Meal ideas for friend going through rough time

[minnie1012]

Hi I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of meals I could make for a friend of mine who is going through a rough time? Her husband is now in a psychiatric hosptial after an incident that happened the day before Thanksgiving. She has 3 small children, a 3 year old and 15 month old twins. I wanted to make her some food that she could easily freeze and reheat after work. Anyone have any ideas? So far all I could think of was lasagna.

Thanks!

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

Hi I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of meals I could make for a friend of mine who is going through a rough time? Her husband is now in a psychiatric hosptial after an incident that happened the day before Thanksgiving. She has 3 small children, a 3 year old and 15 month old twins. I wanted to make her some food that she could easily freeze and reheat after work. Anyone have any ideas? So far all I could think of was lasagna.

Thanks!

I’m sorry your friend is going through such a rough time! But it sounds like she has at least one good friend sticking by her. Good for you.
I can’t think of many off hand, but maybe these will help jog your brain

Does she like chicken? Chicken casseroles or baked chicken breasts are great for reheating
Soups (my mom used to freeze her homemade chicken noodle and it was soooo good when I reheated it.)
Pasta sauce
Maybe put all of the ingredients for pizza together (crust, sauce, cheese)
Muffins (I know you said dinner but these are great for a quick breakfast)

I’ll try to think up some more

 

[babytrees]

how about things she could freeze and reheat in a crockpot?

My family loves my chili...even after it's been frozen and reheated.

I would say most casseroles can be easily frozen and reheated. How about looking at a place like Super Suppers (a create and take meal place) website for ideas?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

That's very thoughtful of you for wanting to help your friend!

Lasagna is a great choice. How about some baked rigatoni with meat sauce and cheese on top? Perhaps some beef stew or split pea soup that you can make in a crock pot? Sweet & sour chicken or chicken stir fry over rice?

I think it would be easiest for her if you put everything in individual serving-sized plactic containers. You can buy some Gladware containers so she doesn't have to worry about giving them back. Then she can put a few in the refrigerator for the next few day and freeze the rest and take them out when she needs them.

 

[NikitaZee]

I agree with the chicken casserole. I'd try to find a recipe that includes broad noodles - that's always a favorite with young kids and they can eat it easily with their fingers if they're not using utensils yet. You're a caring friend to be doing this.

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

My boyfriend makes an enchilada lasagna that is very good, and can be made not too spicy.

Layer corn tortillas with an enchilada sauce, cheese, cut up onions and peppers. I bet the kids would like this...the tortillas get very soft, and if you cut up the veggies enough it should be good. It's a good alternative to traditional lasagna.

My mom's "go-to" easy meal is pasta with garlic, olive oil, chicken (she gets a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and just pulls off pieces), and broccoli. Light and great! Oh...top with parmesean cheese, too!

 

[minkydog]

How about hot dogs and macaroni & cheese? When my DH was critically ill my kids were 8,10, and 17. My friends brought many meals and I really appreciated it.

The best ones were:
*Dominos Pizza
*Taco Bell
*Rotisserie Chicken from Publix with mashed potatoes and broccoli
*Ham, tater tots, green beans and fruit salad
*KFC chicken legs with baked beans
*Hot dogs, baked beans, chips, and jello w/ peaches
*Tub of vanilla ice cream, ice cream cones, and caramel topping
*Strawberry shortcake

We got a LOT of lasagna, some really nasty chicken and rice dishes, and dried beans & cornbread(which my kids love!)

 

[dizluvah]

meatballs - I toss a bag of frozen ones in the crockpot with a jar of chili sauce and can of cranberry sauce - so easy. Freeze them and she can serve them as needed with veggies or over rice.

 

[pearlieq]

A taco kit can be a nice change of pace. Make up taco meat and send it along with all of the accessories--shells/tortillas, can of refried beans, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream.

I know some of those are perishables, but they're pretty hardy and last at least a week or so in the fridge, so she can get to them when she wants.

Muffins and quickbreads are good for breakfast and snacks.

 

[Carys]

How lovely of you to help out your friend Just a suggestion - maybe throw in some boxes of cereal and some fruit as well to help out with meals at the other end of the day.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Its so nice of you to offer your support. When my DD was in the hospital recently my MIL next door took care of my DS and DH, but the kind offers from the people around us really meant allot. Sometimes there really is nothing anyone can do or say to help, but just knowing people around us cared was a huge comfort. Here are my food ideas but maybe an offer to baby sit so your DF can go visit her DH in peace might also be welcome.

Breaded Chicken Cutlets freeze well and can be eaten as is, in sandwiches with mayo, sliced into strips for the kids or topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan as parmigiana.

A whole pot of tomato sauce can be put into small containers and frozen to defrost as needed. I often send over different pastas to go along with it and english muffins for english muffin pizzas.

Some packages of "Easy Mac" which can be quickly mixed with hot water and microwaved.

Also, as I cook throughout the week I tend to make extra servings and send them over to my In Laws next door to either be eaten the same night or the next night after re-heating. After all, it takes just as much effort to cook 6 pork chops as it does to cook 4.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Do a Google Search for "freezer cooking" and you will find tons of sites with recipes for meals that are made ahead of time and frozen. You can make some up and even keep half for you and give her half!

 

[FayeW]

How about meatloaf, but made in a muffin tin. That way she can pull out as many "meat muffins" as she will need for the meal. I haven't done it myself but I would think you would get at least a dozen muffin portions out of a meatloaf mixture. With kids the ages of hers, she would probably get 3 meals out of that.

 

[BelleWDW]

Honestly-the little ones probably dont eat what she eats.
Maybe just buy her a pile of nice frozen meals?

 

[MsDisney23]

Homemade beef-a- roni

1 jar ragu meat flavored
1lb hamburger cooked, drain fat add to ragu
1lb elbow macaroni, cook, drain and add to ragu

Mix well. Kids will love it, fast and easy.

You even just give her the ingredients to make it herself.

Very nice of you to help a friend in need.

 

[cydswipe]

Here are a few of my thoughts:

1..Maidrites freeze well.

2..I make a "tavern" mixture that is sort of like maidrites:

1 lb hamburger browned and drained
cut up onions...
salt/ pepper
1 tbls vinegar
1 tbls prepared mustard
1 tbls sugar

In your saucepan you browned the meat.. combine all of this and then add water.. just to cover and let it simmer down. It's a weird combo, but it tastes wonderful. I freeze my leftovers. Just as good out of the freezer. Maybe you could supply some bakery buns, frozen french fries and good sliced pickles.

3. I had a dear friend on bedrest while pregnant. She was VERY TIRED of Chicken and Rice variations.

4. Scalloped potato and ham

5. Even chessy frozen hasbrowns with ham chunks/ patties

6. Soups... maybe some to eat right away (once again w/ a good dipping bread) and then another container to freeze.

7. Trail mix

8. Banana Bread, zucchini bread... any kind. Double the batch.. make one for yourself, freeze one, and have enough for friend to eat/ freeze

9. Maybe even a more expensive jar of spaghetti sauce, different noodle that you wouldn't normally buy, and some itailian sausage/ hambureger already browned up. Could be ready to eat, or easy to pop in freezer.

10. Even an arm roast with veggies... get a large one, throw some dried onion soup mix on it, add extra veggies. Supper for you and for her...
Easy, great ways to use a roast as leftovers.

11. Meatballs... easy to throw in noodles or rice for quick meal..

may also be used for sub sandwiches... buy hoagie bun, mozz. cheese and marinara sauce..



So nice of you to help out!!!
I will post more thoughts

 

[minnie1012]

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions! My one daughter just got over being sick now the little one is running a fever. So I'm hoping everyone gets better so I can run to the store and start cooking!