Help, I need to make dinner for a sick friend. Ideas.

[HaleyB]

One of my dearest friends is having surgery tomorrow and a bunch of us are going to make dinners for her for the next two weeks. I am a vegitarian and they are not, very much not... so I need some ideas for rather fool proof meals. Because I don't cook meat, so I really don't know how and I am not going to be able to taste test it (I would not know if it tasted right anyhow).

I was thinking maybe Meatloaf would be good. What do you think? Chili came to mind as well, but I am not sure that is a good choice for someone on the mend. I would love to make her a roast, as that seems like a comfort food, but I am afraid to take that on (or are they really easy?)

I do cook, just not meat. Any ideas?

 

[ElizK]

Chicken Quesadillas are very easy, especially if you use canned chicken.

 

[THE HAT]

what about getting some really good take out from some local place they enjoy? you can always add a really nice big salad with diff dressings on the side and make a dessert to go with it?

or you can roast a chicken as that has to be cooked all the way, and you wouldn't have to worry about how done they like their roast? a chicken and some carrots and potatoes.

 

[ericamanda01]

I would say go for comfort food. Homemade Mac and cheese, meatloaf, stuff like that. The take out idea is a great one!

 

[WDWAurora]

Go to www.bettycrocker.com and look up the impossibly easy hamburger (might be cheeseburger-same thing) pie. All you need to know about cooking meat is to make sure it browns. Couldn't be easier for somebody who can't taste it.

 

[zippeedee]

If you cook pasta like ziti or rigatoni with sauce and cheese it doesn't really need meat, but you could buy some pre-cooked chicken (like that Short-cut kind) and toss that in. Use lots of mozzarella cheese and bake it. I did that for friends after a family funeral. It keeps well and tastes great re-heated.

 

[bigmerle1966]

Something easy is to take frozen manicotti, pour on some spaghetti sauce, sprinkle with parmesan and mozzeralla cheese. Use a disposable baking pan so that they can just throw it away when they are done. Send some garlic bread, a salad and a yummy dessert.

I plan on doing this for a friend of mine. She is having part of her hand amputated and I am going to make these kinds of meals so all her older sons will need to do is put it in the oven and serve.

You could always pick up a cooked chicken from the grocery store and make some side to go with it like baked sweet potatoes, a green vegetable and dessert.

 

[HaleyB]

Thanks these are good ideas. I may end up doing several dinners depending on how hard her recovery is.

I looked up the Cheeseburger Pie and it looks perfect. I was just saying to my husband that every dish I have ever seen her make has cheese in it

 

[minkydog]

When I was hospitalized my friends brought in a variety of dinners. Some of the best were: rotisserie chicken(from the local grocery), to which they added green beans, salad, baked potatoes and bread. Lasagna and salad from Macaroni Grill Taco Bell for the kids. Someone brought a sackful of chicken legs from KFC--yummy! My kids were in heaven

 

[kristen821]

throw the roast in a slow cooker and you can't go wrong. I usually put some beef broth carrots and potatos in the slow cooker with it. Basically any meat can be made in the slow cooker... ham, stew, roast, chicken, italian sausage, philly steak, beef, etc. You really can't go wrong with the crock pot!

 

[barkley]

my vegan in-laws make an awsome veggie meatball in a bbq like sauce that all of us carnivores love, as well a veggie lasagna, and homemade veggie soup (which is always comfort food for me when i'm not feeling well). i'm sure your friends will get plenty of meat dishes-why not cook what you are comfortable with?!

 

[PlutoPony]

In situations such as this I like to do things that people can "eat off of" for a while. Lasagna is good as leftovers can easily be frozen for later. Since it's close to Easter, we're starting to see ham in the stores now - how about a spiral sliced one with a pan of scalloped potatoes and a vegetable. Or bake a turkey breast......

 

[golfgal]

Another idea instead of an actual meal would be to bring over fresh fruits and veges or other snack type foods a couple times. I know we had several people bring meals after the twins were born and we had a fridge FULL of meals and nothing to go with them. The snack foods would be welcome as well (saving a trip to the store).

 

[Ranatra]

I have a recipe for a great chicken/rice dish that is wonderful (and I don't normally like casseroles) I had this at a Shower and just loved it!

CHicken/Rice Casserole
3 cups cooked shredded chicken breasts
3 cups cooked rice
1/2 chopped onion
1 TBL lemon juice
1 tsp pimento
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 cup sliced water chestnuts (don't leave these out)
1 cup Mayo
2 cans cream of chicken soup
top with shredded cheddar cheese then crumbled potato chips

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes