Kaylyn Martin has learned on the job as a Pampered Chef consultant to wrangle meals for a family of eight without spending her life in the kitchen.
“Eating out and fast food is not an option,” said Martin, who describes her cooking style as “quick and easy.”
“Anything that will get dinner on the table fast,” she said.
East Brainerd resident Kaylyn Martin cooks for her family of eight using shortcuts she learned as a Pampered Chef consultant.This time of year the East Brainerd resident is famous for spontaneous chicken and dumplings and gifts of peppermint crunch bark.
“A lot of people can’t afford to entertain the way they used to,” she said. “It’s more personal to make a gift to give to someone.”
But old standbys frequent her menu at home, too.
Martin has learned to shave off prep time here or dishwashing time there by doubling recipes. When making spaghetti, she stores extra browned meat in the freezer for fajitas later. She’ll double a baked chicken recipe and freeze half so she doesn’t have to scrub a greasy pan next time.
“That’s the meal that keeps on giving,” she said. “It’s just as easy to do double.”
Teaching the kids to help out is her other secret weapon, in case the family schedule just doesn’t work out.
“It’s not anything that they can’t take over and do,” she said.
Martin began selling Pampered Chef products nine years ago when the reality of raising a big family on her husband’s sole income set in.
“Really our budget could not afford for us to eat out anymore,” she said.
Martin said she earned more money selling Pampered Chef products than she would working a full-time job and paying for daycare.
For Martin, the direct-sell life has answered the demands of her family.
“I meet a lot of women who really struggle in their job and in their personal development,” she said. “They don’t feel like they’re part of their family in the way they want to be.”
She said the job comes with perks beyond a simple income, too. Martin has earned trips to the Bahamas, Disney World, London and Mexico and will take her family to Maui in 2011.
“Where else can you earn that kind of recognition?” Martin said, adding that it’s a stable job. “You’re not going to get the pink slip tomorrow, unless you want to give it to yourself.”