This last week has been crazy silly busy for Rod and I, and the gang at 4308 East Main Street. It began on Tuesday with a Midwestern Fitness cookout at Gold's Gym in Mesa; Friday, grilling brats and burgers at Mountain Pointe High School in Ahwatukee during the football game; Saturday, serving up sample chicken breast and sirloins for a promo at MaxMuscle in Scottsdale; later that evening, Ed was at another high school football game in Union Hills; Sunday, pre-game tailgate (Cardinals vs. Cowboys) catering for 25 mostly Cowboy fans nonetheless from Insight.com, and then, later, a post-game (how about dem Cards!) tailgate party for 300 or so Cardinal players, staff, family and friends. Our final cookout was yesterday at the LA Fitness location in Ahwatukee.
As Rod and I worked our little hiney off, our children who were on Fall break, spent time with Nana. I don't know what I would've done without my mother--probably have a highly paid Nanny with health benefits! As I plan for the rest of this week, I see that we have a community cookout for the Cortina HOA this Saturday, a block party on Halloween night in our neighborhood, two NASCAR catering gigs Nov. 6, 7, and 8 (one for a private party and one for a local radio station), Nov. 3 a post-game tailgate party for the Cardinals; then, soon, comes Thanksgiving, my annual cookie exchange party, Christmas, New Year's, Valentines and finally St. Patrick's Day. Goodness, my head hurts just thinking of it all.
Luckily, Rod and I learned a long time ago that to get things done around the holidays or any special event takes team work. You need to start with one long list that might turn into 3 or more lists that gets divied up to your team. One team you can count on is us. We are pros when it comes to food. Just ask me. No joke. As a fulltime working mother and wife, how else do I get my children fed on days when I get home right at dinner time. I stock my freezer with ready-to-eat food from Midwestern Meats of course! It's fresh and nutritious with no extra additives. For the upcoming Halloween block party, I'm ordering a Halloween inspired cake, baked whole chicken, and a few bakery treats for the kids goody bag. That's at least 8 items crossed off my to dos list.
I believe the only time I'm cooking anything is for my annual cookie exchange where I have to share the receipes. But, even this event is planned to help me and my friends save time and expense baking holiday cookies for gifts and Santa.
Is it expensive to cater out? Not when you think of it in this way: with each event I plan, I ask myself where am I most valuable? Is it doing the groceries AND cooking the meals? Or am I more useful helping my daughter practice math or coloring dinosaurs with my son? Or how about watching the news with my husband? The choice becomes clear. Get the pros to help with your to dos. By choosing how you want your time spent, and including it in your cost equation, you'll discover like I have that there's no savings whatsoever doing it all by yourself. Time or money.
Holidays and celebrations are things we are extremely good at because we have a team experienced in all things food. Our meat department can help you decide exactly how much turkey or prime rib you need to order to feed a party of 5 or 5000. If you love to cook, I suggest you choose the entree you are famous for and leave the rest to us. Be it bread rolls or pumpkin pies. Not only will your guests remember the great food you served, but how you did it with little time spent in the kitchen. Imagine, you will actually look fresh, not tired, in the pictures.
To begin crossing items off your party list, plan now to save time by clicking here and here for starters. Check back often as we rev up for the holidays with more menu guides and planning ideas for the upcoming season.
