Patrick's Portobello Pizza

I enjoy bringing something unique to parties or functions that I have been invited to attend. My family tries to expand our knowledge of cooking as much as we can. I am not the guy who always delivers soft drinks to a party because that is all I can imagine bringing. Food has always interested me and I cannot remember the last time I had made the same menu for more than one week. I give in if my family wants tacos or something that is their favorite, but rarely do I get into that rut of having Tuesday tacos or Friday fritters.

This portobello pizza is delicious and if the pizza is cut into fourths, it makes a great appetizer. I like to use jarred pesto because it comes in a small container with a lid. After I use the jar, I wash it out and save it and the lid, so I know how much to make for the next time. 

Ingredients

6 large Portobello mushrooms, removing the stems and gills

Olive oil, for brushing
Kosher salt
Garlic pepper
1 cup store-bought pesto sauce
1/2 cup Feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
1 cup mozzarella cheese and Parmesan

Directions

Preheat the grill to high heat.

Remove the bottom stem and gills from Portobello. Brush both sides with olive oil and sprinkle the inside of each mushroom with salt and garlic pepper. Place the mushrooms on the grill bottom side up. Grill for 2 to 3 minutes on each side rotating halfway through to achieve grill marks.

Mix the pesto, feta, and the ¼ cup Parmesan, and set aside.

Remove the Portobellos from the grill, placing the mushroom's bottom side up. Fill with your pesto and cheese mix. Top with your mozzarella cheese and Parmesan.

Return the mushrooms to the top rack or shelf of your barbecue, close the lid reduce heat to medium-high, and cook for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Remove and place on a cutting board and cut into triangles like a pizza. Serve immediately.

This will become a family favorite

Patrick Tremblay

Don't Stumble on Trip Charges

The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty.-Zig Ziglar.

When asked how to determine a trip charge or a flat rate to see a customer, usually one should research the standard costs current in the market or the like services. Many times it should be in the approximate costs of $19, $29, $39, $49, $59, $69, $79 or $89. I usually charge $75 an hour. I determine this cost by taking the break-even point, my business overhead, and the direct costs, which are attributed to the production of goods and services specific to my business. These costs are based on materials, labor, and the expenses for my product. Last, I take marketing statistics from social media or advertisements in effect when determining my contracting services. My trip charge regulates my service charge.

As a business owner, I have to consider two classes of contractors. These two classes are (1) the contractors that have the business he or she needs, and (2) the contractor who is desperate for work. If I were a contractor with all the work I could handle, I would charge a higher trip charge. This trip charge would comprise $69 to $89 to come out to offer a bid of services. These charges would dishearten the frugal consumer, which is the point of doing this. This process will ease the demand for the schedule and services rendered. Try not to be insensitive to the client; they may need the company’s services in the future.

If the business cannot afford to lose customers, one should regulate the trip charge to $39 to $49. If the business owner remembers to reduce his or her trip charge, there will be fewer losses in business, negative responses, and more business he or she will gain. When the contractor is desperate for work, the price should reduce in scale once again to $19 or $29.

The only caveat is that there is a reason they might charge this price. The quality of work, ethics, or credentials may be a factor and that will be a poor decision. One way to look at it is this. There is a reason one restaurant has a line around the corner and the other across the street does not have a line. Even though both restaurants are popular, one has poor service, terrible food, and terrible drinks. There is a reason the customer waits and pays a premium; the better overall product he or she is looking for in the meal.

There are many names one should call his or her trip charge. The other names to pick from are service charge, service call fee, or minimum charge.

I will waive the trip charge if the customer agrees to use my company for the complete service or if I do the work while I am there in the home. If that happens, I will charge the customer my hourly fee for the scope of business rendered and I will mention this waiver as a marketing tool after he or she has agreed to the work. Another method of explaining this waiver of trip fees is by explaining how I will apply the minimum charge to the work. Either of these explanations will work, but the business owner should practice and see which method is easier to use in one’s sales pitch. Often, the discussions regarding minimum charges go away when one is agreeable to waive the trip charge. This may create more sales and services. This is especially beneficial if the associate answering the phones is not a proficient closer. Waiving a trip charge can rationalize pricing more easily.

In summary, as I mentioned previously, a trip charge is the regulator for people to take an incoming call, and give uncomplicated answers to straightforward questions. If one requires more calls, moderate the price. If the business has too many calls, increase the charge some. Use the edict of supply and demand to benefit the business's control over the work schedule.

Patrick Tremblay is the Principal Designer of Tremblay House of Design Services and the Professional Business Practices instructor for community colleges in Santa Clarita and Lancaster, California. 

How to Paint Your House: A Guide to Interior Painting Ranked #1 [Kindle Edition]

How to Paint Your House: A Guide to Interior Painting [Kindle Edition]

How to Paint Your House: A Guide to Interior Painting [Kindle Edition]

Patrick S. Tremblay (Author)

5.0 out of 5 stars  
See all reviews (1 customer review)

Digital List Price:	$2.99
Kindle Price:	$2.99

includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet

Publication Date: May 6, 2010

Book description 

How To Paint Your House is a guide for painting the interior of your home like a professional painter. This guide takes you through checkpoints involved in painting your home step by step. 
How to Paint Your House is full of professional painter tips and will give you insight on what you will need to complete your interior painting job like a professional.
When the homeowner considers painting their home as a weekend project, these hints are effective whether they choose to paint the home themselves or hire a professional.

Product Details

File Size: 98 KB

Print Length: 19 pages
Publisher: Rattledash Media LLC; First Edition edition (May 6, 2010)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
 ASIN: B003TSEKD8
Text-to-Speech: enabled
X-Ray: not enabled
Lending: enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,500 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

o    #1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Interior Design > Decoration & Ornament

o    #10 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Home Design > Design & Construction

o    #14 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Home Design > Remodeling & Renovation

How a Design Consultation Works

Anthropometrics

All projects begin with a design consultation right in the convenience of the home or office. One should plan about 1 to 2 hours for an initial consultation. During this time, the designer will walk through the home or office and discuss the homeowner's design goals and visions, as well as determine the scope of the project.

A client profile is one of the tools the interior designer uses to help understand the client's unique desired outcome. The client profile is filled out by the designer, to ensure the correct information is collected during the first meeting. If the client would like to fill in the questionnaire by themselves, he or she has the option to sent the client profile by e-mail to the designer before the first initial one on one meeting.

After the consultation, the designer develops a customized proposal for the homeowner which outlines what is needed to fulfill the identified design goals, and assists the client in prioritizing the work, and develops the budget appropriately.

The Design Services Include:

Hourly design consultation

Virtual Design: Design done by the internet

Paint color specification

Space Planning

Visuals through computer assisted drafts

Selection of furniture, art, lighting, and accessories

Specification of appropriate finishes and materials for floors, walls, windows (aesthetic & functional), cabinets, and counter-tops

Custom furniture design

Custom window treatment design

Work with architects/builders in the design. Building of new homes or home remodels including kitchens and bathrooms

Redesign which uses the furnishings the homeowner already owns, in fresh ways for a new look & feel without purchasing new items or wasting the budget on frivolous items.

With this consultation, the homeowner will receive professional design, for the best price possible.