Why Do I Have a Food Blog?
I’ve often asked myself over the last couple years why food blogging and exercising creativity is so important to me. Why do I bother? I knew there was maybe an answer deep down, but I never really attempted to articulate it, and so I was left with my shallow responses that didn’t really get to the root of why I’m passionate about this endeavor.
A little over a month ago, I had the opportunity to apply to attend a dinner that will take place during The Gospel Coalition Women’s Conference. The application required that I write an essay answering three questions: 1: What do I do on a daily basis? 2: How do I feel about what I do? And 3: When has my work felt most meaningful?
I was forced to sit down and think through my work as a food blogger. I’m incredibly grateful for that challenge, and through this exercise, I’ve definitely found a renewed sense of purpose and am wrestling – in a good way – with the theological implications of creative work.
Below is a sneak peek at what I wrote, and you can read the rest of my essay over at The Gospel Coalition.
I am a stay-at-home mom of 13-month-old twins. I spend much of my day feeding hungry mouths, washing dirty clothes, wiping tears, giving kisses, snuggling babies, and doing whatever else is needed around the house.
When the kids get up in the morning, it’s diaper changes and then downstairs for breakfast. I grab a big mug of coffee and sit with the kids while they eat in their high chairs—because, maybe while they’re strapped in, I can enjoy my coffee while it’s still hot. Then I do a not-so-thorough cleanup job (it’s just going to be a mess again in a few hours, right?), and we head into the other room to play. I’m usually still trying to finish that coffee, which by now is lukewarm.
In between my mugs of caffeine and mama duties, I am also a food blogger. Eventually naptime arrives, and I squeeze in my blog work. I check emails, post to social media, develop recipes, photograph dishes, edit images, and write.
Food blogging started as a creative outlet for me, and once I had kids, it was an excuse to do something other than change diapers. I’d often sheepishly—almost with a sense of guilt—describe it that way to others. But in my head, I couldn’t help but wonder, What is the purpose behind my cooking? What is the reason for my blog? I craved the creative work, but I also felt guilty about spending time pursuing this craft.
Read more at The Gospel Coalition.
Recipe pictured is for this Fig, Prosciutto + Goat Cheese Panini.
