It's been a while...

Hello everyone. It's been ages since I wrote a blog. A lot has happened in my life since my first blog post. Not sure where to begin. I moved to Copperas Cove, Tx to help my daughter with my beautiful new grandchild. The photos below are her just a month ago as well as my grandson. My little miss priss with all the attitude. I've also spent the last 2 years getting my business going and I recently had surgery in April.

First my daughters hubby came back from deployment and within a 1 1/2 they were leaving for Fort Stewart, Ga. It was a hard time for me. Last year when they left I sat down in my living room holding my grandbabies toy and blankly she left and just completely lost it. My heart break was so profound. I thin about how I felt and I cry even now as I write this as I know how it made me feel. Both my babies were leaving me. It's one thing to know they will at some point but it's another to actually have to deal with it as I had too. Once they left it was hard for me to talk to them without crying. My heartbreak was that profound. I told myself each time "don't cry" but I did. And just when I thought I was finally coping my daughter calls me crying and she came home in December 2015 just before xmas. She was gone 4 months and I thought during that time my life felt so void. I was missing a part of me. I was hurting that she was hurting but I was so excited that she came home. She got in about 3am and I ran out to the car and hugged her and then I ran around the car and got my baby out the car and I just hugged her and cried. My girls were back. I was elated. Come March 2016 we moved back in to her house she own here in Cove. It was such a joy to wake up knowing my girls were home. Now I have a grandson whom I got close to again and I've missed him terrible. Ruben is my first grandchild and he lives with my mom. I won't go into personal details but I made sure he was ok from the get go so many years ago. He is my heart as is Ciara. During this time I was diagnosed with a heal spur and my tendon was damaged from it. Apparently I have been walking like this for over a year so nerve damage had already set in. So on April 7th I went in for surgery. I had to have the heal spur removed and the tendon repaired and then stretched to the anchors to keep my tendon in place. To this date I have been out of work. I work full time job at the local grocery store for benefits. Thankfully I have been able to receive a portion of my pay since then. During this time of recovery I was staying with my mom. Both Ciara and I have been together at my moms. My grand son enjoyed s being there but he likes it more now that I'm back in my own home. Lol. He doesn't like to share my mom with anyone. Now I'm home and I have to continue to take it easy as it hurts to walk to long and stand to long. I currently still in a boot/brace for when I walk. My incision has developed scar tissue and it's painful. Plus being diabetic doesn't help the healing process. So I'll be out of "work" for another month. Then i should depending on what the dr says I'll back to my full time job but with reduced hours temporarily as I'll be starting school August 15th.

So as I said it's been a tying time but I'm still "standing" and I always will bounce back. I'm a fighter it's in my blood. I want my grand children and my daughter to know that no matter what age you are or what life throws at you that your dreams are always attainable. It's up to you to go and grab your dreams. Your never to old to capture those dreams.

I love what I do. I enjoy being in the kitchen and making food that not just my family will enjoy but my clients as well. I love it so much that last year I went full time Caterer. It took a bit to get my first client but it has paid off. This year I've been lucky to have 8 catering jobs. Not to bad. Plus some orders just for cakes and desserts. I recently got a new cookbook to add to my collection and it was from the famous book/tv series Outlander. The food is amazingly good. I actually went to Scotland about 17 years ago and I got to experience Scottish food for a month and I can tell you that it was so good. Below you will see the new cookbook and the two dishes I've made so far from it. Potato Fritters & Scotch eggs with sausage patties. I highly recommend this cookbook.

Most recently I took the plunge and finally at 45 I am officially enrolled in Culinary School at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas. I chose this school as there is less student per instructor so there is a more chance to have student/instructor one on one if a student needs help plus they have a Farm to table as part of there curriculum. No other school I looked at like has this program. So I will be going to Culianry school to enhance what I already do. I truly believe it will better my skills and be very good for my business. I'm so looking forward to it and I'm a bit nervous as well. It has been a very long time since I have been in a classroom setting. My biggest wish is that it shows my grand daughter that no matter age you are that no dream is unattainable. I truly hope it shows my daughter that as well.

​I will post a few more photos of my dishes for you. I will post weekly from now on. I will at times post pictures and with the recipe with step by step directions to make it easier for the home cook to enjoy. I will also post my adventures in Culinary school so you can travel the path with me. Till nex time remember those less fortunate than you are and always make time for the ones you love. Because don't wait till there gone to realize you should have been there. Life can end at any given moment. Make time for you never know when our time will come. Don't waste it.

Eve
Executive Chef/Owner
​La Loba's Home Bakery & Catering

Left to Right: Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges, Grinding Pork for Freshly Ground Sausage, Salmon on a bed of Spanish Rice, Pork Medallions with Garlic Parmesan Wedges and Sweet Potato Mash, Lobster on a bed of Spanish Rice