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. Amanda | October 12, 2009 at 4:41 pm
This is my first time to your blog, and I have an idea that I will be reading the whole thing! Beautiful work! I live in LA, went to school in Seattle (UW) and grew up in Eugene, OR, where #149 lives. How’s that for a small world?
2. Preston | October 12, 2009 at 7:12 pm
DC!
3. elisa | October 12, 2009 at 7:40 pm
hi!! I’m so excited for you. this is a fantastic blog. and it’s so exciting that you are so young (compared to me, at least!) and have such a great start to the whole baking and and cooking world. :) i’m all the way in Grand Forks, ND. Google it. ;) ah, and it’s my first time here. I found a link to you via sweetopia.com.
4. katemckinnon | October 12, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Tucson, Arizona. I’m a writer and a metalsmith, and bumped into your blog via a link from another friend on Facebook.
Yum.
5. Shawn Mecham | October 12, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Hi! I’m from Sandy, Utah.
This is very cool. :-)
6. Amanda | October 12, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Durham, North Carolina.
I found this blog through Stumble Upon, and I love to look at the lovely food that you make! It helps make me more exciting about baking for myself ^^
7. Ashley | October 12, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I recently discovered your blog and am loving it. =) I’m happy you don’t feel embarassed or weird about having a blog anymore! It’s awesome. And so wonderful that people are coming up to talk to you about it. That’s always a great feeling. I’ve wanted to make these biscuits for quite a while but don’t often have cream cheese on hand! Yours look delicious. I’m from Vancouver, BC (Canada).
8. Crockpott | October 13, 2009 at 12:11 am
Here in Honolulu, HI I’m tearing over your dad’s comment #11
9. Julie | October 13, 2009 at 4:43 am
I’m in Baltimore, MD. I found your blog through another food blog (can’t remember which one, sorry). Everything looks great! Those biscuits are making my stomach growl this morning!
10. Brooke | October 13, 2009 at 7:13 am
New Paris, IN
Your blog is fantastic! I don’t remember how I found you, but I’m glad I did.
11. Lindsay Hill | October 13, 2009 at 7:21 am
I stumbled upon your blog about 5 months ago, saved it as a favorite and look at it every week – love your photos, recipes and stories !!!
From – Donkeyville (not a real place, but that is what it feels like) TN
12. Lucy | October 13, 2009 at 10:01 am
Wow look at all these comments: its clear people love this blog! And I am one of these people – its gorgeous and I’m not surprised you’re slightly recognised for its brilliant work at school!
Oh and,
London, UK :)
13. megan | October 13, 2009 at 11:59 am
Just found your blog – I like it already :)
Grand Rapids, MI
14. Christine | October 13, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Hi from Jefferson City, Missouri. Not sure how I found your blog but I have recommended it to teachers who are interested in showing their students what blogging can be like! It’s great you’ve found your passion here!
15. Amanda | October 13, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I’m from Houston, TX, but I’m in Austin at school. I love your blog. I wish I was as awesome as you are when I was 17. :D
16. chelsey1016 | October 13, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Rice Lake, WI.
But I stumbled upon your blog while I was living in Japan!
(:
17. Heather | October 14, 2009 at 9:40 am
Clarksburg, WV
18. Jennifer | October 14, 2009 at 10:53 am
Houston, TX. Love your blog dear! Actually, that’s an understatement. I can’t WAIT until the next one comes out every time you post! I’m a little behind right now because I’ve been busy but then I remember what you wrote one time about blogs, and not “following” them b/c then it feels like a task. Haha, I know! I go to yours, Urban Weeds, and A Dress A Day! :) You are lovely darling, keep up the fantastic creativity and pursue your passions.
19. Marlie | October 14, 2009 at 11:58 am
Austin, TX
I just found your blog recently. I read another food blog, and she voted yours as her favorite baking blog, so I had to check it out. I’m really glad did.
20. Tracy Power | October 14, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I am not certain how I stumbled across your blog, but I am so glad I did. I love your writing, recipes and pics.
Continue to bake and blog.
I am from Edgewood, Kentucky!!
21. Jess | October 14, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I found your blog on tastespotting a few times, lovely pictures, delicious looking food! Keep up the good work. I have blog confidence issues too, only a couple of my friends know, and they’re the ones that are all about food too.
Richmond, Va
Ps- your dad’s comment is uber cute. He clearly loves you a ton. Being a daddy’s girl is the Best! I know from experience.
22. Molly | October 14, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I think I found your blog through StumbleUpon? And it’s the best. I can sit here for I-don’t-want-to-admit-how-long and be amazingly jealous/hungry. I love that you’re unpretentious and just make super interesting, drool-worthy food because you love to.
Auckland, New Zealand
23. Esther | October 14, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I’m from Bangalore, India. Got a link through another food blog. You are doing a great job!
24. karlyn | October 14, 2009 at 9:21 pm
hi elissa, i’m a fellow seattle-ite and only discovered your blog recently, but i love your stuff! keep up the great posts!
25. Lydia | October 15, 2009 at 1:24 am
Dubai – U.A.E
Hey .. I’m Indian but i live in Dubai… I’ve been reading your blog for a quite a while now and i love it. I love your writing style and your photography. I love to bake myself. Keep up your goodwork and keep blogging!!
26. Lindsay | October 15, 2009 at 9:34 am
Boston, MA! Love your blog :)
27. Becky | October 15, 2009 at 10:07 am
Guelph, Ontario. Canada!
I love your blog – it inspires me to experiment.
I used a bunch of your cookie/brownie recipes for my families thanksgiving dinner, and they adored them. After reading about all of your stories, and the miraculous ways you string words into sentences (the same way I feel when experimenting with a new recipe, and nibbling at the sweet and savory satisfaction of a job well done) is inspiring.
I am also 17, and planning a future in the culinary arts. I hope to meet you some day – to thank you for keeping my dream alive, by showing me that it is okay to fail, and for providing tasty treats for me to try!
So thanks.
Becky
28. Angela | October 15, 2009 at 6:38 pm
San Diego, California
I found your blog from StumbleUpon and I’ve been reading for a while though not commenting. I haven’t had the chance to make something yet (dorm life doesn’t provide much opportunity for any type of baking), but I love all the photos and recipes.
29. Hannah | October 15, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Ashley Falls, MA
30. Jan | October 16, 2009 at 4:30 am
Westchester County, NY (NYC suburbs)
31. gratinee | October 16, 2009 at 7:04 am
I’m glad so many people are reading your blog, Elissa. It’s become so popular in a short time. Of course, that’s because your writing and pictures are so wonderful.
I’m in Vancouver, BC.
32. Sarah Hazleton | October 16, 2009 at 10:41 am
Corvallis, Oregon! I just found the link on Michelle Moore’s site, with your senior pictures :)
33. Anahi | October 16, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Provo, Utah.
I am addicted to food blogs and yours is one of my favorites. Those biscuits are making me really hungry!
34. Julia @ Mélanger | October 16, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Brisbane, Australia.
Found your blog when you left a comment on my hi-hat cupcakes. Was happy that you did. Enjoy reading your stories.
35. kaet | October 16, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Buffalo, NY!
and by the way- i “hide” my blog from people too- i only came out to my boyfriend of a year and a half in september! hehe!
36. Michelle Moore | October 16, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Hi Elissa! :) I enjoy your blog :) I’m in Seattle,WA of course!! xoxo
37. Miakoda | October 16, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Yum, cheese biscuits with the hint oh herb, sounds good! Good luck with your new found fame! ;)
38. Allison | October 17, 2009 at 7:41 am
Pittsburgh, PA- just found this on food gawker. looks great!
39. Alter Ego | October 17, 2009 at 8:26 am
Hi,
I’ve been following your blog for a few months now. I like your passion for food and photography and I like your writing.
I wish I could get myself to photograph everything I cook/bake/plant and write about it, it would make me so happy :).
Since you asked, I’m a 24yo student from Israel who has quite a fetish for baking.
Keep up the great writing and photography, I truly enjoy it!
Z.
40. Esther | October 17, 2009 at 8:36 am
KL, Malaysia! I found your blog about a month ago, and immediately added it to my reading list. There was something about your writing that grabbed me.
41. Shannon L | October 17, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Tampa,FL
I have a food blog too but I dont tell many of my friends at school. The only people that know are my very best friends. So you say you go to a small high school? I would think it would be big for such a big city. Tampa is medium size, well I guess big enough to hold the superbowl but my school is huge. Over 2500 kids, but thankfully I routinely have classes with only a set of about 200 kids so I can know most of them.
I saw a similar recipe in Martha Stewart Baking, but I have yet been able to try it because school is insanly busy right now for me.
Good job on the recognitions.
42. Elissa | October 17, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Shannon L – My school is considered very small around here, with only 1,200 kids or so. My senior class is under 300 students, so I’d say quite small. :)
43. LauraLee | October 17, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Westerville, Ohio.
I don’t even know how I found your blog. I’m a 37 year old married mother of three boys. I don’t nearly cook as fun and fantastic as you! :) You are inspiring, though. And I agree with other readers: you have a knack for writing (writing and cooking, hmmm, good combo! Write a cookbook!). I do like to cook, but really at this rate with that third boy being 6 weeks old, I’m just getting by at putting dinner on the table and barely sleeping. :) Congrats on your internship!!
44. kai | October 17, 2009 at 10:49 pm
hi lovely,
if only i could watch you bake when i’m not so exhausted. =(
From Rainy (and currently hailing like mad) Seattle, WA! <3
45. Anna @ moonberryjuice | October 18, 2009 at 1:42 am
First time here! Im from the Netherlands :)
46. Sarah | October 18, 2009 at 2:48 am
hello elissa! i’m sarah from malaysia, and i’m 17 too!
it’s really cool to see someone my age having such a successful blog, being able to juggle between studies and baking. keep up the awesome job!
47. Marie-Sophie | October 18, 2009 at 9:49 am
Right, as I discovered your website today, I have to comment that now :-)
I am from Mainz, Germany (close to Frankfurt which I am sure a lot of people know as it connects us to the world via its international airport)
keep up the great writing, baking and the photography!
Chocolaty hugs,
marie-sophie
48. Tara | October 18, 2009 at 7:02 pm
UC Berkeley, California — just saw the link on another blog I read and here i am!
49. Katie | October 18, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Lafayette, Indiana- I love your blog and have linked it from my blog Not Just Vanilla. I understand being shy and scared of sharing the blog. I think it was over a month before I let it slip to my friend at work. Unlike you, I haven’t received many comments, only 3 from non-family or friends! Keep up the good work Yum
http://www.not-just-vanilla.com/
50. Ali | October 19, 2009 at 1:49 am
I’m living in Soldotna, Alaska. I went to school in West Lafayette, Indiana before that (I just noticed the comment before mine). I found your blog through Goggle Reader and love reading about your new internship. It is great to see some of the behind-the-scenes restaurant work! I’m also happy to be your 200th comment for this post. Keep up the great work in the kitchen!
51. Daniela | October 19, 2009 at 9:09 pm
christchurch, new zealand