LE MARS, Iowa -- Jada Tirre's life can be examined by looking at the calendar on the wall of her parents' kitchen.
Certain dates are marked off for such things as college career fairs or homecoming dances. But an increasing portion of the calendar has shorthand reminders to make cookies, bread and special occasion cakes.
You see, Jada is a busy entrepreneur with a home bakery. That is, she's a busy baker when it doesn't interfere with her studies as a Le Mars Community High School junior.
"The wall calendar is helpful for both Jada and the rest of the family," mom Joaquina Tirre said with a smile. "That means it will be a crockpot dinner for us because Jada will be taking control of the kitchen."
A KNACK FOR BAKING, A KNACK FOR BUSINESS
An avid cook and baker since she was a little girl, Jada remembered helping her dad Armando Tirre in the kitchen.
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"My dad's an amateur baker so I'd help him out a bit," she said.
"Jada's a natural," Armando, a Wells Enterprises quality control manager, explained. "She just has a knack when it comes to baking."
Not only that, but Jada also has a knack for business.
A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Starting off slowly by making artisan breads, empanadas and cake pops for family and friends, she established Filled With Love in the summer of 2018.
Stirring in red flood coloring to homemade butter cream frosting, Jada Tirre, 16, gets ready to add it to a cake that will go to a baby shower. The Le Mars, Iowa teen started Filled With Love, a cake-making business, when she was 15 years old.
"I began Filled With Love as a way to get my name out in the public," Jada said. "I'd sell my baked goods, every Saturday, at the Le Mars Farmers Market."
It was there that she garnered a reputation for making sumptuous sourdough breads as well as an amazing creation she calls Aztec brownies.
"I can't take credit for Aztec brownies since other people have made them," Jada explained. "But I've added the perfect amount of espresso, cayenne pepper and chocolate to make it my own."
UNCOVERING THE SECRET OF MAKING THE PERFECT CHEESECAKE
While at the Farmers Market, Jada struck up a friendship with Nathan Howe, a Hinton, Iowa, native and a graduate of the world-renowned Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado.
At that time, Howe was selling produce from his organic farm while working a part-time baker at Alton, Iowa's, popular Sfumato Pizzeria.
According to Jada, Howe provided feedback when it came to Filled With Love baked goods while giving her the recipe for his cheesecake.
When Howe took a job in California, he recommended Jada to the owner of Sfumato.
"It was a bit of networking, I was able to secure my first business client," Jada said. "I've been Sfumato's cheesecake supplier ever since."
IN THE KITCHEN WITH JADA
Encouraged to pursue cake decoration from TV baking shows like "Cake Boss," Jada Tirre, 16. makes special occasion cakes as well as artisan breads, cheesecakes and spicy Aztec brownies.
Outside of her association with Sfumato as well as a summer internship with the Le Mars-based Habitue Coffee House & Cakes to Remember, Jada said the bulk of her business comes from word-of-mouth or through Facebook.
This includes the cake she's making that comes with a surprise in the center.
(Spoiler alert: the surprise is a center that's loaded with tiny pieces of candy).
"I love these kinds of cakes because they're fun to make," Jada explained. "You take two cake layers, cutting a small circle in the middle of each. As soon as you cut into it, the candy spills out."
Well, in a perfect world, that's what would happen.
In reality, Jada moved the cake from one plate to another, forgetting it was filled with candy. As soon as she made the switch, hundreds of multicolored candies fell onto the floor.
At a time when kids are still deciding what to do with life, Jada Tirre, 16, is already a professional baker with her own home-based business, Filled With Love. Jada credited her parents Armando and Joaquina for encouraging her ambitions as well as friends, family and neighbors who act as taste testers for many of recipes.
"OK, that wasn't suppose to happen," she said without a moment's hesitation. "Nothing in baking is exact so you always need to have a Plan B."
Jada's Plan B amounted to refilled the center of the cake with new candy before adding pretty pink frosting to the finished product.
WELL-BAKED BUSINESS ADVICE
"This is something that Jada is good at," dad Armando said in admiration. "She makes something work, one way or another."
Which is important when you remember Jada is a businesswoman who still goes to study hall.
"I thought I'd have more problems with customers thinking I was just some kid," she said. "But as soon as they see how professional I am, they take me seriously."
It helps that Jada has enlisted many of her neighbors as taste testers.
"People are always in a good mood when it comes to cake," she acknowledged.
Acknowledging that baking is part art and part science, Jada Tirre adds red food coloring to white frosting in order to achieve the right shade of pink.
THE ART AND SCIENCE OF BAKING A CAKE
Even better, Jada's acumen in the kitchen has helped her in the classroom.
"Jada certainly doesn't have time management issues at school," mom Joaquina noted. "That probably comes from her baking."
Perhaps it isn't too surprising that Jada's two favorite subjects in school are science and business.
"I like making pretty stuff because I like being artistic," she said. "But you also need to know about science and business to become a baker."
SAVE SOME ROOM FOR DESSERT
And for the past year-and-a-half, Jada and Filled With Love have had plenty of sweet success.
Would she like to continue the business as she gets older? Well, she will never stop baking, that's for sure.
"I'd like to study business when I go to college," Jada said. "I grew up watching TV shows like 'Cake Boss.' Who knows, maybe I can grow up to be the next 'Cake Boss?'"
Photos: Lower Fourth Street through the 20th century
Lower Fourth Street
The Lee Block, constructed in 1911 as a multi-use commercial building, was home to billiard halls, saloons, drug stores, furniture dealers, clothing shops and hardware stores. Notable occupants included the O.P. Skaggs grocery store (1931-1951), the Scandinavian Bakery (1933-1973) and Cooper’s Market (1955-1992).
Lower Fourth Street
The Chelsea Theatre was located on Fourth Street in downtown Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
People's Department Store on Fourth Street in Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
The Chelsea Theatre was located on Fourth Street in downtown Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
Sioux City Barber College and Del-Mar Grill on Fourth Street in Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
The Pink Pussy Cat was located at 901 Fourth St. in Sioux City. It closed in 1982 and this area of town was torn down in the mid-1980s to make way for the Sioux City Convention Center.
Lower Fourth Street
People’s Department Store operated on the northwest corner of Court and Fourth streets from 1937 to 1994.
Lower Fourth Street
Lower Fourth Street businesses included Albert's Shoe Repair and Oby's.
Lower Fourth Street
Lower Fourth Street businesses included A. Anderson & Sons Upholstering and K's Club.
Lower Fourth Street
Aalfs Manufacturing has occupied the Boston Block on Historic Fourth Street since 1929.
Harbor Inn
A photograph of the Harbor Inn on Fourth Street in Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
The Lexington Block building was originally occupied by the Dow Clothing Company (1891-95). Notable future occupants included a print shop (1895-97), the Henry A. Baker Company clothes manufacturing firm (1897-1916) and Max R. Mushkin’s clothing store (1917-28). Later, Zimmerman Furniture Company (1933-51) occupied the western half of the building while the Monarch Billiard Parlor (1934-56) operated the eastern half. The Sioux City Gospel Mission then owned the building until it was razed in 1987 to make way for the Sioux City Convention Center.
Lower Fourth Street
Dailey Antiques was located on Fourth Street in Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
Palm Tap and 4th St. Furniture on Fourth Street in Sioux City.
Lower Fourth Street
The Econ Optical and Hardware Hank stores are shown in this photo of the Call Terminal Building, which was renamed in 1930 after it was purchased by local financier and real estate developer George C. Call.
Lower Fourth Street
Sioux City businessman Fred T. Evans constructed the building that bears his name in 1890. In 1919 the building became a hotel and it functioned in that capacity until 1954. The building housed Robe’s Furniture and a motorcycle club until 2006 when it was renovated for the Heidman Law Firm.
Lower Fourth Street
The Major Block was built in 1889 and has been occupied by tenants including a hardware store and a hotel. During the early 1890s it served as the University of the Northwest’s (later Morningside College) College of Commerce. Currently the 21st Amendment and Francis Canteen are businesses in these buildings at the south side of Fourth Street near the intersection of Virginia Street.
Lower Fourth Street
This Romanesque building was constructed around 1895, but it is unclear who was its architect or builder. The building’s most notable occupant was People’s Department Store, which operated here from 1937 to 1994.
Lower Fourth Street
Lower Fourth Street businesses included The Harbor Inn, Chicago House and The Gospel Mission.
