Baking a Moment: The Writing Process
A behind-the-scenes peek at the Writing Process of Baking a Moment.
Hi friends! Today I’m bringing you something a little different.
Maybe you’ve seen some of these posts floating around the blogosphere lately- well, I am so honored to have been invited to participate in the Writing Process Blog Tour, by my good friend Nora of A Clean Bake. If you don’t already know Nora and her blog, you have to check it out! She is amazingly talented with food in general, but specifically with baking/dessert recipes of the allergen-free variety. I am always just blown away by her ability to create the most amazing recipes without one iota of wheat gluten, dairy, or refined sugar. She’s funny as heck and really knows her stuff.
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Thank you so much for passing the torch, Nora!
So I will be answering a few questions about my writing process and how I go about doing what I love to do 😉 Hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes peek; here we go!
What are you working on?
The summer was cray. I did a lot of guest posts, sponsored posts, and blogger events. Every day felt like kind of a panic (but I’m not complaining- being able to work hard is truly a blessing). I kept thinking I could see a break on the horizon, but I didn’t finally get there until like a week or so ago. So, right now, I’m just catching my breath and gearing up for the season ahead. Fall, leading into the holidays, tends to be “high season” for a food blogger, so I’m gathering ideas for the coming months and planning my editorial calendar. If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen that I took a trip to the bookstore on Saturday to browse cookbooks and get inspired. I came away from that trip with a mile-long list of ideas, so I’m very excited to get in the kitchen and start creating! In the shorter term, I still have a crap-ton of cherries left over from my recent Fox TV appearance, so I’m hoping to make up for today’s lack of a recipe post with a real jaw-dropping dessert for the end of this week 😉
How does your work differ from others in its genre?
Maybe you guys can help me out with this question? To be perfectly honest I am struggling to define what sets me apart. There are a lot of baking blogs out there and several that have a similar kind of focus to mine. I can say that I love styling and photography, I’m passionate about baking from scratch, and I’m inspired by the seasons. I want to encourage people to slow down, simplify, and enjoy the process of baking, as well as tasting homemade treats. And I love talking to you! I’m so happy to have been able to connect with others who share the same kinds of interests. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that my enthusiasm shines through and strikes a chord.
Why do you write what you do?
I’ve always been detail oriented, and I sometimes joke that I’m “compulsively creative.” It’s really true- if I don’t have a “problem” to solve, and a way to do it with my eyes and hands, then I’m miserably unhappy. When I say “problem,” that can be as simple as creating a unique recipe with a certain ingredient, or it can mean designing someone’s home renovation, or it can mean learning the ins and outs of social media. As long as there’s a challenge in front of me, and my mind is actively working out a way to overcome it, I feel fulfilled. Recipe development, styling and photography, and sharing have filled that need in my life, that was kinda left empty when I left my previous career to start my family. Once my kids were no longer nursing and in diapers, I had a little more time/freedom, but I still wanted to be home with, and available to, them. Being a mom is my number one priority, but writing Baking a Moment became my “me time.” Now that they’re (both) about to start elementary school (EEP!) I’m so happy I have this off the ground, and I’m psyched to have even more time and energy to devote to making it as great as I think it can be!
How does your writing process work?
My writing process begins with recipe development. When I have an idea for a recipe I want to create, there’s usually some reason for it. Maybe it’s a holiday or a birthday– someone or something I want to celebrate or honor. Or maybe it’s a certain ingredient that’s inspired me, and I want to shine a spotlight on it. Sometimes it’s a memory. Or maybe it’s just something I whipped up on a whim the weekend before, and decided to share. There’s always some kind of a story behind it, and beyond just talking about the food, how to make it, and how delicious it is, I like to share that story.
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So now it’s my turn to nominate bloggers to write about their own process!
1) First up is Connie, who authors URBAN BAKES. Connie’s talent just blows me away. Her creations are stunningly beautiful and she always leaves me wanting more. We met at BlogHer Food back in May, and we’ve been great friends ever since!
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2) Next is Zainab, who has been the most incredible, supportive friend to me, for almost a year now! I am so glad that we have connected, because I can always count on her any time I have a question, doubt, or just need someone to lean on. Her blog is Blahnik Baker, and her recipes and photos are absolutely mouthwatering.
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3) And finally, my friend and fellow mom Alice, of Hip Foodie Mom. Hip Foodie Mom was one of the first food blogs I ever followed, so I’ve kinda known her for years. And after hanging with her at IFBC last year, and again at BlogHer Food, I feel so blessed to be able count Alice as a close friend. She creates fresh, healthy recipes that are family friendly, and she’s also one of the most good-hearted people I’ve ever had the pleasure of getting to know. She inspires me every day to work harder and do better.
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Be sure to follow Urban Bakes, Blahnik Baker, and Hip Foodie Mom, and look for their upcoming Writing Process posts!
Good morning Allie,
BAKING with you is so inspiring. You are using ingredients that are available or that we can easily exchange with other products.
Do you have cookbook(s) out? I would love to purchase some.
Thank you for making working in the kitchen ‘FUN’ !
All the best from Ontario, Canada.
I am always interested in what the creative process is for other writers. For me recipes
and life events are tightly intertwined also. That’s the beauty and binding effect of food.
I couldn’t have said it better myself, Carol! Thanks so much for the great feedback. 😉
Oh Allie, I loved reading this post and reading about what goes on behind the scenes! It’s always a joy to come here because your photography and recipes are top notch and you put so much time and effort to get them just right to share with us which I totally appreciate. Your summer was pretty full and I’m so glad you are catching your breath and getting in a break. Can’t wait to see your gorgeous fall creations 🙂
Thank you sweetie! It’s always a joy to read your sweet comments. You always put a smile on my face! xoxo
I love this post Allie!! Always great to hear what is going on behind the scenes. Your summer was so busy and so exciting at the same time!! And you know I tell you always that your art, your pictures, your recipes…all set you apart! I always come here for solid recipes that I know will wow 🙂
Thank you so much my dear! Love you and can’t wait to see you in a few short weeks! 😀 😀 😀
Allie, I love this post! Your work always blows me away and it is such a treat to read a little bit about how it goes from your mind to the page, er, screen. I know you think your blog is not easily differentiated from so many other dessert blogs but I beg to differ. Your artistry, simplicity, elegance and voice set you apart from the crowd again and again. Your recipes are classic and relatable, unlike so many bloggers these days who follow trends at the expense of solid, traditional, reliable recipes, and they are so flawless. I look forward to reading your cookbook someday while watching your cooking show 😉 You have BIG things ahead of you! Keep up the wonderful and inspiring work, Allie!
Aw Nora! You made me giggle. You’re too sweet really. Thanks so much for nominating me for this; I had a lot of fun with it. And thank you for always being such a huge support to me! xoxo
Hello, Allie! I always enjoy reading these ‘writing process blog tour’ posts and had the pleasure of doing one myself too a few posts ago … so of course I really enjoyed yours! Even though we are all basically doing the same thing here, it’s incredible how different we end up being at the same time. I think you’re a talented writer and an exceptional blogger in general, but what I think particularly makes you unique is your photos. They really are stunning and definitely represent a standard that I aspire to! 🙂
Aw that is so kind of you to say, Helen! Thank you so much. I am always inspired by your writing, you always draw me right in with your fascinating stories about all the exotic places you’ve visited, and adventures you have had!
Really great advice. Plus I hadn’t seen your (updated?) About Me page with all those stunning photographs. I need to search for that recipe of the cake with pineapple pieces on top… I think it’s pineapple? Anyway, pinned to my “Blog It” board. Thanks for your patience, always, in answering my questions. It’s really appreciated 🙂 And extra impressive considering how much time you’ve been putting in!!
Please don’t thank me for my patience! I love talking to you, you make it sound like it’s a chore or something, it’s totally not. We can learn from each other and I love talking shop 😉 Thank you for pinning, and thanks for asking about the pineapple cake. It’s a Hummingbird Cake and my family really loved it!
OK, cool 🙂 It’s so nice to have some other bloggers now I can count on, especially you, after having been going it alone for so long! Yum, I’ve made hummingbird cupcakes before a long time ago. I love the way you decorated the cake!
Oh yes! I know just how you feel- it’s so hard doing it alone. It was that way for a long time for me too. 😉
Allie, I LOVED seeing a little peek behind the scenes and may have to borrow the term “compulsively creative”–that fits me to a T, too 🙂 I’m glad that you are able to take a sec to catch your breath and I’m super pumped to see what you bake up this fall!
Thank you so much Amy! And that’s so funny that you can relate to my “compulsively creative” label. I’ve dabbled in just about every medium I know of, and I love it all. I can see that you’re that way too! Kindred 😉
Allie, love this post and thank you for the nomination! Also just wanted to say. . Baking a Moment totally stands out. You put so much work and time into your posts and it shows. From the food styling to the photographs to the actual recipe (and I love that you bake from scratch and you don’t do easy stuff!) . . something I’m sure comes from your Pastry Chef experience, which I think it totally awesome! Anyway, I know you are already seeing progress. . I’m so happy for you. . just keep doing what you’re doing and thanks for sharing this today! See you next month, woot woot!
Thank you so much Alice! That is so nice to hear, you have no idea! Sometimes when you are just in the trenches working so hard every day, it’s tough to see the forest for the trees. I know my blog is a reflection of me, but I can’t always pinpoint exactly what that means. Hearing your kind words just made my whole day <3 Also I just want to mention that I have nothing whatsoever against the easy stuff- whatever makes you happy! I just enjoy scratch baking most of all because I love seeing that magic happen from the most basic of ingredients. I geek out on the chemistry of it all, lol!
This is so fun! I just love your style, even if it feels undefined – maybe there just isn’t the right words! But keep doing what you love, its obviously wonderful!
Aw thank you so much Jessica! I’ll keep searching for those words, but in the meantime it’s really just about doing what I love! Thanks so much for being such a sweet and loyal reader <3
Thanks for sharing Allie!!! I usually follow allergy friendly blogs but I fell in love with your blog because your photography is really like looking at beautiful art and I just love reading your stories. I love getting your emails regularly and seeing what you are up to. You inspire me because I know you are a busy Mom too yet you manage to share your love for baking
Thank you so much Ester! I know you have food intolerances and I so appreciate you reading anyway- even though my recipes probably don’t suit your lifestyle, I’m so glad that you can get something positive out of my posts. Thank you so much for the kind words of encouragement! I’m so grateful to you!!!
LOVE THIS!!! And love the nominees 🙂 —and I hate that question about what sets you apart because it can seem hard. But I think the point is that the blog is YOU-and there is no other you out there 🙂
Very true, Kayle! Our blogs are an extension of us- our aesthetic, our words, our experiences, and what makes us happy. No two are alike! Thank you so much for pointing that out and for always being so supportive and encouraging 😉
I’ve so enjoyed reading everyone’s answers to these questions! You really did have a crazy summer and yet it didn’t show in your posts at all. I would say one of the things that sets you apart is that you make and photograph incredibly gorgeous food, but it is very doable. Many times I see gorgeous photography and the ingredient list is way outside my comfort zone 🙂 Not with you. You are a very very talented photographer. And a very generous blogger! You always seem to be guest posting for someone and helping them out. I love that about you! I cannot wait to see your cherry dessert, and I KNOW it will be stunning, because like I said, your food is always stunning. Hope you had a great weekend Allie!
Aw, thank you Mary Frances! Your sweet comment really makes my day. It never occurred to me that my food seemed doable. I always worry that the recipes may be intimidating for someone who’s not experienced with baking. But that is one of the things that I really love about scratch-baking: I always have those basic ingredients on hand. To me, that almost makes it easier. Thanks again for the awesome comment sweetie! xoxo