Meal Ideas For Sick Friend

[brasswillow]

I have a friend who just had surgery for endometriosis. A group of us are going to make meals for her and her husband. I'm signed up for Tuesday. What should I take? As far as I know they don't have any food issues (I've asked the girl who is organizing it, but I haven't heard back yet). I would like to do something in a container they don't have to return and want it to be something I can make ahead of time (I would like to drop it off after work on Tuesday).

Ideas would be helpful. I have another friend who is going to have a baby in a few months and would like to have other ideas for then too.

Thanks!

 

[babytrees]

with me laid up after surgery I can tell you what we are tired of (though very thankful for the help) Italian meals...we've had a spaghetti bake, lasagna, lasagna rolls and pizza in the last week.

We all loved the salad with chicken we got a few days ago and the rot. chicken as we were able to get a couple of different meals out of it.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Comfort food!!!

Chicken Noodle Soup with some rolls/biscuits...

Baked chicken and macaroni and cheese...

Meatloaf and mashed potatoes...

Homemade pot pie...

 

[acejka]

homemade chicken and dumplings and some cheddar biscuits.

 

[Deb Quen of Colorado]

I totally agree with no more spaghetti pie We were brought so much that I dont' think I can ever make it again.

We have 2 teen boys and we liked-
tray of meats and cheese/ lettuce and tom. with rolls and sides of fruit and cookies
rot chicken with salad
burritos- reg and breakfast
bbq pork sandwiches, chips and ice cream pie
anything that was in 'pieces' tjhat we could put together to our tastes
cookies were a big hit!
We even got quite a few rest gift cards and that came in handy for quick take out as a treat
Anything that tasted homemade, comfort type food.

 

[clh2]

What about Chicken and Salsa Soup??

It is very easy to make...and quite yummy!

My other idea is a Cheesy 'Chilada Bake. I would just find a 9x13 aluminum pan to make this, and then you don't need to hunt down your pan when your friend is feeling better.

Ingredients:

1.5 pounds ground beef
1 green bell pepper,diced (I omit this, 'cuz I don't like peppers)
1 medonion diced
1 c. picante sauce
1 - 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 - 14.5 ounce can pinto beans
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp minced garlic salt
12 corn tortillas (the "smaller" size)
2 c. shredded Mexican cheese blend

Brown the ground beef, bell pepper and onion until the beef is no longer pink. Drain and discard the grease.

Add picante sauce, tomoato sauce, drained pinto beans m cumin, salt and garlic salt.

Layer in the follow order into 9 x 13 pan that has been greased, sprayed with Pam etc.:
1/2 the meat mixture (about 4 cups)
6 corn tortillas
and 1 c. cheese

repeat with the rest of the meat, 6 corn tortillas, and 1 c. cheese. Top with Aluminum foil.

This can be made in advance (and even frozen - just thaw before baking). Preheat the oven to 350, and bake for 40 minutes (with the foil on) until the center is hot and the edges are bubbly.

We serve this with shredded lettuce and sour cream!

 

[monkeybug]

I agree with soup and rolls! Martha stewart has a yummy lemony soup with chicken ricotta meatballs that is my favorite when I'm feeling a bit run down.

Tacos are always yummy! You can chop up the ingredients, put them in a container, put some seasoned shredded chicken or even ground beef in another container and give them some tortillas and shredded cheese. Maybe some spanish rice or chips and salsa to go along with it?

Chicken pot pie is easy to make ahead of time, so is quiche. Maybe some quiche with a big container of cut up fruit? We eat breakfast for dinner occasionally.

Falafels, pita, some hummus, tatziki sauce, sliced cucumbers and a tabouli salad (sorry I have no idea how to spell any of that!) is yummy and probably something very different. Maybe check to make sure it's not too different though.

 

[*BTMRR*]

I like to do taco salad--put all the fixings (seasoned chicken or ground beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion...) in Gladware containers, and send along a jar of good salsa and a container of sour cream and a bag or two of Tostitos. You could use ziploc bags for some of these things if you don't have enough Gladware. I usually include a fresh fruit salad or a pan of brownies in a disposable pan and maybe some ice cream if I know what flavor they like.

I always like to do something like this that the family can heat up and serve whenever they feel like it, rather than something they have to eat right when it's delivered. And you're right that it's helpful to be sure there are no dishes they have to return.

I hope your friend will feel better soon. It's nice of you to help out.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

MEals I enjoyed receiving after having a baby...

Pork Tenderloin
Rotisserie Chicken

Basically homey comfort foods.

One of my friends at the time was French and she made a lovely little french meal (Though I cannot recall what it was). It was multi-course and delicious.

I agree about steering away from Italian if you can help it. If she has an extensive meal list--it could get old real fast.

I would say--take your family specialty and go from there. (Easy though--big Sunday dinners are not necessary!)

I did taco-nachos from one family once. Hubby's family calls it tacos--but they serve it on Dorito's. I used tortilla chips instead.

Deliver the food prepared, but not assembled so things don't get soggy.

 

[Rafiki31]

I agree with comfort foods ANd maybe some cut up fruit or veegies or salad. After my surgery I loved all the comfort food, but started to feel like a blob since I could not really move and ate so much.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Beef stew. Easy to make in a crockpot. Ladle it into an aluminum tray, and they can reheat it in the oven.

I agree with not bringing any pasta dishes as those may be too plentiful, but other Italian meals like sausage and peppers or chicken parmigiana would be good choices.

 

[jen42002]

I have had that type of surgery. Just skip any meals that may cause "gas" (ie: lots of beans, broccoli, califlower etc.) as her abdomen would not be able to handle it right now.

 

[mhsjax]

I have had that type of surgery. Just skip any meals that may cause "gas" (ie: lots of beans, broccoli, califlower etc.) as her abdomen would not be able to handle it right now.

So true.

 

[Nancyg56]

How about a shepards pie? easy to make, easy to heat and you can make it in a disposable pan. I have made this and chicken pot pie to send over for family meals.

I also send soups and rolls.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We got lots of chicken dishes after my surgery. Alot of caserolles like chicken and rice and the one on the stove top box with the vegetables etc. I liked the confort foods too like beef stew and meatloaf. My ds prferred the italian stuff, but after all the anesthesia and surgery you really dont feel like spicy stuff. I was really spoiled. The lady from my church who arranged the meals did it like chicken, beef, italian etc. so it was never all the same stuff etc. Your friend is blessed to have someone so caring.

 

[golfgal]

I agree-NO LASAGNA or pasta in red sauce of any kind. Everyone and their brother brings that when people are sick/have babies, etc. When our twins were born we had several friends stop by and drop off meals. It was wonderful but EVERY SINGLE ONE brought lasagna. We of course thanked them and ended up tossing much of it because we could only eat so much.

I would bring something simple like soup but also bring some veges/dip, cut up fruit, chips, snack type food. Everyone brings meals but getting some of these extras are nice too.

You might want to suggest to your friend organizing this that she email everyone what was brought by other families so you don't get repeats.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Shepherd's Pie is a good one.... I use this one -- with mashed potatoes, ground beef, cheese, it's great comfort food.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/The-Casserole/Detail.aspx

 

[brasswillow]

Thank you all for the great ideas!! There are opportunities to bring meals to different people every other month or so, so I will be sure to remember this thread! I still have a few days to think it over, but the rotisserie chicken and the shepherd's pie are perking my interest!

When I was 9 years old my mom had thyroid surgery. I remember all the lasagna/Italian red sauce meals that were brought to us. Don't want to inflict that on a friend.

 

[Disney Doll]

How about Turkey Tettrazzini...love that and it's a casserole thing so could be eaten with leftover sfrozen.

 

[krcit]

Last week I made Italian Wedding Soup. It was so easy. Just send some grated cheese with it for them to add when they eat it