What are you favourite make-ahead and/or freezeable meals to drop off to new parents (bonus if you have a tried and true recipe to go along with it ;)). Lots of mamas in our mom's group having babies soon and i need a game plan in place!
Thanks!
You might also enjoy...
-
In addition to a meal (lasagna, casserole, etc) with sides (bread, salad) I like to pack some muffins! That way they have an easy breakfast/snack option that doesn't involve cooking.
-
We got a lot of great food and dinners this time. But one thing that stood out that was cool: friends brought a huge basket filled with fresh fruit and little cups filled with grapes, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.... And also a fresh baked pumpkin bread! So awesome!!
-
Also, slightly different from a lasagna or casserole; yummy turkey meatloaf!
http://www.food.com/recipe/turkey-meatloaf-54752 -
My go-to meal is King Ranch Chicken Casserole with tortilla chips and salsa for sides and I usually throw in a loaf of banana or pumpkin bread.
http://www.ro-tel.com/recipes-king-ranch-chicken-3541.html -
I just took this to a new mom last weekend:
http://paleomg.com/almost-5-ingredient-pizza-spaghetti-pie/ (subbed pepperoni for the sausage) along with a bag of salad and some lactation cookies. And some bows for her new little girl
I always try to bring something healthy-ish and this one is also toddler friendly
-
I also sometimes take a pre-assembled crockpot meal that can be frozen so they can just throw it all in the crockpot for the next day or put it in the freezer until they need it.
-
@blackbird: someone brought this to us for this baby!!!! It was SO yummy!!!
-
I make Barbacoa with these sauce packs. I shred in my stand mixer. I usually send a salad, tortillas, and cilantro with it. Most everyone asks for the recipe and make it themselves regularly now. It is also easy to make enough to feed your family without much extra effort. I also like that it is different enough that the recipient hasn't received something similar. The meat also freezes well! http://www.fronterafiesta.com/store/seasoning-sauces/red-chile-barbacoa-slow-cook-sauce/27-115
-
Favorites I've made for new parents...
Stout & Beef Stew w Egg Noodles
http://www.marthastewart.com/318983/stout-and-beef-stew-served-over-egg-noodBeet Risotto
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/beet-risottoPumpkin Bread (I love cooks illustrated recipe)
This breakfast strata is amazing and can be breakfast lunch or dinner!
http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-ham-and-cheese-breakfas-43364 -
My usual go to is chicken tacos. I make chicken taco meat in the crockpot and send that along with the tortillas, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, and cheese. I also send chips and salsa and a 6 pack of beer.
However, I think for my friend who's having a baby in a few months, I'm going to bring her a breakfast casserole and some muffins and fruit. I remember breakfast was difficult.
Also, think about the family size too. We are a family of 4 now with a baby and toddler. When my friend brought over a casserole in a 9x13 pan, we couldn't eat it all before it went bad. I really wish she would have split it into 2 8x8 pans so one could have gone into the freezer for another time.
-
My go to is chicken pot pie. A little different than what people usually bring, and super easy for them to heat up when it's convenient. It's also really easy to double/triple the recipe so I usually make one for the family to eat right away, one for them to freeze for later, and one for my family all at the same time.
2Tbl Butter
2 Tbl Flour
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Thyme
1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
1/2 Cup Chicken Stock
1 Rotisserie Chicken cut up into cubed pieces
1 bag frozen Mixed Vegetables
1 box of Pillsbury Pie crustsMelt the butter in a pot over medium heat, when melted, add the flour, salt and thyme, stir and heat until smooth and bubbly. Remove from heat. Add cream and chicken stock. Return to medium heat and stir constantly. When the sauce reaches a boil, boil and stir for one minute, and then remove from heat. Add the cut up chicken and the vegetables (cooked according to package instructions). Put one pie crust in the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate, fill with the chicken/veggie/sauce mixture, and create a lattice top with the other. Bake at 425 for 30-35 minutes (I usually bring it unbaked to the new parents so they can bake it when they're ready).
-
I also do chicken pot pie. I use Smitten Kitchen's vodka pie crust recipe and the Pioneer Woman's leftover turkey pot pie recipe for the filling. I usually bring one to heat, one to freeze, a bagged salad and some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. For vegetarians, I bring spinach and mushroom enchiladas, black beans and Spanish rice.
-
I make dry halved sandwiches that can hold and be eaten cold and one handed. Smoked turkey with roasted red pepper hummus on whole wheat is a good one. Or PBJs or ham and cheese. But in the early days I try to be BM offender friendly and leave out dairy or spices or acidic foods, etc. Oatmeal muffins and hard boiled eggs and cut up fruit would also be another great breakfast snacks thing. For dinner I would so baked chicken drumsticks that can be eaten one handed hot or cold plus a rice pilaf and cooked green beans. Super bland but usually offender friendly.
-
Chicken chile enchiladas from the Kitchn. They are amazing and can be frozen too. DH loves them!
http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-chicken-chile-enchiladas-223930
-
I usually make chili, cornbread, and salad. I like to include a dessert (like cookies) or muffins (something easy to grab and eat). I also like to add cut fruit.
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/turkey-and-pinto-bean-chili
I've also made this greek chicken with rice and a tomato salad (plum tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, artichoke hearts, chickpeas, chopped parsley, green onions, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper).
http://www.recipetineats.com/one-pot-greek-chicken-lemon-rice/
-
Great ideas here...I'd also say that after my experience with DD being very sensitive to dairy (though not actually MSPI) I won't take milk/butter/cheese-laden stuff to new moms anymore. It's such a common intolerance and there are so many delicious non-dairy things to make, I just feel better knowing I'm not sending something that might not get eaten. I actually figured out DD's sensitivity because someone brought us a big pan of mac n cheese and she spit up terribly after I ate it. That's when I started paying attention to what I are to see if there was a correlation.
-
We usually bake a homemade banana bread! Easy and I feel like most other people bring dinners so it works.
-
The favorite we received were empanadas. Can hear up quickly, can freeze extra, and can be eaten one handed while bouncing or nursing a baby! I believe they used a Smitten Kitchen recipe.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
18 comments