pumpkin Bread linked on another blog. Just made it today – it’s wonderful. Thank you!
37. NEW | November 15, 2011 at 1:08 am
Chapel Hill, NC!
The PB&J post made my life. No, really.
38. Brenda | November 21, 2011 at 4:08 pm
From Omaha NE here!!
smack dab in the middle of the US
LOOOVE your blog and I love your dads comments
39. Lisac | November 26, 2011 at 1:17 am
Rapid City, South Dakota! Middle of nowhere :D but still love reading your blog!
40. Madeleine | November 29, 2011 at 11:54 pm
15 and Bangor, Maine! I love your writing and photography!
41. snailfungus | November 30, 2011 at 11:20 am
Arlington, Texas :)
42. Robyn | November 30, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Vancouver, Canada.
Whenever I feel a little discouraged, I visit 17 and Baking. Your simply but entirely heartfelt writing never fails to make me smile or bake. Often, I end up doing both.
Thank you and please continue to share your experiences with us.
43. jane | December 4, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Great blog. I was looking up a recipe for lavender ice cream. Have just made one which I think is too strong. Lovely blog! Thanks so much
44. Kate | December 4, 2011 at 7:16 pm
Bolton, MA!
45. Susan | December 5, 2011 at 5:54 am
Aberdeen, Scotland. Glad you enjoyed iour trip to Edinburgh – my daughter is studying there and she loves it too. Your blog is amazing – beautiful photography and mouthwatering recipies.
46. Krystal | December 7, 2011 at 12:44 am
Auckland, New Zealand! Fantastic site to get inspiration for Christmas baking… my family is curious to see what will come out of the oven this December.
47. Sajida | December 8, 2011 at 1:52 pm
San Francisco, CA..
Love using your posts for UI tests on my site.. It’s fun reading it as well as it’s Work!
48. Georgie | December 9, 2011 at 1:32 am
Seattle, WA.
Found your site via search for brigadeiros. Can’t wait to try your variations and your photos are super gorgeous.
49. Meagan | December 9, 2011 at 5:05 pm
Napa, CA!
50. Marki | December 11, 2011 at 9:01 am
17 and from the heart of Europe, Czech Republic :)
Your blog is so very inspiring and just all around wonderful! I hope you read this one day… You really seem like an amazing person and there’s something warm (and by that I don’t mean just the cakes and cookies) in every one of your posts. When I read them they make me feel all happy and ready to take on the world doing what I love to do. Thank you and never stop being who you are. <3