Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Mae Harris
Hi Kara Mae, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have been fascinated with Maryland recipes ever since I realized there was such a thing. Since I am from here, it didn’t occur to me until I was a adult! In 2011 I started building a database of Maryland recipes, which became a blog in 2015. I committed to posting for two years but by the time two years was up I felt like there was still so much more to explore – plus I was starting to meet so many kind people and talk to them about cookbooks and recipes. It will be 10 years this Spring and I hope to keep going for awhile!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a learning process. People take their recipes very seriously and I try to handle other peoples’ recipes with care. Early on, I would get my feelings hurt if people insulted the way the food looked or the version of the recipe I used, but then I came to see that people are just passionate about food.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think of myself primarily as a writer although I am also a historian, a database developer, and an experienced home cook. These things all combine to form my Old Line Plate website, a chronicle of Maryland recipes and the people behind them.
I have been able to bring to life stories of some forgotten Marylanders and everyday people who put love into their cooking. I’ve even been lucky enough to connect some people with their own lost family recipes.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I am a very shy person but the COVID crisis made me realize how much I need other people – not just my friends and family but the people I see in the library, on the bus, and in Baltimore. It made me realize how important community is to mental health.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://oldlineplate.com
- Instagram: old_line_plate
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oldlineplate
