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QUESTIONS

My kids don’t like the food my maid cooks; do you have any suggestions?
Mariella (UK Expat)

You say that after reading this book, it will be possible for our maid to understand and cook recipes from other books, is this really possible?
Natasha C (Australian Expat)

How can I tell if the meat is cooked? Sonja (domestic helper)

What does baking blind mean? Jo (Filipino)

Our maid finds it hard to understand my accent; will this book benefit her?
Amelia (American expat)

Our maid is an excellent cook, but I worry about her hygiene or lack thereof. Deirdre B (Australian expat)

We often have people for dinner, but my maid never prepares these meals. How should I go about handing over this responsibility to her? Diane (New Zealand expat)

My cakes always crack on top, how can I stop this? Celly (Filipino)


ANSWERS

My kids don’t like the food my maid cooks; do you have any suggestions?
Mariella (UK Expat)
If your kids are like mine, they can be very fussy. A lot of helpers are unfamiliar with western-style cookery and western appliances. It is best to instruct your maid to read through the introduction section in the book so they can learn the basic methods and techniques. When learning a new skill, practice makes perfect, so encourage your helper to work through the book until she becomes confident with the recipes.

The recipes that I have selected are very child-friendly, simple to prepare and include step by step instructions and photos.

I often let my kids choose what they would like to eat (within reason). The photo glossary at the back of the book illustrating all of the finished dishes and would be a good place to start. Sometimes, if a child can help select their meal or be involved in the preparation, they will be more inclined to eat the meal.

Remember to tell your helper that kids prefer small portions and often have a preference for sweeter tasting sauces. Try the tomato or barbecue sauce with small portions of vegetables, pasta and cheese.

Another idea is to make pizza dough and offer your kids a selection of toppings. By encouraging them to create their own pizza, you may find that they will be more prepared to eat what they have cooked.

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You say that after reading this book, it will be possible for our maid to understand and cook recipes from other books, is this really possible? Natasha C (Australian Expat)
This book is very different from other cookbooks. It is not just a book of recipes, but a basic kitchen guide written specifically for domestic helpers. This book addresses all of the difficulties a domestic helper may encounter when learning a new way of cooking.

Written in simple language with a consistent format including step by step instructions and photos, each recipe is designed to teach a different method or technique.

This book also will allow your maid to develop a solid cookery foundation. It includs, personal and kitchen hygiene, correct food storage, knife handling and essential equipment. Armed with this knowledge, your helper will be able to confidently apply these skills to other cookbooks and expand her culinary knowledge.

Make sure your helper follows the ‘How to use this book” guide as this will ensure success.

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How can I tell if the meat is cooked? Sonja (domestic helper)
This is a question I am frequently asked. The first thing you need to check is your employer’s preference in regard to lamb, beef and veal. There are four degrees of cookery typically used to describe the cooking of these items.

Beef, lamb and veal are generally cooked medium or medium well to maximise flavour and moisture content. Pierce the cooked meat with a knife and press to assess the appearance of the cooking juice.

Alternatively you may use a cooking thermometer. These may be purchased from kitchen shops and wil check the internal temperature of the meat.

Chicken and pork should always be well cooked. Pork may contain parasitic worms (trichinae). If present and the meat is undercooked, the worms may find their way into the voluntary muscles of the human body and continue to live. When cooking pork ensure that the juices run clear when pierced with a knife.

Chicken may contain salmonella bacteria so it is essential that it is completely cooked. Pierce the inside leg of a whole chicken to see if juices run clear or pierce a piece of chicken with a knife and press lightly.

Cooking times for large joints of meat are calculated by the weight of the joint. You will find these in the meat section in the book.

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What does baking blind mean? Jo (Filipino)
This term relates to baking a pastry case, to be filled with a cold filling for example, lemon meringue pie. The pastry is prepared and placed into the pie tin. A greaseproof piece of paper is laid on top and filled with baking beans or rice. This will prevent the pastry from rising during baking and ensure a flat pastry base. The paper (cartouche) and beans are removed when the pastry has ‘set’ and the pastry case is returned to the oven to finish cooking. Check the pastry section in the book for step-by-step instructions and photos.

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Our maid finds it hard to understand my accent; will this book benefit her?
Amelia (American expat)
A lot of helpers find it difficult to understand their employers and will pretend that they do to avoid embarrassment. This can lead to frustration on the part of the employer who cannot understand why the maid is not doing what she has been asked to, and unhappiness on the part of the maid who is frightened to admit she cannot understand you.

This book has been written in simple English with step-by-step instructions and colour photos. This will help your maid visualise the methods involved and with practice she should be able to confidently duplicate the recipes.

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Our maid is an excellent cook, but I worry about her hygiene or lack thereof. Deirdre B (Australian expat)
Many helpers are fantastic cooks, especially those who have worked for a number of expatriate families. However, most employers feel the same way you do in regard to hygiene. For this reason I have included a section on ‘Golden rules in the kitchen’ and food hygiene including correct food storage. Most helpers try to be very thrifty for their employers and insist on keeping small amounts of food in plastic containers in the refrigerator. Unfortunately, these are often left there for several days until they are unfit for consumption or the refrigerator is so full, they have to be discarded.

This book will benefit even the most experienced domestic helper, as it is full of professional chef’s tips and tricks. It also includes great finger food and entertainment sections, which are ideal for the experienced cook.

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We often have people for dinner, but my maid never prepares these meals. How should I go about handing over this responsibility to her? Diane (New Zealand expat)
When preparing a dinner party the timing is critical. For this reason I have included plenty of make-a-head recipes in the entertainment section. If you want your maid to prepare these meals, I would suggest that she spend some time reading the introduction section and using the other recipes in the book to ensure she is familiar with the cooking methods and techniques. Ideally she should practice each recipe twice before attempting a dinner party. Success in entertaining is due to the time spent preparing the dishes. I would advise that she selects a cold entrée and desert that may be prepared in advance for your first dinner party. As she becomes more confidant with the timing of the cooking she can introduce hot entrees and desserts.

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My cakes always crack on top, how can I stop this? Celly (Filipino)
Baking can be a bit tricky. There are several reasons why this could be happening. Firstly, it is important to ensure that everything is measured correctly. Accurate measurements and a gentle hand usually ensure success. Always measure liquids on a flat surface, preferably in a transparent jug for accurate assessment. If there is too little liquid or too much baking powder your cake may crack. When using spoon measurements, flatten the surface with the back of a spoon. Before staring to bake, read the baking techniques section thoroughly. There is a section on possible faults in baking cakes and sponges, which will help you discover what you are doing wrong.