Meals for Families? About This Page:

[Teresa]

Our sensei's wife (also a sensei at the dojo) is pregnant with their first child (she has one that is 10). She's been put on bed rest, and it looks like the baby will be here this weekend. The doctors have decided she can safely deliver him now.

So - do any of you take meals to families in this kind of situation, and if so, what types of meals do you take? (I'm looking for everything from ideas to recipes!)

[3dogknight]

Soup or chili that can be frozen to eat later or when needed. Pizza gift card is good for 10 yr olds.

[MinnieJen]

We usually have my homemade spaghetti sauce in the freezer. When we have friends in that kind of a situation I have picked up pasta, salad in a bag, some dressing, and a loaf of french bread then it is Italian night all ready whenever someone has the time to toss a salad and boil some water. With the homemade sauce it is tastier and healthier than a jar and all you have to do is thaw it and warm it up.

[goofysdtr]

I ususally make a lasagna & take over garlic bread & a salad to go with it. I make sure to bake it before I take it over so if they don't want to eat it right away they only have to warm it up to eat. Speaking as one who has received some meals, it is SO helpful when people do this for you!

[5SOXFNZ]

My playgroup always does a meal train for any of the Mom's when they have a baby, there are 12 of us and every other night someone brings dinner (Having been on the receiving end of this twice I can say it's a godsend with a newborn!!) I have four great recipes...I will type them up and get them posted today for you!

[5SOXFNZ]

Here's One:

3lbs sirloin roast cubed (I usually pick a good cut of a "pot roast" then have the butcher cube it for me) seasoned with salt and pepper
2 large onions, chopped
5-6 regular sized potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes (Recipe calls for 2.5 pounds, I guess!)
1 1/2 pounds of carrots, peeled and cut into cubes
1 turnip (I usually get a softball size or a little bigger), peeled and cut into cubes
3-4 stalks celery, chopped (Personal preference if you want more or less)
2 -14.9 oz CANS of Guinness (We have tried the draught bottles and agree the cans with the "widgets" taste much better, it's closer to the bar stuff. FYI, the alcohol burns off during cooking so this is a completely "safe" dish!!)
Beef stock


Combine 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup olive oil in large stock pan, heat until butter melts.
Add beef and brown on all sides.
Remove beef from pot and add onions. Cook until soft.
Add the beef back to the pot.
Add 2 cans of Guinness.
Add Beef Stock to cover beef.
Simmer on low for one hour.
Add chopped vegies.
Simmer for as long as you want on the stove!! (I usually leave it there a couple of hours to really get the veggies soft!)

I serve it in bread bowls ...so good, but you can also just eat it in a bowl with some really yummy bread or rolls to go along.

[5SOXFNZ]

This one I like because you can prepare it and deliver it uncooked with just the baking temperature and time for them to freeze and cook when they need it or to pop in the oven that night.

2 boned chicken breast cooked, cut into chunks (I usually just cook them for 20 minutes in the oven no seasonings)
1 package of broccoli (Frozen florets work well)
1 can cream of chicken soup
½ cup mayonnaise
½ tsp lemon juice
½ tsp curry powder
Pepper to taste
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbls butter melted and mixed with ¼ cup bread crumbs
Place broccoli in bottom of casserole dish. Cover with pieces of chicken. Mix soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, curry powder and pepper and place on top. Cover with cheese. Cover with bread crumb mixture. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.

[5SOXFNZ]

Tetrazini

2 cups of cooked and diced chicken or turkey
7 oz cooked spaghetti ( I use casserole elbows)
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
2/3 cup mayonnaise
½ tsp celery seed
½ cup grated Swiss cheese
3 Tblsp. Butter
3 Tbls. Flour
1 ½ cup milk
Make a white sauce by melting the butter in a sauce pan, add the flour to make a thick paste. Gradually add the milk while stirring over medium/high heat. Cook until the mixture comes to a soft boil, then maintain at that temperature for one minute.
In a large bowl mix chicken, spaghetti, parmesan cheese, mayo, celery seed and Swiss cheese. Add the white sauce and mix thoroughly. Pour into 9x13” baking dish and sprinkle to with a little more cheese, salt and pepper.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.
You can also add peas, mushrooms, onions, garlic, or use ham for the meat.

[Shalara]

If the family has space to store food in the freezer, I'd recommend a google search for "OAMC recipes" OAMC is "Once a Month Cooking", and there are crazy people out there who spend a weekend cooking all the meals for the month, and love it. Thier recipes have to be able to be frozen (obviously) and re-heat well.

You'll probably find a lot of soups, stews, and casseroles, but hey, its fall and those things are perfect now =)

[Teresa]

Thank you Lois, and everyone who made suggestions!
Going to the store to get some things later this weekend.

[krisk11]

What about a tin of lasagna or ziti

[wheatenwalker]

I agree, soup, casseroles, bread things that can be frozen and esily reheated

[Kynna]

We always send a small deli platter & fixin's to families with a new baby. It's great because it is easy to eat a sandwich while nursing and if they have guests stop by it is something they can offer in a pinch. Plus no cooking! We always have people tell us it was the best thing because it is such an easy way to make sure you get something to eat.

[jimmymac]

Lasagna or any pasta dish that can be frozen and or reheated