I will be taking dinner to the family of my friend battling leukemia this Wednesday.
Her husband & two teenage sons will be the recipients--she is in the hospital. :(
No food allergies, but the boys tend to be a little picky.
They love my baked Mac & Cheese.
I think last time I took it I think I made ham slices and a veggie as well.
What do you make to round out your mac & cheese dinner?
Looking for ideas.
ETA: They said they are getting sick of chicken--that was my first thought--some breaded chicken tenderloins! :(
Thanks!
Pork Chops! Brilliant! (Thanks Laurie A.! And thanks for all of the other suggestions....we're in this for the long haul, so some will come in handy!)
I usually do a salad or a broccoli side dish, or both! I know it's starch on starch, but possibly some yummy garlic bread or something too. Peas would be nice, as well as maybe some zucchini, it is in season! I think anything green would be a good idea!
I love baked mac with a crisp, green salad; that would be a meal for me. Sorry to hear about your friend; and what a loving friend YOU are!
My favorite go to side (because I can't screw it up!) is:
steam some fresh green beans until they are tender/crisp
slice up some red, yellow and orange peppers
thinly slice O. half of a red onion
Put them all in a bowl and add about 1/2 cup of "Ken's Northern Italian" salad dressing. Mix well. Refridgerate for about an hour.
Add some garlic bread and you are good to go. I like the idea of ham slices, too. Brownies for dessert.
I'm keeping positive thoughts for your friend. You are very sweet to do this for her family!
I make barbeque'd keilbasa sausage.
Cut into serving size pieces (3-4"). Put it on the bbq over medium heat to char the outside. Then brush some KC style bbq sauce all over each piece. Lower heat so as not to burn the sauce. Keep brushing on more sauce until a nice sticky crust is formed.
Despite the directions, this only takes about 20 minutes. My boys (9 and 11) LOVE when we have "big hot dogs" and mac and cheese.
I would say ham or baked chicken goes great with it and then a nice salad with the sliced veggies on the side since the boys are picky.
hot dogs...my boys love hot dogs with mac n cheese.
they also love meatloaf with it...
or chopped up ham and peas mixed in with the mac n cheese.
If they are picky eaters - i don't know what they would think about
ham and cheese roll-ups (tortillas with ham and cheese rolled inside).
pulled BBQ pork sandwiches with corn on the cob
spaghetti with meatballs
The BBQ and spaghetti can be warmed up easily.
You could buy a couple of grocery store fried chickens. They will keep well in the fridge for a few days of easy leftovers. Then brocoli and dinner rolls.
If it were my picky boys they would like raw veggies and some kind of sausage on the side.
We usually have hot dogs, hamburgers or sandwiches and a salad.
Sometimes I skip the dogs etc. and just make a salad with meat in it, but I don't think that will work with picky eaters...
Oh an my daughter loves fired chicken cutlets with hers... me not so much :)
Green beans, a salad, pulled pork, steaks, hamburgers, ham... really what doesnt go with mac n cheese? I like mine with broccoli and bacon mixed in.
Brats (We like Johnsonville).
Anything green would be great. A salad, peas, summer squash.
Sometimes I will actually cut up grilled chicken breast and brocolli and add that right to the mac cheese before baking, then no side is needed :) But if the boys love your mac cheese and are looking forward to it, they may be disappointed with a change.
They're lucky to have you :)
T.
home made mac and cheese doesn't need another meat componant. bring a salad and a veggie and some garlic bread or a fruit salad and veg w/bread. my kids loved corn lol but grown ups might like something green on the side.
Grilled pork chops, sausage wraps, meatloaf, except they are picky, may not like that. Yes,ham is good.. Thn a crispy salad with ome big tomatoes they can slice really thick.
