It's Picnic Month...Ready to Eat Outdoors?

July 2018

Cheat A Little Catering's News & Updates

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National Picnic Month!

One of the joys of Spring and Summer is being able to eat outdoors; when friends and family can gather together and enjoy the beauty of natural surroundings while sharing a delicious meal.

Cheat A Little Catering has been helping families celebrate their many milestones since its founding. We have created magical moments for all kinds of celebrations – from family gatherings, and wedding receptions, to birthdays and graduation parties, and a myriad of corporate events – all outdoors. We love being able to bring the best of Cheat A Little outside. So if you’re thinking about bringing the party to a local park, we can help create, plan and service a wonderful picnic or party for you and your guests. And if you don’t think you have a reason to celebrate, July is National Picnic Month (as well as National Grilling, Horseradish, Hot Dog and Ice Cream Month) … and that is all the reason you need!

Need a little help planning your picnic? Fill out our event request form and we’ll take it from there. Please click here .

Sincerely,

Brian Morriss

Owner, Cheat A Little Catering

Email Brian

Packing the Perfect Picnic

Planning to celebrate National Picnic Month? Here are some helpful hints to making the experience great. When it comes to the location, there are many things to think about. Is there convenient parking for you and your guests with easy access to your picnicking spot? How about access to restrooms or potable water. Consider having extra water on-hand for those warmer days and thirsty guests. A fun trend for picnics is fruit-infused water (fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, kiwi and raspberries all provide great flavor!). Offer your guests a glass of this refreshing cool and fruity water to quench their thirst.

Cheat A Little Catering has the perfect picnic menu items to help make your planning easier. Here are a few selections from our kitchen:

Roma tomato & kalamata olive bruschetta atop a garlic rubbed crostini
Crab & tarragon-mayonnaise stuffed cherry tomatoes

Broccoli slaw - broccoli florets with applewood smoked bacon, California raisins, sweet baby carrots, toasted sunflower seeds mixed with a creamy slaw dressing
California cobb salad - romaine & butter lettuces, topped with grilled chicken breast, crisp bacon, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, shaved red onion, avocado & bleu cheese and finished with a fresh herb dressing

Grilled shrimp & rosemary skewers
Beef kabobs, skewered, all-natural beef with onions & peppers
Whole roasted chicken, fresh herbs, spices & garlic-oil
Baby back pork ribs basted with house-made barbeque sauce

For a full list of menu options, click here .

Baking Baked Beans … at Home

What goes great at an outdoor picnic? How about some home baked beans? This month, we also honor the delicious and nutritious side dish, baked beans. Here’s a recipe to help you bake your own beans at home.

Ingredients:

· 1 cup dried navy beans

· 4 cups water

· 1/4 cup ketchup

· 1/4 cup maple syrup

· 2 tablespoons brown sugar

· 2 tablespoons molasses

· 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

· 1/2 teaspoon salt

· 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

· 1/8 teaspoon chili powder

· 1 small onion, chopped

Directions:

Place the navy beans into a large container and cover with several inches of cool water; let stand 8 hours to overnight. Or, bring the beans and water to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Once boiling, turn off the heat, cover, and let stand 1 hour. Drain and rinse before using.

Place the beans in a large saucepan with 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Stir the ketchup, maple syrup, brown sugar, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and chili powder together in a small bowl; set aside.

Once the beans have simmered for 1 hour, drain, and reserve the cooking liquid. Pour the beans into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish and stir in the chopped onion and the molasses sauce. Stir in enough of the reserved cooking liquid so the sauce covers the beans by 1/4 inch.

Cover, and bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C), and cook 6 hours longer. Stir the beans after they have cooked for 3 hours. Once the beans are tender and the sauce has reduced and is sticky, remove from the oven, stir, recover, and allow to stand 15 minutes before serving.

Venue Spotlight: CuriOdyssey , a Unique and Naturalistic Place to Hold Your Event

CuriOdyssey Museum is the perfect location for unique and memorable ceremonies and receptions. Poised at the edge of the Coyote Point Recreation Area in San Mateo, CuriOdyssey is surrounded by eucalyptus groves and county parkland. The Redwood Hall is comprised of four cascading levels that can be used individually or in combination. The 8,000 square foot Hall is made with rich, re-purposed redwood and features high, exposed beam ceilings. The adjacent Bayview Terrace features stunning views of the San Francisco Bay.

Whether you’re looking for an intimate gathering in the Butterfly Garden, or a lavish affair with 350 of your closest friends, CuriOdyssey is the ideal venue choice.

As preferred caterer at CuriOdyssey, we've catered numerous and memorable events. We offer insightful knowledge of this special venue and maintain a great working relationship with CuriOdyssey's event management team. For more information about CuriOdyssey, visit their website here .

Christmas in July?

That’s right, we celebrate any holiday, anytime of the year! However, if you prefer to celebrate the holidays during the holiday season, then now is the time to start planning (remember dates and locations can fill up quickly).

Our team of event experts are here to help your company, organization, or family plan the perfect party. It’s never too early to secure your preferred date, select your top-choice venue, or craft a deliciously-tailored menu. For help planning your event, fill out our event request form by clicking here and we’ll begin working right away on your holiday party.