Shortcut Petit Fours - Little Treats Quickly!

Want to make an elegant treat that looks like you spent all day in the kitchen, but you're short on time? With the following tips, you can make homemade tasting petit fours in half the time. In this fast-paced world, who wouldn't appreciate the ease with which these mini masterpieces come together?

First, decide what kind of easy petit four you'd like to create. Your decision will likely be based on what ingredients you have on hand. Fortunately, not all petit fours are made out of cake. Some are cookie or fruit-based. This expands your range of possibilities.

The glaze is simply melted chocolate. Decorations? Sprinkle on some jimmies while the glaze is still wet.

Cake-based Petit Fours

Use a ready-made pound cake or bake one from a mix. Pound cake is sturdier than typical cake, so this will stand up better to the process of cutting and glazing, although you needn't rule out other varieties of cake entirely.

If using a mix, do be sure to bake your batter in a larger, shallower pan so that when you cut the cake into little pieces they won't be so thick and top-heavy that they fall over!

Cut your cake pieces into 1 inch, or 1 1/2 inch sized squares, rectangles, or triangles; or use a small round or heart-shaped cutter. If you chill or freeze the cake pieces before coating, this will make them sturdier, and the glaze will set faster.

Put the cake pieces on a wire rack over waxed paper. Spoon the glaze (see below) over the cake to cover the top and the sides completely. You may scrape the drips off the waxed paper and reuse (after reheating to a smooth, pourable consistency).

Once the glaze has set (you may speed the process by putting the rack of petit fours in the fridge), carefully place the petit fours into little paper candy or muffin liners and arrange on a tray. You could pipe a little frosting decoration on the tops, but that's entirely optional.

Non-cake Petit Fours

Now things really get easy! Choices include marshmallows, fruit, and cookies.

If using marshmallows, freeze for about 10 minutes first, then stand them on end on a wire rack and glaze.

Fruit choices include thick banana slices, strawberries, and cherries. Again, chill them first to help set the glaze.

For cookie petit fours, shortbread squares work well and are easy to coat with glaze. Another option is to sandwich two Oreos with frosting, set on a wire rack, then spoon on glaze to coat completely. Use this same cookie sandwiching trick to build height to other kinds of cookies, such as pastel wafers or graham crackers.

Finally, carefully place the petit fours into little paper candy or muffin liners and arrange on a tray. You could pipe little frosting decoration on the tops, but that's entirely optional.

Easy Petit Four Glaze

In a bowl or saucepan, melt dark, milk, or white chocolate candy coating or chocolate chips according to package directions. Keep warm while using so that the glaze stays smooth and pourable. Consider using peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, or mint chocolate chips for variety! (If the glaze does not become thin enough, melt some shortening or butter in the glaze.)

Customer Service - The Little Things Count

"It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important."
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), British novelist and author of the Sherlock Holmes series

The smallest little things we do in our business can mean the difference between positive and negative buzz.

On a recent trip to the mall, I stopped for a frozen yogurt snack at a TCBY stand. When I asked for a cup of tap water to accompany my yogurt, the counter person said, "I'll have to charge you 25 cents for the water." When I did a double-take, she said with a look of embarrassment, "Oh, I'm so sorry that I have to charge for water...but that's what the owner wants."

I've always loved TCBY frozen yogurt, but this left a bitter taste in my mouth. I couldn't stop thinking that a paper cup of tap water must cost only a few pennies. The profit margin on a cup of frozen yogurt is surely generous, so why would a business owner charge for tap water?

Of course, I Do not pay for water to drink and instead went to the nearest fountain. I will never go back, that TCBY is ridiculous because its policy of water status. I would also advise the business ever. In fact, I have become a source of negative entries.

As businessmen, we spend a lot to gain resources and customers like. And 'comforting to think that happy customers tell their friends to our company if we excel in providing products or services. However, to createpositive buzz, we must find ways to go beyond the ordinary.

In contrast, there is a shop in Portland, Oregon called Mio Gelato. They make gelato that rivals some of the best that I've tried in Italy, and their counter people are friendly and gladly offer as many free samples as you want. It is the attention to details that makes Mio Gelato stand apart from the competition.

The display cases are beautiful, and each gelato flavor is artfully displayed a key ingredient of the case as a fresh fish or a coffee bean. The bathrooms are tastefully decorated and immaculate. And unlike TCBY, you do not ask for water. Instead, there's a big glass pitcher of ice water on the counter and a series of tall glasses next to it. And of course there are fees for water.

As another example, one of our customers in Portland Chromatix Paints offers an innovative array of color and of high qualityarchitectural finishes. Chromatix is competing against paint businesses that have been around for over a century. To offer great paint is not enough. Rather, Chromatix stands apart from other stores when it comes to customer service.

When you walk into the Chromatix showroom, you see an espresso bar that rivals the best that you'll find in any coffee shop. Instead of being asked what paint you want, you are asked whether you'd like an espresso, latte, or mocha. Then, as you leisurely sip Your coffee, you have the opportunity to work with friendly staff and competent to talk about your project. You feel like you have a conversation with a neighbor over the fence are back, instead of talking about a seller.

Clearly, in this highly competitive age, we must ensure that our products and services are as good as or better than the competition. But, to generate positive buzz around, we have the customer a reason to talk positively about our company.

Think of the companyoutside your industry that you admire. What they do to their clients WoW? Can you emulate their tactics? What can you do, your customers want from you buzz?