I see my name splattered all over your blog...Love. Looks like I need to jump in here.

I was at the Garden of Eden the day Quinn built the first rocket stove. I found a table on the property and moved it near the stove. That was the day the evolution of the cooking theater began. Soon I asked Quinn to build me 2 more stoves, then soon we incorporated the fire pit, all circled around the adobe oven. During that time, Sara and Everlove (Shellie) cleaned out a building made of pallets and we turned it into my outdoor kitchen. Decorative lights were hung all around, creating a magical outdoor cooking experience.

Because of the abundant organic garden, wildcrafting and the endless donations from neighboring businesses, for a seriously creative and brave, GoE trained chef, the fun never ends. One of the biggest joys in my life has been playing with food at the Garden of Eden.

While currently cooking for the GoE family in Panama coupled with my extensive travel experiences I'm excited to be returning soon to fire up those stoves again. What will I be cooking?

I don't know.

It's not clear to me what I am making until I'm getting close to finishing. A dish will start as one thing and end up as something else. Sometimes I just start chopping onions. I have no idea what I will make but, then...the ingredients speak to me.

Sometimes, what I make is so friggin amazing and tasty I literally feel like I need to apologize. The dishes I serve often literally fly off the serving table and I hear, "Love, why didn't you make more?" You'll just have to hang around for the next meal.

Tirelessly, daily, I pop out amazing food. The love and appreciation from the community, homeless feeds, catering clients and party guests is my fuel to sometimes cook well into the night, sleep a few hours then get up and feed the people again. Cooking with Shellie, @everlove, however, is always an adventure.

When I prepare a party meal or catering meal, @everlove is my go-to sounding board. I begin by writing a menu then, laughing and giggling with excitement I share it with her then, we perfect the plan. She always seems to be the one who blends it all together and smooths out the plan for me, tells when I need to pull back or add some "pow" to it all. Sometimes she laughs at me when she sees me running across the property with a spoon in my hand containing something I want her to taste. What I like best about cooking with her is she never tires, never complains, listens to me when I hit a wall and always makes sure everything looks beautiful.

Soon I will be returning to cook again to serve coffee, make eggs and pancakes, gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, homemade pizzas, and Cheese Stuffed Jalapeno Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf...or whatever else I come up with. I never know what my ingredients will be because Quinn just brings me what is donated. So much fun to just play with what arrives.

My cooking and food experiences at the Garden of Eden have no doubt shaped who I am. Working in that kitchen and managing my helpers and volunteers has been a seriously evolutionary experience for me. In the beginning, I was an angry bitch about everything but over time with Quinn's guidance and patience with me, I truly have found parts of my lost self in those stoves, endless gardens, and carloads of crates of food. Now, I can honestly say I can lead others and create amazing food while laughing and playing. The rocket stoves ignited a fire within me to release my anger and truly be "love".

I'm endlessly grateful to Quinn @quinneaker and Shellie @everlove for never giving up on me and allowing me the amazing and self-upgrading experience at the Garden of Eden @gardenofeden My life there, working with all aspects of food has molded me into someone I truly love.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!