What Would You Make To Help a Family Through a Tough Time?
I'm making dinner (along with some other moms) for a family to help them out while the mother has surgery. I don't know them well, so I don't have any specifics on food preferences, but I do know they have a large freezer and may be storing some meals for later. I think they'll get a lot of baked pastas, so I'm leaning toward beef stew to give them some variety. What would you make?
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28 Comments:
I would have said lasagna, but you're probably right that a lot of people will go for baked pasta. Stew is a nice choice, chicken soup would be comforting, or maybe a casserole.
LizNYC at 12:43PM on 01/28/08
Beef or turkey or chicken stew would be great. If you have the wherewithal to make individual pot pies, they freeze beautifully. A shepherd's pie will aso freeze well and you don't have to worry about individual portions.
Lasagna style enchilada casserole would be a nice change from baked pastas.
If you'd like to do something fun (depending on the family's tastes) you can give them a batch of Tomato Sauce with Pepperoni. It's great and if they like pepperoni pizza, they'll love it. Make your favorite marinara and once it's assembled, add a little oregano and 1 stick of pepperoni sliced about 1/4" thick. (Be sure to remove the casing.) Simmer the pepperoni in the marinara 1 hour on low heat. The meat will be tender. It goes well with garlic bread and a salad.
Chicken Parmagiana is a nice baked dish (once you assemble it) that can be frozen and re-heated if the family desires.
chiff0nade at 12:47PM on 01/28/08
Chicken stew is a wonderful idea. Are you a baker? Some home baked bread/baguettes/rolls would be a great idea. If it won't be frozen make a meatloaf; that always makes the best sandwiches.
ride&cook at 1:54PM on 01/28/08
A full-sized chicken potpie is easy to assemble in a disposable aluminum pan, does well in the freezer, and is easy to cook and serve.
Chili also freezes very well. If they have a microwave, it can be stored in individual micro-safe containers for quick eating. If you don't know their meat preferences, you can make it with chicken.
Again, along the lines of not being sure of their dietary preferences, you might make a hearty vegetable or bean soup. Again, these all freeze well, but are best suited to microwave reheating (otherwise, somebody will have to remember to thaw it a day or two ahead).
LoCo at 2:15PM on 01/28/08
If you have the time, a turkey dinner is nice. Roast a turkey breast (or put it in the crock pot), cook up some potatoes and veggies, stuffing and cranberry sauce. You can break it up into individual meals in those reusable plastic containers, and they can be refrigerated or frozen.
Kerosena at 3:12PM on 01/28/08
I would've said lasagna as well. Cookies are always welcome because families in need tend to get a lot of food food. But a big container of soup or stew is great too. Along with chili and bean based dishes.
StudentStomach at 3:43PM on 01/28/08
I know the topic is dinner but a pie is also nice.
evilchefmom at 3:56PM on 01/28/08
To continue evilchefmom's thought, a savoury pie could be nice (like, a potato & spinach pie, or something like this), perhaps, together with a pot of good soup. From my experience, this combo is really comforting and convenient, too. A stew of any kind sounds really good, too. Another idea is a pot of meatballs - they freeze well, and pretty much everybody loves meatballs.
brooke29 at 4:33PM on 01/28/08
Whenever I'm cooking something informal for a group that includes kids, or people whose tastes I don't know well, I bake some empanadas. They are easy to make in large batches, and both components--crust and filling--are very flexible with regard to their preparation.
The filling can be virtually anything that will sit in a heap for at least a few seconds--long enough to seal the empanada's edges--from scrambled eggs and bacon, to various stew-type things, vegetable mixes, rice/beans, semi-cooked brownie batter, fruit fillings, etc.
I originally used the empanada crust recipe from the 'New York Times Cook Book', but lost it ages ago, and find that any pie crust recipe that is not too flaky or crumbly works just fine.
Empanadas refrigerate, freeze and reheat beautifully, and can be made in various sizes. They also travel well, and make a nice packed lunch for work or school.
I've even eaten them cold, straight from the refrigerator; basically, they're tremendously tasty and convenient, which can be important when people are feeling stressed and anxious, and may not feel like bothering to do more than pop something in a microwave for a few moments.
mongoose at 4:59PM on 01/28/08
Something that is always nice at hard times is something sweet to eat. If you think they are going to get a ton of pastas... you could make up a batch of Brownie Batter and put it unbaked into a foil baking pan (they make them in all shapes and sizes including Brownie Pan size. Just increase the normal baking time from frozen by 15-20 minutes and they will have hot gooey fudgey brownies as a treat.
Aside from that a Chicken and Rice Casserole is awesome:
Meat from half a roasted chicken (or 3 boneless chicken breasts)
4 cups cooked brown or white rice
2 cups of Broccoli (fresh or frozen)
Can of Cream of Mushroom soup
1/2 brick of light Cream Cheese (softened)
1 1/2 cup of Milk
1 cup shredded Cheddar (for topping)
1/2 cup Bread Crumbs or Crush Potato Chips
Literally dump everything but the crumbs and cheese into a mixing bowl. Mix it together by hand, it should have an almost risotto texture to it. Place that into a foil casserole pan and top it with cheese and crackers.
From frozen it should bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes, until the top is nicely browned and it is bubbling.
We also do an "asian" version, add a pinch of ginger and soy. Replace broccoli with pea pods, carrots and diced red pepper. We top it without the cheese and crush up crunchy chow mein noodles on it.
kcline at 6:42PM on 01/28/08
I like kcline's suggestion of something sweet. Particularly if they're going to get a lot of dinner options, a sweet would probably be very appreciated. Bread pudding would freeze nicely.
Another thought might be something breakfast-y. Maybe a batch of pancakes or waffles (freeze so easily) or a strata.
renzata at 7:25PM on 01/28/08
Baked ziti and meatballs its the food for those who don't want to mess with cutting a lasagne
JerzeeTomato at 8:22PM on 01/28/08
chicken pot pie
lexophile at 8:30PM on 01/28/08
I did several soups for friends- turkey, butternut squash and chili. I frozen in freezer bags with two servings and also made rolls and froze four for each meal. It was easy for them to defrost and heat when they did not have a lot of time.
mrsmoosie at 9:33PM on 01/28/08
I'll second bread pudding. If it lasts long enough to be frozen, it does freeze nicely, but it also does well in the fridge. It's one of those dishes that gets better each day, in my opinion. You could make a savory bread pudding as well as a sweet bread pudding.
My only other recommendation would be something with a little spice to add some variation to what will undoubtedly be a slew of casseroles and lasagnas. Enchiladas--you can make a variety (cheese, chicken, beef, maybe even seafood if you so please) that is sure to please a crowd, and it's kind of neat to think that in one casserole dish you can provide three or four different dinner options.
kmnola at 12:29AM on 01/29/08
I usually try to make something a little different when something like your situation occurs, judging from alot of other posts alot of people find breakfast for dinner very comforting, why not a strata? it dosent freeze well but I doubt they would want to.
huney_bumper at 9:51AM on 01/29/08
When I make chicken and rice, rice is the last thing I add. After the seasoned chicken is browned, I add onions and lots of garlic, and enough water to simmer it until it's really tender. I remove all the meat and return it to the pot, and then add the rice. So if I'm using this for "takeaway", I'll freeze the chicken and its broth in a bag on which I've written the instructions for finishing it up, and bring the frozen stuff, along with the right quantity of rice. I've even carried this, wrapped in newspapers, cross-country on a plane (in my luggage; you know how cold that can get).
lemons at 10:10AM on 01/29/08
The friends I am helping now with dinners don't like casseroles. So I make a Boston Butt pork roast in the oven or out in the smoker. They can eat it right away as slices with dinner or chopped in bbq sandwiches. They can also freeze it and make bbq sandwiches quickly one night if needed. It's so tasty, I've never met anyone who didn't like it. And any side dishes go well with it.
Other things I've taken to families in need, especially in a funeral situation: tuna salad, chicken salad or pimiento cheese with a couple of loaves of bread or rolls so they can make their own sandwiches as needed; dirty rice (hamburger); chicken and sausage gumbo; jambalaya.
Editmom at 11:19AM on 01/29/08
What about sandwiches and salads/potato/cole slaw, etc. Obviously those things won't freeze well but they're easy to just grab and eat.
rockandroller at 11:37AM on 01/29/08
id make dumplings, they freeze wonderfully!
sassysprite at 1:38PM on 01/29/08
Here's another thread on SE regarding funeral food, with lots of great suggestions to help a family get through a tough time.
http://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2007/11/funeral-food.html#comments
PerkyMac at 1:45PM on 01/29/08
Red beans and rice are another option. Freezes decently, and you can add andouille sausage as well.
anninva at 1:56PM on 01/29/08
they'll receive a ton of casserole type dishes. how about roasted chicken?
SPSJO at 3:14PM on 01/29/08
My neighbour is haveing double bypass surgery today. I plan on making him a quinoa salad filled with fresh veggies. It's heart healthy and will provide many nutrients to help his body heal.
rockymountainmarta at 6:23PM on 01/29/08
I usually smoke a couple pork butts to make pulled pork, then vacuum seal it in individual portions. Individually-sealed smoked chicken breasts are also good. They can be eaten on sandwiches, in salad, etc.
PhotoKirk at 8:12AM on 01/30/08
Meat loaf, mashed pos, green beans.
Rae at 8:52AM on 01/30/08
When my first child was born, many friends brought food for my freezer. My favorite was individually wrapped bean burritos. They had black & refried beans, salsa, cheese, avocado, etc. They were delicious when reheated in the oven (or toaster oven). I also really appreciated any kind of soup. I never felt like taking the time to chop veggies for a salad and was happy to have homemade soups filled with healthy veggies as an alternative. (Especially after eating lots of frozen pasta and take-out dinners.) Now that I am expecting my second child, I am eagerly reading all of the great ideas posted here and taking notes for things I can make and freeze ahead of time. Yum.
tracyd at 8:57AM on 01/30/08
A big pot of beef minestrone soup.
aharste at 11:50AM on 01/30/08