True Story. I don't like to cook.
But as a busy mom of 8 kids, I needed a way to put food on the table fast--several times a day.
I tried meal prep, delivery services, eating out (not good), and more. Nothing worked. Meal prep required too much time in the kitchen. And the other options were too pricey for my deal-seeking nature.
That's when I started experimenting with an air fryer. (I may not like cooking, but I enjoy learning new technology.) Soon, I discovered I could make simple, delicious, and mostly nutritious meals in minutes. When my kids ate those first dinners without complaining, I had an "aha moment" that dramatically changed how I cook and the trajectory of my business.
In 2020, with a house full of family members STILL needing to eat, I used my phone to record videos of the food I cooked in the air fryer. The kids tried and rated each recipe. Some even pitched in to help chop, mix, and measure. I posted the videos and recipes on YouTube, and here we are.
I now have a family full of air fryer enthusiasts. The recipe portion of Fabulessly Frugal (my original business) has grown so much that we are spinning the cooking content into a site called Empowered Cooks. Pine & Pepper is a physical product line of cooking accessories launched earlier this year.
Ironically, my reluctance to cook was an essential ingredient for building this thriving culinary business that helps people (like me) feel more confident in the kitchen.