Customer Asked For My Recipe - How Do I Respond?
Decorating By 1234me Updated 31 May 2007 , 3:00am by CelebrationsbyLori
But none of them can top that singing broad "I can bring home the bacon... and fry it up in a pan... and never never let you forget you're a man... cuz I'm a WOMAN!!! da da da..."
and wasn't it: and never never ever forget the romance, cuz you're a woman!!! .... whatever the product name is in three syllables! LOL So much for lasting memory of the product! LOL
How about, "Who wears short-shorts, We wear short-shorts commercial!"
Sorry for hijacking the thread! That last one was for nair or neat or somethinglike that.
Melissa
Wasn't that Charlie perfume???
What was that a commercial for? I can hear the ditty.... Three syllables... something da-da ly? lee? Was it for deodorant! or a shaving product? LOL
Enjoli (sp? Pronounced "ON-joe-lay) cologne. I can't stand the smell of it to this day.
indydebi.....I started laughing reading your "ancient chinese secret" comment! I loved that commercial! Here's the youtube of it, for those of you who think you don't remember it.....I'm sure this will bring it back!
Oh yes!! I vaguely remember that now!! It came on during Truth or Consequences when Bob Barker was hosting!! (Oh my, did I say that out loud??) 
By the way, did you see the next commercial after that one -- "That's a spicy meat-a-ball??" I laughed so hard my tummy hurts and my eyes are burning from the tears squirting out of them!!
But none of them can top that singing broad "I can bring home the bacon... and fry it up in a pan... and never never let you forget you're a man... cuz I'm a WOMAN!!! da da da..." [/quote]
Bob, it's the Enjoli perfume commercial. I loved it growing up.
On the other subject, don't give her the recipe. Even though most people that are asking aren't going to take the time to make it themselves anyway.
My neighbor named her daughter Enjoli ... every time I see her I think of that song. Ugh.
I've had to tell folks "thank you for the compliment and I'm so glad you like my cakes/icing, however, the recipe belongs to my business and I don't give it out". I have also told them they can search the internt for a good basic recipe, or even give them the Wilton recipe to play around with. Bottom line, if you don't want to give it out.....don't!
indydebi.....I started laughing reading your "ancient chinese secret" comment! I loved that commercial! Here's the youtube of it, for those of you who think you don't remember it.....I'm sure this will bring it back!
OMG I haven't seen that since I was like 4 or 5!! LOL So, I didn't remember it EXACTLY, but pretty darn close!!! I'll have to show my husband because he thinks I'm a nut! LOL
Melissa
...But none of them can top that singing broad "I can bring home the bacon... and fry it up in a pan... and never never let you forget you're a man... cuz I'm a WOMAN!!! da da da..."
omg I HATED that commercial! During the era of women "coming of age" in the middle of the women's liberation movement, here is a commercial that somehow got past Gloria Steinham, planting the expectation that a woman should go to work, spend all day in an office or a factory or a what-have-you, come home and "fry it up in a pan" .... do all the housework, make dinner, clean it up,..... and then STILL have the energy to get all dolled up to "service her man".
Hubby had a video tape of commercials from the 50's ..... there was one that really ticked me off and made him laugh out loud. Some 40-ish year old lady in a car commercial and the guy in the commercial asked her "Do you drive as good as your husband?" to which she replied, "When I'm in my (make of car), I do!" Then the guy in the commercial compliments her on her pretty hat. aaauuuggghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
My daughter just sent me this....off topic but too cute to passup...lol! I have a bad humor streak so beware...
Back when the ancient chinese secret commercial was out..... my cousin colleen had been nick-named charlie and a worker at their house asked her if her name is charlie how does she know she is a girl and she replied... yep you guessed it...."ancient chinese secret"!
It was Enjoli perfume....I hated that commercial also!
That's the song and that's the product! If I remember correctly they redid that commercial to what I remember -- her coming home with the bag of groceries. Whatever. I'm sooo glad Madison Avenue has crossed that bridge!! 
Back when the ancient chinese secret commercial was out..... my cousin colleen had been nick-named charlie and a worker at their house asked her if her name is charlie how does she know she is a girl and she replied... yep you guessed it...."ancient chinese secret"!
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
I had the same problem once, but with a florist whose flowers I was putting into one of my wedding cakes. He was not going to give me the flowers until I told him how I was going to keep them "fresh" in the cake! [The NERVE of some people!!!]
Are you serious?? Honestly!! He didn't per chance wear blue eyeliner and liked to talk about salad dressing, did he??
Yes, I'm serious! Later, when I had finished setting up, he was at the reception site dropping off the centerpieces for the tables. I came back from putting something in the car and he was literally leaning into the cake, trying to figure out how I had put those flowers in it and how they were going to stay fresh!!! AAAAAaarrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!! 
I fixed his wagon, though. I sneaked up very quietly right behind him, and said (as loudly and as threateningly as I possibly could) "Get any closer to it and you'll wear that wedding cake home right now!" 
He was so embarrassed ... redfaced ... stammered something about being "sorry", etc., etc. I basically told him AGAIN that I don't ask him for his trade secrets, and he needs to leave my secrets in my kitchen. What a jerk!
I have never worked with him again (MY choice), and he didn't touch my cake again ... definitely HIS choice!
No, I don't think I would have had a problem with the Bride if I'd have had to make an "example" of him with her cake ... family friends can be the best Clients!
And, no, he didn't wear blue eyeliner and like to talk about salad dressing! But that would have just made me laugh! I might have had to get my friend "Bubba" after him for that one!
Odessa
p.s. The "Bring Home the Bacon" campaign was for Enjolie perfume for those of you who might remember!
You can try something like this (edit as needed) -
Combine in 1 kitchen:
1 grandmother's recipe yellow scratch cake
8 years experience
20 years dedication to baking
Pour into cake pan, bake with care.
Decorate as appropriate, hold recipe close to heart.
I would respond that the recipe is in commercial proportions and wouldn't taste the same for small projects but one I like that is good for small portions is ________ in __________book or on the internet.
Mary Jane
that is EXACTLY what I did. Here is my response to her:
I don't think I could give you specific amounts for making a small batch because I make large batches of buttercream at one time. For example, I use 5 lbs of butter in one batch and know you don't want to make that much. The recipe includes butter, crisco, milk, and powdered sugar. You may be able to find a recipe at www.allrecipes.com or www.recipezaar.com for small batches. I haven't looked there for buttercream recipes but have gotten lots of other ideas and recipes from there.
She is obviously not a competitor of mine ro she wouldn't have ordered from me but she could become competition in the future - she lives about 5 minutes from me. I don't mind sharing my recipes with people who could not be my competition.
Thanks for the responses.
Could you just tell the client that you've been making it so long that you have to eye-ball the recipe and you are no longer sure of the exact amounts of the ingredients. She already knows what they are, but then you're still not giving any amounts.
I give recipes to good friends and family I trust and KNOW they in no way, shape, or form could they EVER make anything close to what I make. 
But I do keep a few select custom designed, by me , recipes secret. Everyone needs a secret recipe. It adds to the mystique and wonder of your cakes.
I donot mind giving recipes but I would never give them out to my potential clients.THAT WOULD BE STUPID.Politely refuse.It happendd to me ,it was a family pot luck .every one loved my dish ,my DH cousion asked for the recipe I gave it to her and when I asked her about her dish ,she laughed and said don't you know I donot share my recipes.
The post of "I got this recipe from a friend, and was sworn to never give it away" works=) My sister does this with her spinage dip(to die for)! Took me 2 years to get it out of her, but had to promise to never give it away lol=) And I never make it for a family function, it is hers to bring and take the credit=) Jen
I have had two acquaintances ask indirectly for help and recipes...
1) Cookie Bouquet - She places an order with me for a month away. I see her in two weeks before the event. She tells me that she decided to do it on her on and do a CB. She then looks at me expectantly like I was supposed to give her pointers! I responded by saying that I thought that was a great option and good luck to cut off the request I could see in her eyes. lol She kind of continued trying to get back on topic, but I changed the subject.
2) Tres Leches - I brought a Tres Leches to a party and one of the other guests turns to be while it was being served and says that she had tried doing a TL on her own, but it never came out right. Again, that expectant light was in her eyes, so I said...well, good thing that you don't have to worry about it anymore since all you have to do is place an order with me.
Now, I'm a very supportive and giving person (really!), but family is family, friendship is friendship, and business is business.
I have had two acquaintances ask indirectly for help and recipes...
1) Cookie Bouquet - She places an order with me for a month away. I see her in two weeks before the event. She tells me that she decided to do it on her on and do a CB. She then looks at me expectantly like I was supposed to give her pointers! I responded by saying that I thought that was a great option and good luck to cut off the request I could see in her eyes. lol She kind of continued trying to get back on topic, but I changed the subject.
2) Tres Leches - I brought a Tres Leches to a party and one of the other guests turns to be while it was being served and says that she had tried doing a TL on her own, but it never came out right. Again, that expectant light was in her eyes, so I said...well, good thing that you don't have to worry about it anymore since all you have to do is place an order with me.
Now, I'm a very supportive and giving person (really!), but family is family, friendship is friendship, and business is business.
I would never give out certain recipes...some recipes, I would...Things like chocolate chip cookies and such? They can get those from the back of the package...really, the ingredients and experience are what make things great. You could give another person your recipe but it's not going to necessarily come out the same as when you do it because they don't have the experience and know-how to do it right. That said, I wouldn't give out my scone recipe or my chocolate cake recipe EVER! (besides maybe to CCers) 
I'm kinda mean, so I would play the dumb angle. Sure, I'll be glad, did you want me to make that into a 9 or 10" round and when would you like delivery. I can put whatever you like on it, any particular phrase. Probably not the best way to handle, but then again I am kinda mean.
1) - She places an order with me for a month away. I see her in two weeks before the event. She tells me that she decided to do it on her on and do a CB. She then looks at me expectantly like I was supposed to give her pointers!
This happened to me just last week! I had a co-worker ask me to make her DHs birthday cake, then a couple of days later decides she is going to make it herself, and asks me for the recipe! I was a bit miffed, especially since it's well known that I make it and I have worked hard to perfect it. I gave her my 'second best' recipe and suggested she comes here for ideas. So Hi Donna if you read this! I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, I'm just scared you'll take my business !! haha!!
...which brings to mind something else I'm not keen to share, this very website! Then people will realise I'm not as original or talented as they thought!!!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%