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Friday, September 17, 2010

Project Food Blog: Ready, Set, Blog! challenge #1


There once was a little girl.  She was born in the 70's...in a haze of Marley, Queen, Zeppelin, Floyd, Eagles, Aerosmith, Marvin Gaye.  A time when peace signs were flipped more often than the bird.  This little girl discovered something at a very young age.  What was this discovery, you ask?  Well, it was one of simple...and epic...proportions.  She discovered that there was a great big world kitchen full of glorious tasting things to put into her mouth.  These things were known to all as...FOOD.  If she happened to be feeling cranky because her tummy was empty and making scary noises, she could simply reach her chubby little hands towards one of the big metal boxes and one of the big people would fill them with something that smelled wildly delicious...and subdued those noises.

Over the next few years, as the little girl grew older and, of course, wiser...she continued to eat and explore this amazing world that began in the kitchen.  She found kitchens everywhere she traveled.  They were in her grandma and grandpas houses.  They were in her neighbors houses.  They even had them hidden in the back of the big buildings full of tables, where they sometimes went to sit and meet with other people to talk and laugh and listen to music.

The little girl wondered what else she could do with food...the possibilities seemed as endless as the long, sandy beach that she loved to run across with her sturdy bare feet.  Something this little girl really loved to do was to wrap up food in brown paper and old containers she found laying around the house and putting it into her grandma's sturdy basket (the one with the handles) to take out to the lawn.  She would sit on a blanket that was spread out under the beautiful crab apple tree.  She would gently unwrap that food with all ease in the world...and then savor it while enjoying the shade of that friendly tree.
Now, years rolled past and the little girl continued to grow.  She loved spaghetti night...that night in which, by some magical coincidence, she always ended up wearing the exact same white shirt (with little pieces of fruit covering the spot over her heart).  She never knew it was spaghetti night when she put it on that morning.  But inevitably, it was.

This was about the time that she also discovered her love for books...for reading books. She would read with a flashlight under her covers until her parents screamed up the stairs for her to go to bed. She could walk and read at the same time. These books...they would transport her to another place...another time...another life. She went through books faster than she went through napkins!

It was also around this time that sat down on the couch to watch television with her dad whenever she saw either one of two things on the screen....kung -fu or cooking shows.  They both captivated her full attention.  The beauty, the precision, the discipline, the talent flowing from their fingertips....those of the martial artists and the culinary artists.
Our little girl also fancied herself a student of the world...already...at the ripe old age of 12.  As she was pouring through books...or eating tacos...or watching, hearing, smelling the preparation of food...or pretending she was a kungfu master...or singing along at the top of her voice to one of her many favorite songs (did I mention that her Walkman was always clipped on to her waistband...a change of cassette nearby)...in her imagination she was up in lights.  She was sharing it with the world.  She began to write stories, as well.  It was a logical progression.  She could record the world as she saw it.  There, in print, for others to share her worldly adventures.

No longer little, this girl went on to high school...and college.  She armed  herself with a dorm-fridge, books, paper and pencils, cd's, her favorite kung-fu flicks, her aqua blue Le Clic camera...and her thirst for knowledge.  She was a dreamer well into her adult life.  Nothing ever seemed to quench her thirst. Nothing except for the time when she was learning about...or participating in...one of those things in particular.  She did not know what she wanted to do with her life.  She craved more than what she was doing.  Working in a decent paying job...that was boring her out of her mind.  She yearned for more...for adventure...for challenge...for passion!  She wanted to work, but she wanted work that didn't feel like work. 

She decided to go back to culinary school...and in turn worked in kitchens.  It was good.  Through it all she met a man, fell in love, got married...there were even a few kids that worked their way in in the midst of it all.  Although she was happy working with food, she was happiest when she was exploring food.  When she was learning about food.  Trying and cooking new things.  She wanted to travel and see the the food and people of different cultures.  She wanted to write it all down in one of the notebooks that were always somewhere nearby.

And then one day, by chance, she stumbled upon something called a blog.  You can imagine how quickly she was hooked.  She realized that she could do this herself.  She has discovered a way to roll all of her passions into one.  She could explore food in all of its facets...and then she put it into action.  She would research it.  She would cook it.  She could document the whole process through photographs and writing!  THIS WAS IT!  It was a culmination of all she'd been looking for...something that was work, that didn't feel like work.  She could learn and explore and grow and teach and share and socialize all at the same time.  She could speak of herself in the third person, even.

And maybe....just maybe...she could even get paid for it someday.  This is why she is entering Project Food Blog.  If YOU believe in THIS GIRL (this girl right here)...please register to vote over at FoodBuzz

....I will figure out a way to work the kung-fu in one of these days!!!

Would you like to comment?

  1. What a wonderful post, Heather. I absolutely loved the story about your life growing up and your love for food, not just food, but making, creating, eating and sharing food.
    I will definitely vote. You deserve all the good and success that comes from your sheer talent.

    You're already a star!

    P.S. Is that your mom in the first picture? Gorgeous!

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  2. I came to check out the competition! But I got a beautiful story from a beautiful girl. You are "in to win it". Good Luck. GREG

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  3. This is a brilliant post Heather! You really excel at expressing the deepest of emotions. A very compelling post!

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  4. What a wonderful story. I love food, experimenting with food, writing about and photographing food, reading about food and, of course, eating food.

    And you have a wonderful food blog.

    -Brenda

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  5. I'm glad you got hooked! That photo with the chicken leg...HILARIOUS. Aerosmith rules.

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  6. Till date I had the impression that you are an amazing cook... now I have to change it.. you are a fabulous writer too :)

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  7. Great post Heather! I love reading about your evolution from a curious little girl to an even curiouser adult! I always love your food and I'm so glad that we'll be competing together

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  8. Great story Heather. I'm so glad you are entering the challenge. It's getting very interesting to see all of the contestants. Loved your old pictures too.

    Best of luck, or bonne chance as the French say.
    Sam

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  9. How wonderful and I feel that I know you so well now. Love the story in the third person haha! Good luck on the challenge! Yahoo!

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  10. Heather, what a fabulous post!! I just love the way you write (and cook!). You know you have my vote!!

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  11. Hey Girlie, I absolutely believe in you. You ought to try for the next Food Network Star. I'd watch your show, I sure would. Contact them and ask them when is their next Food Network Star so that you can enter.Wouldn't that be cool? I loved your story and I love all your foods. Keep doing what you are doing and someday I will be watching your cooking show on the Food Network. Imagine, getting to meet Bobby Flay, Barefoot Contessa and on and on. How exciting!! Go for it, I have faith in you.

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  12. Lovely post !! Totally enjoyed reading it. I would be glad to vote for you Heather. Way to go gal !!!

    US Masala

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  13. Love your story and the pictures posing with the cake! I will definitely vote for you!

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  14. I am loving all the twists and turns and angles that everyone is doing in this - love your story - good luck.

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  15. Thanks to everybody for your support and encouragement...they are definitely what keep me going =)

    And GREG, JOANNE, CHRISTO, NATASHA...you are only as good as the people you compete against/with...and I am HONORED to be competing with all of you!! Each one of you has amazed, inspired, affected me in more than one way over the past year and a half...thank you. It's an honor to be in this competition with all of you!!!!

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  16. I am really looking forward to this event. Some of my favorite bloggers like you are in it. Which makes me glad I didn't enter, I didn't have a chance!

    Great and fun post. LMAO over the "topless dining".

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  17. I registered and am ready to vote!

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  18. Great story! Good luck. This is a fun contest.

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  19. Great post! This is going to be such an exciting competition!

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  20. I love that chicken leg picture- Good luck in the competition!

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  21. good luck girl, i am sure you will do awesome.....love your story and you rocked those glasses..

    sweetlife

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  22. Oh wow, such a great post! Wishing you all he best and you have my vote. Good luck!
    Regards, Kristy

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  23. Fabulous Heather! I can't wait to watch this competition unfold and watch some of my blogging friends. Good Luck Heather!

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  24. Love your recipes, your stories, your blog...you have my vote! I'm going right now. :)

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  25. You guys totally rock, thank you!! And Julie, I should have mentioned that voting for this round opens on Sept. 20...I'll put up a reminder post then! =)

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  26. What a great job you did on this entry - I BELIEVE! :-)

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  27. i have read this post probably 5 times. i too have entered...but i have to tell you...your story, your post, your blog..very inspirational and i am in awe. i wish you luck..and to tell the truth..i have decided that i am going to vote for you.
    best
    christy

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  28. haha....thanks for the reminder! I had started this a while back and then kinda forgot about it. whew...
    Love the baby pictures!!! Good luck!! and here's a toast to PFB!! Cheers!!

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  29. Beautiful post, wishing you the best of luck! Great story, glad to get to know you better!
    -Gina-

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  30. Congrats on doing PFB, it just wasn't in me this year but I'll be cheering you on for sure! ;-)

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  31. Heather, what a great post! Thanks so much for sharing your story, that was so much fun to read!! Best of luck my friend!!

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  32. Great post, Heather. I'm happy to know more about you and how you arrived in bloggie land. I love your blog and wish you success in the competition.

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  33. Yes! Yes! Yes! I believe in this girl right here! What a LOVELY post heather! Oh, i have the chills! Simply stunning! All the love in the world by dear! Alex@amoderatelife

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  34. Ah, a girl after my own heart - food and books - and what a fabulous story. You have the art and the heart! Good luck on your journey!

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  35. What a cute post! I believe! Voted for you and wish you the best of luck!

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  36. Great Post... voted for you!!!! Good luck! :-)

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  37. Love the pic in your post. You have my vote!

    Good luck in the contest!

    Kelly
    Sounding My Barbaric Gulp!
    http://www.barbaricgulp.com

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  38. Love it :) It is fun learning more about everyone...Good luck and have fun, voting now :)

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  39. Good luck! I love the photos of you as a little girl - absolutely adorable. I hope we both get to enter challenge 2 this weekend. I cast a vote for you to continue on.

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  40. cool post... loved the retro photos and comments. Hope we both get to advance to the next round of PFB. Check out my post and let me know if you like mine too... http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/250

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  41. Great post Heather. Of course I am voting for you, and wish you lots of luck. I think you must have been born successful - I think you forgot to mention that :-)
    Sue

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  42. Had to vote for my Girl, i, Chef.

    Good luck!

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  43. Happy to see I wasn't the only one reading books with a flashlight under my sheets when I was little (or next to the nightlight for that matter - it's a wonder we're not blind). Good luck on PFB - hope to see us both in Round 2 ;) Oh, and I can't wait for the Kung Fu to get mixed in!

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