Picky Eaters

If you’ve ever been to one of my Pampered Chef parties…you know that I lovingly make fun of my picky husband. I know that most families have a picky eater or 2…in my case I have 5. I am probably the only Italian woman on the planet that managed to marry a man that won’t eat any sauces of the red variety! There are times I feel like a short order cook. Between me trying to lose the last pesky 15 pounds…and the Picky Family sometimes it can get a little time consuming. And as I’m sure I said in my first blog, I try to prepare dinner as fast as possible so I can spend more quality time with the whole family at one time. But I found a secret…a very obvious one, that I can’t believe I never thought of before!! And I’m sure a lot of you do this…and if not…you might after this!

What’s this not-so-secret I stumbled upon?? FREEZER MEALS!

Over time I’ve learned to plan my meals for the week and do my grocery shopping all at once. And thanks to True Couponing (please check them out when you have a chance. Their approach to couponing is awesome. http://www.truecouponing.com) I’ve learned how to do it a little less expensively. Because, let’s face it, it’s expensive to feed a family as large as mine these days.

So back to freezer meals. It was all a bit overwhelming at first. When do I do it…what things freeze well and what doesn’t…what containers are best to use. So I did what I usually do when I have questions…I looked for a book. And I found the perfect one. “Don’t Panic – Dinner’s in the Freezer” by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell & Bonnie Garcia. This book not only has great recipes, it has amazing tips to help you get started on your freezing journey. So I started by using their recipes until I was comfortable with the process. And now I’m experimenting all on my own.

So, now I want to help anyone out there that needs it. As part of my Pampered Chef business, I now offer Freezer Pleezer classes. If you or anyone you know is interested…contact me today. pcheflaurie7@aol.com 🙂

Why I started this blog…and why I do what I do

Welcome to my very first blog. I apologize ahead of time if my thoughts appear jumbled at times, but as you can tell from the title…I stay pretty busy! Today I wanted to just tell you a little about me, my family, my job, and why I decided to start a blog.

I am a work at home mom with 4 kids. I have an 18 year old step-son, a 9 year old son, 6 year old daughter and my youngest son will be 4 in just a week and a half. That in itself is enough to keep one running. Add in having my own business and it’s enough to make that same one crazy. And I have to admit, I’m old school. I insist on family dinners every night, or as many nights a week as possible. My daughter started cheerleading last season, and even though she had practice 5 nights a week, we managed dinner together before we left for the field. Working for myself, from home, definitely helps to make that possible.

Which takes me to why I chose the business that I started 10 years ago. I am an independent consultant with The Pampered Chef. What led me to this company when there are a plethora of direct sales businesses out there? Or even other work from home opportunities? It was the belief of the Founder, Doris Christopher, that family mealtimes should be brought back. In this day and age, it’s very difficult for families to spend that time together. Between single parent households, or homes that require that both parents work full time jobs outside the home, family dinners are almost non-existent. So The Pampered Chef does it’s very best to provide tools that make meal preparation time much shorter! Let me give you an example…I’m Italian…so cooking is in my blood. I followed my mom and grandmothers around the kitchen from the time I could walk. So everything I make is from scratch, and can be very time consuming. My husband (fiance at that time) used to complain about the 2 hours I would spend cooking after I got home from work every day. I had actually never heard of The Pampered Chef…amazing, I know! I was given a gift certificate for my wedding…I checked out the products online, and then decided I wanted more, they were awesome…so I scheduled a party. I knew before that party that this was something I wanted to try. I fell in love! I can honestly say that I didn’t expect this to be my career…but here I am 10 years later! The products aren’t the only reason I’ve stuck with it. After spending all day with my kids, it’s nice to have some adult time when I go do my parties! Also, I love what the company does for the community. There are 2 amazing programs that I do anything I can to help out. The month of May is Help Whip Cancer month. We have special products (PINK ones for those of us girly girls :-)). Money (usually $1 or $2 depending on the product) is donated from the sale of each of these pink items to The American Cancer Society to help with Breast Cancer early detection education and research. Since we started this program we’ve donated nearly $11 million dollars to this cause. Round up From The Heart is the other program. This program donates to Food Pantries locally, through Feeding America. We have several methods to raise money for this cause. Rounding up your order is one of our most common, we also sell trivets and cookbooks – $1 or $2 from the sale is donated to Feeding America. We’ve raised more than $20 million for Feeding America since 1991. And of course, fundraisers are available for both of these programs, or any cause you would like to raise funds for. So, in other words, there are so many reasons why I chose and why I stay with this amazing company.

Although this blog is in no way meant as a sales tool, I will be mentioning products here and there, seeing as it’s all I use in my kitchen. What I hope to do is inspire other busy women to take the time out to bring their families together over a delicious meal. I am an average person, just like all of you…if I can give you a recipe, or an idea that will help you in some way, that is what makes me happy. I will post at least once a week, but if the mood strikes me or if I think I can make you laugh…it will be more. And I love feedback…if there is a topic you’d like me to blog about, please let me know!

So I will close for now! Happy eating!!