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Rosa Cox grew up cooking tamales with her mother in Mexico.
Now a grandmother, the Grand Junction resident has put a new twist on the traditional Mexican fare — she uses canola oil instead of lard, and makes three kinds of vegetarian tamales, with the option of vegan (dairy-free) as well. Her business is called Grandma Rosa's Tamales.
There's black bean and jalapeno, tofu and green chili, and potato and green chili. She's considering a zucchini and tofu variety and for the holidays, sweet tamales made with either apple, pineapple or pumpkin. All the tamales are gluten-free.
Cox, who works for the Mesa County Health Department, and is a nutrition educator for the Women, Infants and Children program, said she needed another part-time job after her husband died a year and a half ago.
“My granddaughters like my cooking and said I should open a restaurant,” Cox said.
She didn't want to open a full restaurant, but with the help of the Business Incubator Center, Cox, 52, began making tamales for sale as a part-time job.
Cox met with Incubator business counselors who provided free advice and taught Cox the legalities of starting a business. In March, Cox began leasing space at the Incubator's commercial kitchen where she prepares the tamales.
With a couple days notice Cox will cook tamales to order. She even delivers the goods before or after her job at the health department. She also delivers tamales on weekends.
The tamales are perfect for busy professionals, court interpreter Anna Stout said.
“They're delicious, and they're really healthy,” Stout said. “For someone like me who doesn't have time to make meals, they're perfect. I keep them in the freezer and when I need them, I heat them up.”
Cox was motivated to invent new tamale recipes due to heart disease and diabetes in her family history.
“I wanted a healthy version,” Cox said. “I want to provide a good product. I put a lot of pride in what I'm doing.”
The tofu tamale has been a particularly strong seller, because it's so unique, said Cox, who sells her tamales primarily by word-of-mouth.
Cox said she will soon meet with Incubator staff to learn how to advertise her product on Facebook.
“They are very accommodating,” Cox said. “I never had a business before. They help you succeed.”
Grandma Rosa's Tamales can be reached at 970-261-1131.
Now a grandmother, the Grand Junction resident has put a new twist on the traditional Mexican fare — she uses canola oil instead of lard, and makes three kinds of vegetarian tamales, with the option of vegan (dairy-free) as well. Her business is called Grandma Rosa's Tamales.
There's black bean and jalapeno, tofu and green chili, and potato and green chili. She's considering a zucchini and tofu variety and for the holidays, sweet tamales made with either apple, pineapple or pumpkin. All the tamales are gluten-free.
Cox, who works for the Mesa County Health Department, and is a nutrition educator for the Women, Infants and Children program, said she needed another part-time job after her husband died a year and a half ago.
“My granddaughters like my cooking and said I should open a restaurant,” Cox said.
She didn't want to open a full restaurant, but with the help of the Business Incubator Center, Cox, 52, began making tamales for sale as a part-time job.
Cox met with Incubator business counselors who provided free advice and taught Cox the legalities of starting a business. In March, Cox began leasing space at the Incubator's commercial kitchen where she prepares the tamales.
With a couple days notice Cox will cook tamales to order. She even delivers the goods before or after her job at the health department. She also delivers tamales on weekends.
The tamales are perfect for busy professionals, court interpreter Anna Stout said.
“They're delicious, and they're really healthy,” Stout said. “For someone like me who doesn't have time to make meals, they're perfect. I keep them in the freezer and when I need them, I heat them up.”
Cox was motivated to invent new tamale recipes due to heart disease and diabetes in her family history.
“I wanted a healthy version,” Cox said. “I want to provide a good product. I put a lot of pride in what I'm doing.”
The tofu tamale has been a particularly strong seller, because it's so unique, said Cox, who sells her tamales primarily by word-of-mouth.
Cox said she will soon meet with Incubator staff to learn how to advertise her product on Facebook.
“They are very accommodating,” Cox said. “I never had a business before. They help you succeed.”
Grandma Rosa's Tamales can be reached at 970-261-1131.
