It’s Sota Nice….
…to be here! My name is Ellen and in case you’re wondering about “sota”, it’s short for Minnesota, my home state. Minnesotans are known for being “nice”. Which might be a euphemism for politely stand-offish. When you meet a Minnesotan for the first time, be ready to have a conversation about the weather, and don’t expect to be touched….No handshake, no pat on the shoulder, no fist pump and heaven forbid, no hug. Just a “nice to meet ya” and be on your way. Perfect for 2020.
I’m not here to talk about the weather. I’m not entirely sure I should be here at all, creeping into my 6th decade, making my first foray into the blogosphere. However, as I have been admonished by my wizened 26 year old daughter…”It’s never too late.”
I have a life long love of cooking, inspired by my mother, grandmothers and aunts who gathered us around tables to enjoy what they created in their kitchens. I was an avid onlooker, eagerly waiting to be asked to stir, sift, roll, knead or measure. They taught me to prepare smørrebrød, lefse, krumkake, and aebleskiver, the foods of my Scandinavian heritage. They taught me to appreciate the time spent sharing meals and stories with family and friends.
The kitchen is where I create. I can lose myself for hours in the planning, list making, shopping and preparation of food. My hope is to share the passion, inspire others to cook with ease and abandon. I take shortcuts, make substitutions and leave most of the measuring cups in the drawer (unless I’m baking). Sometimes, I forget the garlic toast under the broiler and the rice boils over on the stove, and there was that time I found an extra pan of stuffing in the oven…three days after Thanksgiving.
Cooking is best combined with forgiveness, laughter and love. Come along for the ride as I share what I love. I really hope you’re up for the forgiveness part. Please forgive the lack of blogging skills, photography skills and more…I am learning as I go…flying by the seat of my pants…it’s just the way I roll.
Oh, and by the way…that daughter I mentioned above. She’s the one who designed the logo, created the illustrations, and set up the blog. I think she’s pretty talented. She lives in New York City where she works as a fashion designer and is developing a career as an illustrator/designer/graphic artist. You can follow her work @what_wear_why and whatwearwhy.com, or hire her to design your logo, Christmas card, or draw a really cool picture of your dog.
Let’s cook!