What the Kitchen Knows...If At First...

Hey Everyone:

Welcome to the second issue of “What the Kitchen Knows”, a new venture in newsletters for me. I’m so glad you’re here.

Today, I’m talking about Blueberry Biscuits. Yep, biscuits. You’ll see…

A few years ago, my husband and I, along with our two furry kids, moved to East Tennessee. I know it sounds cliché, but I was thrilled at the prospect of new opportunities, new experiences, and a very different life. My expectations were high. I was eager to learn everything I could about Southern Hospitality, Southern Cuisine, and Southern Life. I knew East Tennessee had a lot to offer and I wanted to jump on that train as fast as I could.

And for the most part, I did. My schooling started the moment we drove over the state line, headed toward Nashville, then Knoxville, and finally Maryville. Immediately everything was different. The weather, the landscape, the language, and certainly the food. Coming from the west Coast it felt like we turned ourselves upside down. Sure, it was a little scary, and a little confusing, but you know what? It was also charming and exciting. We were ready for the adventure to begin!

One thing I noticed right away was that everywhere I went, someone offered me a biscuit. Now, I didn’t grow up eating biscuits. In fact, I don’t even like biscuits, but it didn’t take me long to realize the importance of warm, flaky, home-made biscuits in my new state. And let’s not forget the melted butter – not margarine – and the warm, sweet honey. I’m not kidding when I say it’s a “thing.” A good biscuit, served warm and sweet, is the ultimate measure of hospitality and southern heritage. I knew right way that if I was going to fit in, I needed to learn how to make biscuits.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love learning. But learning to make biscuits for a Southern Girl is a snap. For a California Girl, not so much. I tried. I honestly tried. But every batch was more disappointing than the one before. They came out of the oven like hockey pucks, dense like bricks, and hard like rocks. They needed a disclaimer. “Warning: may chip or break teeth.”

My neighbor had one comment, “Oh, bless your heart.” And if you know anything about the South, that was, in fact, the most polite way of saying my biscuits were bad. Really bad.

Who was I kidding? I was a West Coast Girl, born and bred. Biscuit-making was not in my DNA. So, with a heavy sigh, I threw up my hands and ceded victory to the biscuit gods.

Until…

One day I was in a mood and feeling cranky. Nothing was going right, so I plunked myself down on the couch, remote in hand, and channel-surfed my way through the midday offerings on DirectTV.

I happen to like cooking shows, so I stopped on Cook’s Country. They were making blueberry biscuits! “Oh sure,” I said to the television, “Rub that in my face!” I sneered with disdain. But then I heard four magic words. Easy. No-Knead. Blueberry. Biscuits.

What? My ears perked up. I turned the volume up. I listened. I learned. And then…I tried.

The result? Beautifully golden, flaky soft, buttery sweet, home-made biscuits filled with an abundance of blueberries. They were truly amazing. Looking at those biscuits standing tall and proud, I also felt amazing. I did it! I finally made it to the ranks of Southern Hospitality Hostess. What an accomplishment! I was so proud of myself.

But something else also happened. Something positive. As I stood there admiring my version of biscuit glory, I realized my journey to the coveted title of "Blueberry Biscuit Master" was a lot like the journeys I took in my own business. In particular, I’m talking about marketing. All the ingredients were there. Desire. Attempt. Struggle. Near Failure. New Attempt. Success. They were all there.

You see, for me the journey into biscuit-making was a lesson, and the lesson was this: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Yep, that old saying is true. If you try and it doesn’t work, then find another way. And keep trying because with perseverance and a little luck, or even magic, you’ll find the one thing that leads to amazing results.

So, keep trying and keep working. You’ll get there, and it’s going to be amazing.

That’s all for now.

Oh! If you want to try this delicious recipe for yourself then just drop me a line. Contact me at mary@truevoicecopy.com

Here’s to Blueberry Biscuits!

Mary Vosika | Director/Owner | True Voice Copy

P.S. If your marketing isn’t bringing you the results you want, then it might be time to try something new. I can help. Contact me at mary@truevoicecopy.com