I followed my nose this morning, and it led me to La Popular Bakery in San Antonio.
You know how some places you can smell before you see? That’s this one. The minute that door opened, it was warm sugar and cinnamon and fresh-baked everything, and I just stood there a second like a woman who’d walked into a hug.
The cases run the length of the shop — conchas in every color, campechanas, cinnamon rolls, cookies by the tray. Pan dulce, the real thing, baked fresh daily the way it’s been done here since 1966.
That’s the part that got me. La Popular was started in 1966 by Pablo and Blanca Garza, and sixty years later it’s still their family behind the counter — the Cerna-Garza family, generation after generation, pulling the same sweet bread out of the same ovens. In a world where everything changes every five minutes, there’s a family in San Antonio that just kept baking.
I got a bag of cream puffs and some cookies, because I have the willpower of a screen door in a windstorm. Papi claimed two before we made it back to the car. The flour tortillas are homemade too, and let me tell you, store-bought tortillas should be embarrassed.
If you’re ever in San Antonio, go early — the locals know, and the good stuff goes. Find them on West Ave or Cupples Road, and tell them Dinky sent you. They won’t know who that is, but it’ll make you feel like a regular.
Bloom where you are planted — and this morning, I was planted in front of a bakery case with powdered sugar on my shirt. — Dinky
Hello, my name is Dinky. This is a name given to me in my first marriage. It is my grandma name. A few other selected individuals address me as such. I am a onetime divorced, one-time widowed single woman trying to discover the real me. I will take you on my journey. Read if you are interested.
I feel that I am a hard knock educated person. I have been a working mother, a stay-at-home wife, a Christian, a caretaker, and a retired woman. I am always seeking wisdom on how to improve as a person and hopefully I can share as I learn more.
I have many interests. I enjoy cooking because I enjoy eating. I am not a great cook but am eager to try new recipes. I will share these with you. I have a degree in business management and a certification in food science. I have worked man years in the food manufacturing industry.
I also have a small farm. I have some cows, a donkey, some wild horses a bull and two dogs. I would like to explore more homesteading techniques and become self-sustained. Maybe we can learn together. I encourage your input and ideas.
I have spent many years learning how to make quilts. This is another hobby I would like to get back into. I am always up to learn new crafts and explore new projects.
I am really big on goal setting and finding ways to make my life simpler. I will take you through some of my ideas on that progress.
Lastly, but biggest on my list is that I am a Christian in continual growth mode. I will never be all that I should, and I will never judge people in regard to their own journey. I am always open for discussion on this topic.
If you find my talks interesting, feel free to follow me. If I say or write anything offensive feel free to call me out. I am up for improvement and self-growth.
Welcome to learning about me and helping me in my self-discovery.
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