THE AEC PROFESSIONAL'S GUIDEBOOK
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About The Book
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Buy

The AEC Guide Blog

If Engineers Wrote Recipes

2/24/2025

0 Comments

 
Picture
Classic Pecan Pie Recipe Instructions
The preparation time for this recipe is approximately twenty minutes, no more than thirty minutes. The baking time for this recipe is approximately fifty to sixty minutes, variable by oven type, altitude, and ambient temperature. The finished pecan pie shall yield a single nine-inch diameter pie which should be sliced evenly into eight individual small slices or six individual large slices.

Step 1: Prepare the Crust of the Pie
In a large bowl that is a minimum of 4 quarts in measured volume, whisk 150 grams of all-purpose flour, one-half teaspoon of salt, and one teaspoon of sugar together in a clockwise fashion with a stainless steel or similar whisking tool. Cut in ½ cup (1 stick, 115g) cold unsalted butter, dicing the existing butter using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs for the recipe. Gradually add three to four tablespoons of ice-cold water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing until the existing dough comes together for the recipe. Form the existing dough into a disc measuring approximately eight to ten inches in diameter, wrap existing dough in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for no less than thirty minutes. On an all-purpose floured surface such as a wooden cutting board or clean countertop surface, roll out the existing dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer the already prepared dough to an existing 9-inch pie dish, trim the edge of the dough from around the edge of the pie dish, and crimp or flute the edges as desired. Chill the prepared pie dough in the existing refrigerator while preparing the filling for the recipe.

Step 2: Make the Filling of the Pie
In a large bowl that is a minimum of 4 quarts in measured volume, whisk together one cup of light corn syrup, one cup packed light brown sugar, three large eggs, 115 grams unsalted butter, melted and cooled, one teaspoon vanilla extract, and one-half teaspoon salt. Whisk all existing measured ingredients until the prepared mixture is smooth in appearance and well combined. For the recipe, stir in one and a half cups of already prepared existing pecan halves, reserving approximately one-quarter cup of existing pecan halves for decorating if desired.

Step 3: Assemble and Bake the Pie
Pour the prepared and existing filling from step two into the prepared and chilled pie crust from step one, arranging the reserved one-quarter cup of pecan halves on top of the existing filling for decoration. Place the existing pie on the center rack of the oven and bake existing pie at 350°F (175°C) for fifty-sixty minutes, or until the center is just set and slightly jiggles when lightly shaken. If the pie edges start to brown too early in the baking phase, cover the edges with foil or a pre-bought aluminum pie shield in order to protect the crust from burning. Remove the existing pie from the baking oven and let the existing pie cool completely at room temperature, which should take no less than two hours and no more than three hours.

Serving Tips
Serve the existing slices of pecan pie, which are cut into even one-eighth slices, with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, scooped with an existing scooper. Drizzle the existing one-eighth slice of pecan pie with approximately one-half tablespoon of salted caramel sauce for extra indulgence. 

    Engineers - Let me know what I missed!

Submit
0 Comments

Unknown Sender or Must-Read?

2/17/2025

0 Comments

 

via GIPHY

The Proposal Trap
In the consulting engineering world, many clients write their RFPs/RFQs forcing firms to "answer the mail" in ways that are very self-promoting. Firms that build a relationship with their clients and prospects know how to respond to RFPs/RFQs effectively without all the self-promotion.

Stop We'ing All Over Your Proposals
It is a difficult trap to escape. Nearly every question and required data requested by the client force proposal writers into sounding very "we-centered." Stop we'ing all over your proposals. Exceptional proposals should be client-centered, which is a major differentiator. 

Spam = Delete!
Think about it from the perspective of your email inbox. It's the difference between all the spam email messages you simply block or delete and the ones that come from a person you know, respect, and with whom you want to communicate. Proposals that come from "unknown" companies come across like spam. They rarely get read and are quickly discarded.

Winning Starts with Relationships
Proposals should only come from people clients know, respect, and want to work with. Otherwise, your proposal is just spam!


Great BD = Winning Proposals
With this in mind, business development is a critical differentiator when it comes to winning the proposal game. This means spending time getting to know a prospective client with whom you wish to work. It also means spending time nurturing the client relationships you already have.

Stop Substituting Proposals for Business Development
Never substitute a proposal for a meaningful client interaction, just to "keep our name in front of the client." Proposals are not effective marketing tools, just like unsolicited spam emails are not effective marketing tools. Unless . . . those proposals and emails are coming from a familiar helper. 

Leave a Reply

Submit
0 Comments

    Author

    Gabe Lett, FSMPS, CPSM, LPC

    - Fellow of the Society for Marketing Professional Services
    - Certified Professional Services Marketer
    ​- Licensed Professional Counselor

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    October 2024
    August 2024
    May 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021

    Categories

    All
    Business Development
    Leadership
    Marketing
    Professional Development
    Project Management
    Writing

    RSS Feed

    The views and opinions expressed on this blog do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Prairie Engineers.
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About The Book
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Buy