Meals to take when friends have babies

My standard last summer was the Zesty Slow-Cooker Barbeque Chicken from allrecipes.com

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Zesty-Slow ... x?prop31=2

But Davita just made that for her friend that just had a baby. I need something else to take, and don't want to do the standard lasagna. I perused the "make-ahead meals" thread from ekreter and got some ideas. I'm a little wary of making soup during a Kansas summer though.

If you've got a standard gift, please share what it is and the recipe. Then we can all refer back when we need to take a meal to someone.

[SuzySunshine]

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

I make this, its my MIL's recipe. I like it b/c you can either take it over hot or they can pop it in the oven and it only takes 30 minutes to cook.

Hot Chicken Salad
Hot Chicken Salad

4 cups chicken – cooked & diced
2 T lemon juice
¾ cup mayo
1 tsp. Salt
¼ tsp pepper
¾ cup chopped celery
1 can diced water chestnuts
¾ cup (1 can) Cr of chik soup
1 tsp dry minced onion
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
¾ cup slivered almonds
1 can (sm) French fried onions

Mix all but onion rings together and put in casserole. Bake 15 mins at 350, put onion rings on top and bake for additional 15 mins.

It fits great in a aluminum pan you can buy at the grocery store (9x9 or 9x13), its probably better in a 9x9 then you don't have to worry about dishes to return

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

I usually make a pasta sauce, sort of a caccitore style but with turkey italian sausage, and give them two ziploc freezer bags of it. They can have one now and one later or freeze both if they received an influx of meals. With a loaf of bread, bag salad, box of pasta, and brownies it is a good meal.

I don't have time to post it but any sort of hearty pasta sauce recipe will do (bolognese is great). You are having hot weather though so I don't know how appealing it is to have something simmering on the stove all day!

[Cumberland]

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

I do a rotisserie chicken, a bag of salad that comes with a packet of dressing in it, a loaf of french bread and a pint of ben and jerry's- when I dont want to cook. It usually works out to +/- 15 bucks.

The last one i did a quiche, spring mix salad and chocolate chip cookies-I had all the stuff on hand at home so I didnt have to go to the store..

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

All the stuff from my thread was amazing! Everyone here was a rockstar as usual.

I ended up making lasagna, meatballs, and burritos. Meatballs (with ground turkey) are pretty easy to make and can be eaten cold on sandwiches or warm on pasta, etc. so that might be a good choice. The burrito recipe was also a lifesaver and made great meals that are easily broken up and reheated at their convenience.

So nice of you to do for your friend! Let us know what you choose.

[DCJenn]

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

I usually do gift certificates to restaurants that deliver.

I'm such a flippin' city girl sometimes.

Jenn

[Momo]

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

I usually do gift certificates to restaurants that deliver.

umm yes that's me!

[houseelf]

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

Um, yeah, I don't cook for my own family, so why try to pretend that I have these skills. Restaurant gift certificates are fabulous, IMHO.

Kelly

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

sadly there really aren't "restaurants" here that deliver. it's one area where we're really, really lacking. pizza is about the extent of it.

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

if her husband were going to be around much at all (I'm getting the impression that PGY2 is going to be more time-intensive than PGY1), I'd agree - or if it were a 1st baby. But the idea of dragging 3 kids to a restaurant solo ...

my neighbor said she has a good pork tenderloin recipe from a meal she recieved after her 4th. once i get it, i'll post here. i think that's what i'm going to do.

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

That is why I put a meal in freezer bags that can be frozen. It is also really nice to have a friend coordinate a few people who are interested in doing something food-related so that you can space out the dinners. I liked getting things 4-6 weeks out because that is when I was at the peak of sleep deprivation.

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

That is why I put a meal in freezer bags that can be frozen. It is also really nice to have a friend coordinate a few people who are interested in doing something food-related so that you can space out the dinners. I liked getting things 4-6 weeks out because that is when I was at the peak of sleep deprivation.

I totally agree. When SueC had her last baby, her neighbors brought her meals every night for 2 weeks! That's wonderful, generous, etc. -- but kind of pointless when all those leftovers go to waste, etc. When my neighbors had babies last year I coordinated the street into an every-other night thing ... a slight improvement. If Sue's friends had done that, she'd have had food for a MONTH!

[Cumberland]

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

I really hope to have neighbors like yours at our next place.

[SuzySunshine]

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

My bible study group brought us dinners every other night for almost 4 weeks. It was HEAVEN! I now make sure that I take a meal to anyone I know that has a baby b/c I see how much a difference it makes.

If you're looking for something to do for yourself the homemade meal companies are great too. Let's Dish is a national chain and their meals are FABULOUS!

[HouseofWool]

Re: Meals to take when friends have babies

I love my neighbors - they are the main reason I don't want to move. I know I can depend on them in a crisis and we have organized parties all year round.

Can I take them with me next summer?

/end hijack

As for food to bring to a new mom? I usually do a pan of lasagne for non-summer babies. It can either be baked right away or frozen for later. I do the disposable pan so no one has to remember to get it back.