Looking for Ideas of Meals to Take to My Friend with a New Baby.

I always got to www.Kraftfoods.com or www.campbellskitchen.com

You can make easy dishes from kraft using the kraft deluxe mac n cheese or velvetta shells n cheese. Even taco dishes. Either right in the skillet or in the oven about 30 mins or less.

I always liked it when my friends brought lasagna, fried chicken with mashed potatoes and a veggie, soup, fresh bread, salad, and a dessert like apple pie or brownies.

MC

WOW ~ What a great friend you are!! NO ONE, not ONE person, brought me food any of the three times I had a newborn. I would have appreciated that more than ANYTHING!!! Know that you're doing a wonderful thing. I don't have any suggestions but wanted you to know that.. no matter what you bring, she will look back and be grateful for this very special thought. :-)

"Company Casserole"
It can be made ahead and even frozen if need be.
All ingredients are "about"
2 lbs hamburger
1 large can tomato sauce
1 brick cream cheese
1/4 c sour cream
1 small container large curd cottage cheese
a bunch of green onion chopped (use white part only)
about 1 small green pepper, chopped
one bag KLUSKI egg noodles
Cook noodles according to package, short a bit
cook and DRAIN hamburger
(while that's cooking chop onoin and pepper, mix up cheeses and sour cream, it helps to let the cream cheese sit at room temp so it is soft) add onoin and pepper to cheese mixture

In about a 9 X 13 casserole, put down a layer, about 1/2, of the noodles, gently spread your cheese over it, add the rest of the noodles.

mix the hamburger with the tomato sauce and put over the top of the noodles. Make sure to cover all the noodles.

Bake at 350 til hot through...about 45 minutes.

This is SO GOOD you can't even believe it. Easy, quick, freezable and is really good as a left-over. It's one of our family favorites!

What an awesome friend!! You really know what a new mom needs... especially with kids at home.

I have a recipe I love to make and take to new moms. It is called Easy Chicken Casserole
1 box of rice-a-roni wild rice
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup water
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 envelop dry onion soup mix
1 cup shredded chedder cheese

combine rice, soups and water in a 9X13X2 aluminum pan (that way mom doesn't have to worry about dishes and getting your pan back to you!) Place breasts on top of mixture. Sprinkle with dry soup mix and cheese. Cover with foil and bake 325 for 1 hour.. makes 4 servings. (If they have a big family, or I want them to have leftovers I double the recipe. It can also be frozen to be served at a later time!)
Then I usually buy or make a salad to go with it, maybe add some bread and/or cookies for dessert for a complete meal!

Hope this helps... It is a nice dish to freeze ahead of time.. something to think about with your new little one coming?????? Congratulations!!
Peace,
B.

Sherry,

Below is a really easy recipe. You can make it in a disposable aluminum pan (so she doesn't have to worry about washing and returning a dish) and leave it uncooked so she can cook it when ready.

If she has kids, you may also want to take a tray of brownies or cookies. Some french bread or salad may go with the below recipe also.

When I had my baby, one of my friends did the BEST thing. She called all the friends of mine that she knew, and put together a schedule of who would bring me dinner which night. So, for the first 2 weeks, I had someone drop off dinner every night!! She gave them ground rules - don't stay and visit too long, etc...

Also, something nice my friend did is call me one morning around 9:00 and said "I'll be there in 10 minutes - I'll watch the kids while you take a shower - don't even think about cleaning in the next 10 minutes." She got there, shoeed me away to my bedroom / bathroom and told me not to come down for an hour. It was great. She also came armed with muffins to feed my kids.

Now the recipe....

Baked Shells (or any pasta noodle)
(Cooking time 20 minutes - ½ hour)

4 c. spaghetti sauce
1 16 oz. package of shells (mostaccoli, ziti, rotini –any kind of noodle)
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. Italian sausage box of noodles
15 oz. ricotta cheese
½ c. Parmesan cheese
1 slightly beaten egg (sometimes I don’t use this)
¾ tsp. salt (I don’t use)
¼ tsp. pepper (I don’t use)
12 oz. shredded mozzarella

Cook noodles and drain. Set aside. Cook ground beef and Italian sausage together until brown. Drain grease. Stir in ricotta and parmesan cheese. Add egg , salt, pepper, & 2 c. spaghetti sauce. Add noodles and toss gently. Put in 13 x 9 pan. Put remaining sauce over the top and sprinkle mozzarella over the top. Bake for 20 minutes @ 350°.

Hey Sherry-

One pan meal, get a aluminum roasting pan from a dollar store.

Roasted Chicken- My hubby, teenager and 7 year old love this.

1 whole chicken (4 to 5 pounds)
1 stalk celery- chopped 3" pieces
1 lb small baby carrots
5 onions- cut in long quarters
1 onion whole- small.
4 to 5 russet potatoes- cut in half then quarter skin on.
garlic powder
salt
black pepper
ginger (powder) shake easy- really enhances chicken
5 bay leaves (dried)
1 1/2 to 2 sticks butter

I place a small grate rack in bottom of pan. If you don't have one, use a large hand full of the carrots and onions under bird. you don't want bird resting on bottom of pan. Rinse chicken thoroughly, use all above seasonings, a shake of each inside bird, 1/2 stick butter & whole onion. Place in pan. push pieces of room temp butter between skin and meat, kinda like tucking your shirt in,majority under top of the skin covering breats, shake a few shakes of all of the seasonings on top of bird except for bay leaves. leave out until last step. place all veggies around bird, making it colorful. now add water to pan, i do this over bird so it takes the seasonings off and into veggies. place enough water to almost cover veggies. about 2"H, minimum. now shake a little more garlic, salt and pepper all over everything, then place the bay leaves in the water kinda of on the outside edge of pan, between pan and veggies. Cover with foil and place in oven. Bake until done: check time with bird weight. normal is usually is 20 min per pound. I roast for 2 hours on 375, then remove foil, roast 8 to 12 mins longer at a higher temp (425) to brown bird a little, mins depending on size. just watch every few mins after . Pull from oven, cover pan again with foil and let rest at least 25 to 30 minutes. I would pull from oven and then run it over to your friends while its hot. by the time you get there it will be rested enough. I've done this for several of my girlfriends or family members. It's delicious and really easy. Once you get it down. It's one of my favorite things to make for people. You spend about 1/2 hour (1 hour at first) to get in all in the pan, plus it looks good, smells great and give a homecooked kinda of warm feeling from grandma's house. everyone loves that. good luck, I have other easy casserole dishes i would be happy to forward to you. have a great day. D.

I love this dish, have made it for new moms and had someone make it for me when I had my daughter... It's a 5-cheese penne pasta that easily heats up in the oven (or microwave) in less than 10 min...
Directions:
Boil 8 oz penne pasta until cooked
Combine:
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes in puree
1/4 cup grated pecorino romano cheese
1/4 cup shredded fontina cheese
2 T crumbled gorganzola cheese
1 T ricotta cheese
2 oz sliced mozzarella

Put noodles and mixture in a casserole dish (I usually purchase a disposable foil lasagna pan with a cover at the grocery store so that the new mom doesn't have to worry about cleaning and returning your dish).

Then I attach a set of directions to the dish (for the new parents) to preheat to 500 degrees and cook the dish for 7-10 minutes until bubbly and brown on top. But I usually deliver the dish uncooked. I also like to include a basket with a bag of salad, a bottle of balsamic vinegrette (or any other dressing they might like), a baguette of bread, and some brownies or cookies so that they ahve a whole fun meal. I've also included a bottle of wine if you know the new parents enjoy wine. This is a super easy dish to make but it allows the new parents to feel like they're eating gourmet. I've gotten nothing but rave reviews for the pasta - it's like a fancy mac-n-cheese that even kids love (which is good if they already have bigger kids). If they have a bigger family, you can just double the recipe. When it was given to us, it lasted 3 or 4 days for dinner which was a God-send with a newborn!

I love making meals for others. I have a yummy breakfast cassorele.....one package of frozen hash browns either bacon or sausage use about 3/4 of a package (that way there is extra for your morning meal) about 7 eggs (I use 5 whole eggs 2 whites) scrambled with about a 1/4 cup milk. You put the frozen HB in a 9x13 pan then mix in the meat then you take your egg pour it over the entire mixture bake for about 35 minutes 350 or until no egg is soft/runny. Then put cheese over the top right before you pull it out. It stores nicely in the frig for a few days and you can pick at it for days and just warm up pieces of it once it is cooked.

While the oven is on you may as well make up a patch or two of brownies my secret is extra chocolate chips. I also make bannana bread all the time for my family it is easy and can be frozen easily.

Also have you been to those make your meal type places? You bag everything. Maybe you could send her the ready to grill meal with the marinade either in a bottle or something you make up the chicken breasts ready to go out on the grill. I think it would be nice to just not have to think of the meal plan.

Good luck!

This is one of our favorites at our house. It makes a lot so she will have leftovers for quite awhile. Also, if she or the kids don't like spicy, maybe reduce the amount of green chiles..

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Burrito-Pie/Detail.aspx

My chicken pot pie is a big hit. I use a Pillsbury pie crust from the refrigerated section, which makes it super easy and fast, and it can be frozen. Take either grilled or baked chicken breast and cut it up into small chunks (about a pound of breast). Add to it a can of Cream of Chicken soup, a little milk to add moisture, a dollup of sour cream, about 3/4 bag of frozen mixed veges for soup. Mix that together and spoon it into the pie crust. Put the second layer of crust over top, crimp the edges and put a few slits in the top. Bake at 350 for around 45 minutes, or until the crust is done. You can make a couple of these and put one in her freezer for the following week! Just thaw on the counter before baking. Hope this works for you!

I know this is late, but I have to throw in my $.02. I got this recipe for African Chicken Peanut Soup off CookingLight.com.

I swear to you this soup is about the best thing you and your friends have ever tasted. It's healthy, and fairly easy to make. I've made it for every one of my freinds post-baby, and all of them asked for the recipe and now make it regularly. I always double the recipe (make sure you have a BIG pot) and freeze some for later. I've even started having an annual "soup feed" with this soup...it's becoming a thing of legend.

A couple of tips:
1. Add a can of corn. Corn makes everything better.
2. Add a little more peanut butter than called for. Yum!
3. Be very careful with the jalapeno. The first time I made this I scooped out the seeds with my thumbnail, and got terrible chemical burns. You don't necessarily need to wear gloves, but just be very careful to wash afterwards and don't touch your eyes!
4. You can use the precooked frozen chicken strips to save time.

African Chicken-Peanut Soup

Cooking spray
1 1/2 cups cubed peeled sweet potato
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (about 8 ounces)
1 cup bottled salsa
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 (16-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 (15-ounce) cans Healthy Choice Chicken With Rice Soup or any less-sodium chicken-and-rice soup, undiluted
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

Place a large Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until hot. Add sweet potato, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and jalapeño; sauté 5 minutes. Stir in chicken and next 5 ingredients (chicken through beans); bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 10 minutes. Add peanut butter, stirring with a whisk; cook 2 minutes.

Yield: 11 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

CALORIES 188 (28% from fat); FAT 5.9g (sat 1.3g,mono 2.4g,poly 1.6g); IRON 1.4mg; CHOLESTEROL 21mg; CALCIUM 35mg; CARBOHYDRATE 19.3g; SODIUM 556mg; PROTEIN 15.2g; FIBER 3.4g

Good luck, and happy soup eating!

Sherry,
I had friends bring us chicken with side dishes. The rotisserie chickens from Kroger or produce stores are great and are not expensive. We love the ones from Sam's club because they are still only $5 but are bigger chickens than the others. However, here's an idea for a future meal for mom & her new family that even dad can make. It's a Rachel Ray 30 minute meal. You can buy them the ingredients and leave them the directions.

1 bag Frozen ravioli
1 jar Spaghetti sauce (my favorite for this dish is Classico Florentine Spinach & Cheese)
1 bag Mozzarella cheese (works fine with 2%)

In 9x13 pan add about 1/4 of sauce, dump in frozen ravioli, top with remaining sauce and cover with cheese. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 minutes more.

If she likes Mexican, I have a quick and easy recipe.
Fry some hamburger, mix in some refried beans, stir in a little enchilada sauce and shredded cheese. Put the mixture is the shells and line a cooking pan(i buy the throw away pans so she doesnt have to do dishes, just throw away) with the burritos. Pour enchilada sauce all over them and then add tons of shredded cheese. Bake for about 20-25 minutes at 350. These are AWESOME and EASY. I just make some spanish rice to go along with it, right out of the box....very easy.

hi there, not sure if you still need recipe ideas....but here's a few more.... (I love, love, love to cook and am always full of ideas...so I thought I would share some. )

- a prepared platter of fresh, healthy, finger food. '
Ex...cheese, crackers, grapes, strawberries, pate, cold cuts, french bread,...etc..

- vegetable quiche (quick to just pop in the oven)

- crab cakes = approx 500 grams of Crab meat, green onion (chopped), chives (chopped), 1 tbsp Mayonnaise, 1 or 2 tsp dijon mustard, 150 grams of breadcrumbs, 2 eggs, salt/pepper.
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Texture must be thick enough to form cakes ( add more breadcrumbs if needed).
Form mixture into medium sized cakes and place on a baking sheet. preheat oven at 350 for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with any seafood dip or a dab of mayo.
Can also be eaten cold - refreshing on a hot summer day ! (prepare them at home and bring them over with a salad on the side and french bread.)

- Taco salad = ground beef, 1 envelope of taco seasoning, cook beef and taco seasoning as directions, then allow to cool. 1 head of lettuce, 2 tomatoes (chopped), 1 cup cheddar cheese (grated), 2 handfuls of Tostitos tortilla chips (crushed), Ranch salad dressing. Mix all ingredients together just before serving. (this is a meal in one - great protein and easy to put together - you just pre cook and prepare everything, bring in separate dishes, and your friend just has to mix the ingredients.) I love this one ! :-))

Good luck and happy cooking!
All the best to your friend - she is lucky to have a great friend like you !
Enjoy !
D.

Check out www.simplycookit.net. You can call ahead to make sure they will be open and pick some meals and sides up from their grab and go section. You can also have her pick her meals and you can go make them. You can also give gift certificates for when she can get out and make 6 meals of her own to bring home for her freezer for the future. This place is fabulous. I am due in August and planning on making a trip there to have my freezer ready for when I deliver. There are also other places similar to Simply Cook It if this one isn't convenient for you.

Hi Sherry,

I am a Meal Planning consultant with Homemade Gourmet. We have some great freezer bag meals that are quick and easy for new moms, and anyone who is too busy to cook a meal. You put the meat, seasoning and canned good in a freezer bag, SMOOSH, and freeze until ready to use. Really quick and easy! Some of my favorites are Garlic Basil Chicken, Grandma's Smothered Pork Chops and Burgundy Beef Tips. If you want more info and recipes, contact me at ____@____.com or check my website at www.homemadegourmet.com/kgourmet.

K.

Another great idea along the lines of food is taking a "snack bowl." My friend did this for me and I loved it!! She got a big plastic bowl and filled it with individual sized packages of pretzels, peanuts, crackers, cookies, Rice Krispie treats, Teddy Grahams, apples, oranges, etc. You get the picture. These were quick snacks for me to grab when I got the munchies, which happened often since I was breastfeeding. I loved this snack bowl, along with all the dinners my friends brought over the first few weeks. They were lifesavers.

Dear Sherry R.,

I cooked a chicken and took all the skin off and all the bones out of the pot and then I added water to it and cornstarch and thickened it so it was chicken and gravy. Sam's Club sells a spice that you freshly grind called Kickin' chicken. After you bring this to a boil you set it aside after it cooks and let it thicken better as it begins to cool.

I also cooked up potatoes and mashed them with the beater and put the chicken and gravy on top. You may wish to keep both foods separate and they can heat them up separately because some people like some chicken with their mashed potatoes and some like it the opposite.

Chicken doesn't cost much and neither does potatoes. You can make up a salad if you like and a couple cans of canned cherries can be placed in a throw away bowl and give a half gallon of vanilla ice cream for a treat. A little canned cherries on top of ice cream is really good and does not cost that much. Your budget is the main deciding factor and the time you have to do this meal for your friend.

I add sour cream to my mashed potatoes to make it taste even better and I use real butter and the electric mixer to make it better as well. I also add a little salt and pepper that is freshly ground (that I bought at Aldi grocery store for a low price but adds so much flavor to the meal).

If your friend is breastfeeding, you might want to ask her if she thinks there is any spice you should stay away from. When I was a breastfeeding mom EVERYTHING gave me gas so my baby always had gas so it did not matter what I ate. She eventually got used to the foods I ate and it got better, but ask your friend for her input. It will make her feel more in control if you get input from her.

Hope this helps.

I also pray and ask God for ideas. He has the BEST ideas and often what he puts in your mind to do fits better even than what the person might tell you. Because God knows how things will be that particular day and she does not.

L. C.

You could make a pot roast or pork roast with the potatoes, carrots all together. Easy to re-heat.

I have made the pork roast w/a can of fat/free cream of mushroom soup & a jar of fat free brown gravy mix together
add the meat & potatoes & carrots & cook. A great flavor.

Add a toss salad or fresh fruit.

Hey Sherry, I know that you have had a great amount of requests, but I have one more. What ever you bring make sure it is in disposable containers, that way she will not have to do the dishes. All she would have to do is throw it away. I loved not remembering who brought which bowl. All she has to do is throw it away. Hope this helps

Sherry,

I just skimmed through all the responses. Now I know where to go when I need to cook!

When I make meals for friends like this (new babies or, unfortunately, family illnesses), I look at it as a chance for my family to have a major meal as well, since I work part-time and don't always have the time to make a full, time-consuming weekend-type meal during the week! So, I bake a lot of what I am making at the time!

I usually make a chicken dish, something fun and different, with individual chicken pieces. (My family is a white meat family, so I usually just buy breasts for others as well, but if you know your friends eat other parts, it is less expensive to buy mixed cuts or to cut up a whole chicken.) I have a recipe people love that is time consuming, involving coating the chicken before baking, but then sometimes I just buy a bottle of Soy Vey Terriyaki sauce and the chicken comes out delicious!

I usually make enough so there will be leftovers of the chicken.

I also make a side dish, often in advance and freeze it...like a brocolli casserole or a zuchinni pie or a noddle pudding or the like. I make these in disposable foil containers.

I also make a big salad and bring a bottle of salad dressing that I hope the family likes...or without the dressing if I know there will be a selection at my friend's home.

Sometimes I also make a soup, usually chicken soup, or I make a soup instead of the vegetable side dish.

Then dessert, usually brownies that my daughter makes.

Good luck! It is so thoughtful of you. My dad went into the hospital a few weeks ago and I thought, "It would be nice to have some of those dinners that I've made for others in the past." It really made me understand how much those dinners are needed.

I skimmed through quickly and i did not see any ziti. That is so easy to make and she can freeze it for later if she wants. You can make 2 at once and have some for your family also. Sausage and peppers is also a big favorite with my family. You are a wonderful friend :-)

Sherry,

by the time you read this you might have had your 3rd child already but this web site is always a go:

www.flylady.net she helps you with anything you need help but what it is most about is "to love yourself" first and that is what mothers are not very good in doing most of the time. Check her site out even if you or your friend don't have any CHAOS at home. Now her site is free of charge.

If you are still looking for meal options she works together with a dietitian who offeres differnt meal options: prepared meals by you, low card, vegetarian I believe. You can check her out at: Leanne Ely - http://www.SavingDinner.com. I think a 3 month menu mailer is about $10 including recepies and shopping list. She also has free recepies listed so that you check it out first before you have to purchase anything.

Good luck and have fun cooking without having to plan anymore if you like the savingdinner idea!

I would suggest getting a meal from a place like "Dinner by Design". They prepare the meal for you, package it all together & all you have to do is put it in the oven. It is great. I got a couple of these meals right after my daughter was born.

I know you already have 41 responses (and I didn’t read them all so I hope I’m not repeating something), but I too had to add my 2 cents. My aunt did this for me after I had my daughter and it was the greatest gift ever. I'm planning a group of people to bring food to my two friends that are having babies because it was so helpful. My aunt brought us bread, turkey, cut up lettuce, tomatoes, and onions so we could make sandwiches. She also made egg salad in a dish so we could choose to have that as well. The best part was, she would drop it off on our doorstep and call me as she was going down the road and say, "you have a treat on your porch." She wouldn't bug me, make me feel like I couldn't nap if my daughter was asleep or that I had to entertain her. That was a great gift as well.
enjoy a new baby around =o)

I always take a loaf of french bread (pre-buttered), a bottle of soda, a stouffers lasagna and usually a frozen pie. For working moms it is so much easier to buy the stuff and then take it all and all the new mom would have to do is throw the lasagna and bread in the oven.

anything you make is fine! make sure to take it over in disposable dishes so she doesn;t have to worry about getting dishes back to you. A nice basket of paper plates, cups, and plastic wear are also nice. make a double batch so she can throw one in the freezer

It used to be said that certian foods irritate all babies- they are actually finding that this may not be the case. Every mom and baby are different. Yes, she can have chocolate! Chocolate actually HELPS a breastfeeding mom with milk let down. She can even have spicy things- think of all of the babies in India- mothers there have a very spicy diet- and you never hear of them keeping a bland diet while nursing!

Just the fact that you will bring her a meal is wonderful! don't worry about what to take- and if all else fails- stop and pick up a pizza!

Hi there,

One of my favs is tuna noodle salad. Super easy, cheap and great for a snack for a nursing mom.

-1/2 box of noodles (your choice) we use radiatore b/c they look fun lol.
-4 cans of tuna
-1 bag of frozen peas
-mayonnaise to your liking.

cook noodles, add everything else and stir. Keep in fridge and dig in whenever you need too. For a quick dinner, slap some cheese on it and heat in the microwave. My kids are 3 and almost 2 and they love this. Good luck!

Hi, Sherry! Not sure if it's too late or not to respond. I won't give you any more recipes as it looks like you have received several good ones from some great cooks!! However, I would watch the onions and chocolate. If she is nursing, then there are a few things that she shouldn't eat, as it will make her baby not nurse. I made that mistake when I was nursing my second child. I ate an onion roll and she wouldn't breastfeed after that. I had to start her on formula, which broke my heart. I had completely forgotten about onions. Other than that, I'm sure she will love whatever you make her, as she probably won't have time to make much herself. You are a good friend for doing that! Good luck and God Bless.

I must have the same friends as M C but it was a rotisserie chicken!!

A casserole, a quiche, already prepared ribs, a fresh salad, fruit salad. There's really a lot that works. Or you can just go get some stuff at Kroger (or wherever) and get some chicken, potato salad, etc. There's all sorts of stuff there. Get exotic and grab some sushi! You've got a lot of possibilities.

And she's got a great friend!

I wanted to share with you a few helpful hint for quick delicious healthy entrees. I have been a single mom most of my life, I have 2 teenage boys now and our eating habits are evolving. I keep fresh fruit and vegatables in bags for a snacking. For meals we take turns to cook. I love stirfry and find it fast and efficient. You can use chicken, shrimp or beef add 2 - 3 chopped vegatables. Soup broth add lots of flavor and is low in fat. Simply sautee the meat toss in the veggies add broth and seasonings. Goes great with rice or pasta. C. A.

Sherry, If she is nursing, NO chocolate, garlic or brocolli.
Cook her your favorite! OR chicken soup! Who doesn't like chicken soup? OR make her a breakfast, pancakes, fresh fruit..
mornings are tough on new moms... good luck K.

My favorite meal that someone brought me when I had one of my kids was spaghetti and salad, and she brought a small cake on the side. I was so grateful to not have to cook. Thanks for being such a good friend to her.

Hi Sherry -
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE remember to find out if she's breast feeding before being so generous. Onions in any form and brocolli caused my baby tremendous pain and gas. The "meals from a friend" was the absolute BEST gift I received when I was home with my newborn, but I learned the hard way that I had to be much more careful with my diet. I had many sleepless nights crying right along with my son.
You are a sweetheart to be so thoughtful at this tiring and emotional time for the new mom! God Bless!

Hi Sherry

You're very sweet - I know when I had my third child five years ago that meals were extremely welcome. Take things that are one pot meals that don't need any preparation at all - just reheat by stuffing in the oven. Good things would be rice and chicken dishes that have been cooked in one dish, beef or chicken casseroles which contain potatoes and root vegetables, lasagna (you could send a salad in a separate bowl for that), shepherd's pie (savory ground beef with mashed potatoes on top), chicken and dumplings........Also, a big pot of vegetable soup would be good for lunches because it would last for several days and they could have with some nice bread. Hope this helps - Alison

I like to combine lots of different foods into casseroles. When I was unable to cook due to foot surgery, we got a lot of italian food, so I usually do something else. You can put chicken breasts in the oven with stove top stuffing and bake that together. I suggest cutting the chicken into strips for quicker baking time. Also, we have used lite summer sausage (Hillshire)and a california vegetable blend with a dirty rice/flavored rice and mix together once rice dish is made. I just wanted to suggest ideas that weren't italian. Good luck!

Hi Sherry! And I agree--awesome of you to do this especially with all YOU have going on. Hopefully many friends/ family and neighbors will do the same for you when you have your third baby! And I'm sort of laughing that I'm responding, because my husband is our "cook"--but he and I have put together many baby meals over the last several years and when my son was born, we were also showered with meals! Awesome...

OK, yes, millions of responses, so I'll make this brief.

Questions for the family:

2 things (breastfeeding? vegetarians or other limitations/ food allergies?) I made the dumb mistake of taking a (very yummy) Quiche Lorraine to a vegetarian friend. So all she had to eat was the salad and browines!! oops

My ideas:

take lunch--stop and get something from panera, or even subway, "take their order" and relieve them from having to think during the day!

quiche is our favorite baby meal! (make 2--one for your family and one for the other family) easy to make 2 at a time

spaghetti (whole wheat, uncooked), you supply some yummy, homeade sauce to heat up with it (and maybe make enough meatballs for both families!) all they have to do is boil water.

better for winter, but pasta fagoli or another type of soup..one pot goes a long way

pizza (homeade is fun and you can even start with a prepared crust)

I hope this is helpful...good luck!

C.

My friend brought me a couple of mild dishes and froze them. She brought me subs and wrapped them up to freeze for lunches. She also made some chicken bundles, which are like a chicken pot pie mixture wrapped in crescent rolls. Very good and easy. You can freeze them and then thaw and bake when needed. It was very helpful. I can get you the recipe if interested.

C.

Personally I would take a great salad. Most husbands don't know how to make a really good salad and the low calorie meals after having a baby might be appreciated.

anything "ready to eat" and can be heated up easily, but could taste good cold. Also, fresh fruit, veggies already washed and cut are good (people usually bring pastas and things with lots of bread). Ask if she needs/wants anything in particular. You may even want to bring juice/water especially if she is nursing. A loaf of bread could be a lifesaver if she hasn't had time to shop recently.

I like to take dinners that are all in one. For example, chicken parmesan. This has the chicken, rice, ETC all together. I would also bring a side salad and maybe cookies. My fellow employees brought my husband and I dinner twice a week for a month when our son was born. We always appreciated ANYTHING! Good Luck!

Sherry,
you may want to ask your friend what her families favorites are. If she has other small children sometimes the biggest challenge is finding something they like. That way the biggest challenge is handled feeding the kids. Mom and dad usually will eat whatever is easy, especially after a new baby!
Just be mindful that if she is nursing she may not be able to eat "gassy" foods. I always had to give up broccoli/cabbage type veggies, milk, and garlic.
I'm sure your friend really appreciates your thoughtfulness. God Bless!

Finger foods, and things you can eat with one hand that don't require heating, etc. - just straight out of the fridge. J.

Great ideas! My favorite meal was in-n-out burgers and a bottle of wine! She is so grateful to have you as a friend and dinner will be very well appreciated. I know I was so sad to see my meals over! I had another friend bring me a pasta dish w/ brownies, salad, etc. and she printed up a menu on her computer. Very clever. I always think it's fun to throw in dessert / salad + even a 6 pack of beer (if they drink or if they have friends over that drink). Fairly simple to do and makes it a nice full meal :)
Have fun with it!

I always make sure I put the food in disposable containers so they don't have to store/return them. I usually make a salad, a dish that can be warmed up later if they don't use it all (baked spagetti, chicken breasts, pot roast, pork & noodles are some examples), and anything that should go with it. I try to also take rolls or some kind of bread and a simple dessert that doesn't need fussing with. I usually include a card for the new parents and, if there are other young children, they love it if you bring a token gift for them. I often don't have anything on hand, but it's nice. If I think they are really overwhelmed, I might include paper plates and cups, but not usually.

Spaghetti sauce is really easy and you can make it in big batches. She can have some now and freeze some for another crazy day :)