Cafe Terra Blog: It’s A Grand Experiment.

Cafe Terra Blog is where I love sharing recipes with you. When I launched the blog in 2010, the recipes didn’t necessarily have a theme or specific focus. I shared recipes that made me happy. Most of the time, the blogs posted were in the dessert category. Sweet treats always make me happy.

Then, in 2014, I started publishing romance books with recipes made by the characters.

That’s when Cafe Terra Blog had her first shift from creating recipes to making recipes inspired by the characters in my books.

At one point, when I was focused on my books, someone told me my readers didn’t care about the recipes (which I know was not true). That’s when I made a big, drastic move to retire Cafe Terra Blog.

When I retired the blog, I moved hundreds of recipes off the website and onto an external drive. They’re still there.

The blog eventually came out of retirement, but I shifted away from calling it Cafe Terra Blog. Instead, I focused on sharing recipes on my Terra Kelly website, making it feel like one place with recipes inspired by the book characters. 

The truth is, the recipes are more than just inspired by the characters. They’re also recipes that bring me joy. 

After fifteen years of running my food blog, it’s time to make another big shift.

This change has helped me to understand that the food blog can do all the above. 

The blog can share recipes inspired by the characters in my books, make me happy, and share recipes that everyone will love.

Cafe Terra Blog is BACK!

I spent a few hours organizing all my blog supplies to prepare for the new chapter. 

The plates, dishes, and props I love to use for my recipes or photos have been sitting in boxes for too long. 

We love to go to antique stores. Every time I go, I find something that would be perfect in a photo. I can’t wait to share those treasures with you.

A little back story…

In the past, my recipes didn’t have a theme or specific focus. They didn’t need to.

That will be the big difference going forward. 

Cafe Terra Blog will focus on using whole grains and keeping the recipes sugar-free.

The main reason is that we can’t eat all the sweet treats I loved to make in the past. We both have had health changes and need to switch our focus.

Once we started making the diet changes, I struggled with stepping into the kitchen to create a recipe. At first, baking sugar-free felt too hard, but that feeling was all in my head. I just needed to see the big picture.

The truth is, I’ve worked with so many different recipes over the years; this was just like working with another recipe, but it would be long-term. 

Once we made the changes, I discovered that my skin conditions, Rosacea and psoriasis, started to improve. I’ve had my skin issues since I was 17, and I’m now 50, so a long time.

Sugar-free has helped my skin and overall health, motivating me to continue creating more recipes.

The recipes will still be delicious.

We’re so used to eating processed granulated sugar in our sweets that it’s hard to think about a recipe being delicious and yet sugar-free. 

I promise it’s possible, though. 

Sugar-free and flavor are two very important factors with the recipes I’ll create on Cafe Terra Blog. 

For example, I made a new chocolate chip cookie recipe several times to test how all the flavors came together. 

Hubby has decided that the cookie recipe is so good it could compete with the classic Nestle Tollhouse cookie. That’s a bold assessment. 

My point: It’s possible to make recipes with whole grains and ensure they are sugar-free while also staying focused on flavor, and that’s my goal.

Here's a little sneak peek...

Do you need to buy a mill for the whole grains?

Short answer: No

Long answer: If you want one, sure. They are so much fun. There is something satisfying about milling your flour for your recipes. You don’t have to, though. You can buy whole grains already milled.

Spoiler Alert: It’s fun.

When I learned about milling grains, I researched which mill I should buy, found a place to buy whole grains, and bought cookbooks with recipes focused on fresh milled flour.

It’s been a journey.

I love learning about how fresh-milled flour is good for you. Seriously.

For example, freshly milled grains will add over 40 different vitamins, minerals, fiber, and more back into your diet.

We commonly use all-purpose flour, which is stripped of all but maybe a couple of nutrients. The good stuff is in the bran and wheat germ.

So the grains I bought are the wheat berries, with all the good stuff still present. When I mill to make the flour, I’m not removing the bran or wheat germ; I’m just coarsely grinding them.

Knead Me Romance Serial Sneak Peek:

“My doctor called with the results from my lab work.”

He joined me and grabbed my hand. “Yeah, and?”

“I have to make some serious changes to my diet.” I fidgeted with his fingers to keep my mind distracted.

“Okay, we can handle it.” He combed his fingers through my hair and laced his hand behind my neck. “What are the changes exactly?”

“I need to eat more whole grains and remove granulated sugar.”

“And that means what?”

“I can’t make the please forgive me cheesecake anymore.”

“Yes, you can.”

“Um, do you know how much sugar is in that recipe?”

“Not really, but that’s not what I mean.” He leaned closer and kissed me. “Make a new version. Make your version.”

I’m sure my eyes were as wide as saucers. “It’s like we share a brain or something.” I hopped up and ran around to the other side of the island. “Look.” I slide a cookbook toward him.

“Fresh milled flour.” He flipped through the book. “Are the recipes sugar-free?”

“No, but I’ve been researching that, too.” I slid another book toward him. “I happened to catch something online about milling your own flours.” I grabbed another book and opened a page with images of whole grains. “I buy the grains and make the flour. I would use a sugar substitute instead of what is mentioned in each recipe.”

“And how will you mill the grains?” He glanced around the kitchen. “Are you adding another kitchen toy to our already overloaded space?”

“Maybe.” I laughed. “I thought you liked all my kitchen toys.

Read the full chapter for Knead Me on Ream here and Substack here.

Someone wants to help me…

Another idea popped into my mind when I decided to change my blog.

What if I wrote a romance serial where the main character was going through the same experiences but in a fictional story?

This got me thinking…

…about Isabel from Hard to Resist (The Winters Family Book One).

If you’ve read my blogs before, you’ve probably noticed how I add a mini-story from the characters in my books. I give you more after you reach the end of a book, and as a bonus, they are whipping up delicious recipes.

What you’ll get!

I’ll post a new blog and a new chapter in the Knead Me romance serial twice a month on Ream here and Substack here.

In the blog, you’ll still get to enjoy a mini-story.

Exclusive Content: I’ll also offer an extended chapter for the serial in the Terra Kelly membership. 

For only $3.00/month, you can read the Knead Me romance serial on Ream or Substack. 

Plus, you can enjoy the other exclusive content available when you join. (*whispers* that’s where you’ll find the Crystal Shores Serial. You can also read No Rules Required, a free serial.)

Are you ready?

I’ve had too much fun milling whole grains and creating new sugar-free recipes.

So far, I’ve made cookies, pasta, bread, and pizza dough multiple times.

And they’re all hubby-approved.

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