What Meals Do You Make for Sick Friends/Neighbors/Family Members?

[tarheelmjfan]

I'm going to be taking a meal to my neighbors, I'm debating between lasagna (this could be made meatless or with meat) with salad and garlic bread, or this recipe, with rice and maybe a side of fruit it's a complete meal: https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1681106

Thanks for the suggestion. I hope your neighbor is doing well.

What about cooking up a batch of taco meat? You can add the fixings plus tortillas/ shells and even tortilla chips if they want to make nachos.

Taco meat usually reheats well.

* When I typed meat, it auto corrected to meatloaf. There's another idea!

Sounds good. I'll add it to the possible list.

It's funny that you mentioned meatloaf. It crossed my mind earlier, but I had completely forgotten about it.

Usually order either a tray of chicken parm, ziti, penne ala vodka, or something along that line to be delivered to them- my friend recently had surgery and so many people had so much food delivered they have a freezer full that will last them a long time LOL- she said everytime they turned around another place was at their door with a delivery!

When you say trays of chicken parm, ziti, etc., are you talking about ordering a catered size portion with several servings? I don't think we have any restaurants or delis around here that offer that. That may be a NJ, NY thing or maybe it's just not a Southern state thing. We have plenty of Italian restaurants, but they only sell takeout as a complete meal. It would be nice to be able to purchase several servings of the main dish w/o having to buy a lot of complete meals. I could definitely add salad, bread, etc. to the main dish cheaper than ordering several complete meals.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

When my mom's best friend went on hospice, my mom would bring mac and cheese. It was her friends favorite. My mom would also stop at an Italian place called the chateau and get these massive family sized dishes. Those were a hit. Said it would feed 4. Sure. Maybe feed 4 twice over!

Thanks. Mac-n-cheese is on the list for Sunday. I'd love to have an Italian place where I could get family sized dishes, but I don't think any of them around here offer that.

After my accident I had no appetite for a very long time. A friend kept discussing favorite foods with me and if I showed any interest he would try to get it for me. I ended up enjoying jambalaya and ice cream.

Maybe see what her favorites are? Being ill can do a number on an appetite.

Ice cream is a great idea! I'll ask, if she likes ice cream & take her favorite & cones this week.

I'm a Texan so fajitas is one of my regulars. Fajita meat (chicken or beef) roasted onions and peppers, tortillas, guac, chips and salsa.

Chicken pot pie, tossed salad, fresh fruit

Chicken enchiladas, tossed salad, fresh fruit

If it's hot - cold cut tray with croissants, chips, fresh fruit

I just did Chicken piccata, mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, and fresh fruit for friends with a new baby.

A good hot day dish- A pasta salad with chicken and lots of veggies, crusty bakery bread, and fresh fruit.

The best reaction from the recipients is usually a Chick-fil-A nugget tray, pasta salad, green salad, and of course- fresh fruit.

Fresh fruit is big with me.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I haven't made a chicken pot pie in years. I may have to give one a try. I'll be sure to remember fruit from now on.

Feel free to share any pasta salad recipes you recommend.

I second the pasta salad recommendations. Also, what about a chilled tuna salad? I make mine with pasta shells, canned (drained) tuna, and a bag of frozen peas. You could also add minced onion. I mix it with low-fat mayo or Miracle Whip. You could add a bag of chips and some fruit as sides.

Breakfast for dinner? An egg casserole of some sort or a quiche, muffins, fruit, bacon or sausage (if not in the casserole).

You could grill chicken breasts. Serve with corn on the cob, rolls, and a salad. They could be eaten cold or heated up.

Meatballs and spaghetti sauce. You could either provide noodles (dry) that they prepare when ready to eat and/or bring sub buns so they could make sandwiches. Add salad.

This is a wonderful thing you are doing for them!

Great suggestions! DH can definitely grill chicken & corn. I love his grilled corn. I hadn't thought of making breakfast. I'll ask her SO, if they'd like that.

Party meatballs? Mix together a can of cranberry sauce (jellied) and a bottle of cocktail sauce (like you'd use for shrimp cocktail). Put a bag of meatballs in the crockpot, pour the sauce over, and cook on low for about 3 to 4 hours. We like with rice and a veg. These reheat easily, make good sandwiches, etc. They also freeze well.

Thanks. You & Arkansan have convinced me to add meatball subs to the list. That would be a lighter meal for them.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Pinterest or Google crock pot dump meals.

In 2/3 hours, I prepared 15 meals, doubling the recipe. You could keep some for yourself too! So far our favorites have been:
Taco Chili
Beef & Broccoli (served over rice)
French Dip Sandwiches

There are a lot of recipes out there, and your neighbor would just dump these in the crockpot and forget it until dinner! No oven heating the house either.

ETA you're pretty awesome for helping your neighbor out so much!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

When people were cooking for us, I have to say that I got tired of the heavier, casserole type dishes. (I hate to even say that. I sound so ungrateful and I definitely was not ungrateful)

I loved the day my vegan friend brought us a bag a veggies she had washed and prepped for us. I don't know what her intention was but I sauteed a bunch and tossed it in pasta.

Have you seen any foil packet recipes you like? Those are nice because all the work is done and no clean up, just pop it in the oven or on the grill. One of my go-to is green beans topped with a salmon filet, pesto sauce and tomatoes. (If they eat fish)

I know exactly what you mean about lighter meals. I spent 3 1/2 months on bed rest one summer. I wasn't able to cook anything & DH was working long hours to try to pay the outrageous doctor & hospital bills. Our church delivered two meals a day the whole time, except for Sundays, when DH was at home. Our young DS would let them in. They'd help him make us a plate & see if I needed any help doing anything. Naturally, most people bring you more than they'd normally eat, so the meals were often heavy. It was nice to get subs or pizza on occasion. DS was especially thrilled to get stuff like that. All of it was very much appreciated though. I don't know what we would have done without them.

In this case, I'm the only one taking food to them. The rest of the time her SO, who has never been the one to cook, has been trying to do it all. I figure he's probably doing a lot of sandwiches, pizza, etc., because it's easier for him. I'll definitely ask, if they'd prefer to have something lighter though. The salmon sounds great, btw. I'll have to give that a try.

I have done goulash, my homemade hamburger/vegetable soup in the slow cooker, and lasagna with garlic bread.

My daughter-in-law is having surgery August 3rd (hopefully just day surgery) so I plan to take over some hot-weather foods like potato salad, macaroni salad, cut-up fruit salad, some buns along with slivered turkey and ham, and cheese. Probably some sort of dessert too.

Thanks for the suggestions. In South FL, hot weather foods are always nice. It's always hot here. I hope your DIL does well with her surgery.

This has become my go to drop off dish. I have doubled and tripled it without any problems and I always put in a disposable pan.

http://www.highheelsandgrills.com/green-beans-chicken-and-potatoes-one-pan-wonder/

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look up the recipe. Disposable pans are a must. They nor I want to bother with dishes. I'm lazy like that.

 

[anniemae]

I would also do a lighter dish. How about a deli platter? Some cold cuts, rolls, pickles, potato salad and chips. Quiche and a fruit salad would be nice too.

 

[aprilgail]

When you say trays of chicken parm, ziti, etc., are you talking about ordering a catered size portion with several servings? I don't think we have any restaurants or delis around here that offer that. That may be a NJ, NY thing or maybe it's just not a Southern state thing. We have plenty of Italian restaurants, but they only sell takeout as a complete meal. It would be nice to be able to purchase several servings of the main dish w/o having to buy a lot of complete meals. I could definitely add salad, bread, etc. to the main dish cheaper than ordering several complete meals.

Yes like half tray would feed a bunch of people. - the more I hear about other states the more I realize I can't move out of NY lol.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

If you have vegan family members, my cold couscous is awesome - its vegan to start and can easily have tofu/meat proteins added.

This is all rough as I've been making it forever and other than baking, just wing (I've tried winging baking and boy, that was catastrophe) most cooking:

Cooked couscous based on how many people you're feeding
Chopped fresh parsley
Golden raisins
Chopped fresh tomatoes
Lemon juice or balsamic, or BOTH!
Olive Oil
Minced fresh garlic
Salt
Tumeric

Then I throw in other fresh veggies as desired - cucumbers make the "shelf life" a bit less. I like squash or zuccini. I throw it together and season to taste. If no vegans I might feta or fresh moz. I sometimes add kalmata olives. Its great because the couscous doesn't get mushy as fast as pasta does (I LOVE pasta salad, but I don't love it the next day like I do this).

Raita:

Yogurt - full fat greek is my preference
Lemon juice
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Tons of fresh garlic
Cucumbers
Shredded carrots (sometimes)
tiny bit of tomatoes (sometimes)
tiny pinch of sugar

Ok - so I just gave you ingredients and a rough outline of every recipe online...lol.

Those recipes sound great! I'll definitely try both of them. Our DS is vegan. DH & I are perfectly fine with eating vegan too. I'll take a pasta salad recipe, if you have a great one to share too.

Pot roast

That's what a coworker made for us when DW broke her kneecap into 5 pieces. And it's what she makes for her friends in times of need.

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, my pot roast is always lacking. My Mom would be disappointed. Does your wife have a foolproof recipe?

As for your wife's knee, I have major knee problems also. I hope she doesn't get arthritis in it.

Southern here too! Hurray! I obviously can't speak for anyone else, but I'm personally freaked out by "cream of whatever" soups. Its not something we really had as kids and *I* find them just unsettling. Not saying they're not a great product or that people should feel the same, but they're not for me. When they plop out while you're trying to use them - nope!

That makes sense. I love creamy soups. Homemade is definitely preferable, but I can handle canned in a recipe. I can see why anyone who didn't like them wouldn't like casseroles. A cream soup of some kind is in practically all of the savory casseroles.

FWIW, casseroles didn't become popular until I was a young adult, so my Mom didn't make them when I was a kid either. I have a feeling I was a kid several years before you though.

I won't eat casseroles because I feel like I ate 10 lifetimes worth of them while I was a child.

My husband and children won't eat casseroles because one type of food touches the other.

I can understand you getting burned out on them. As I mentioned to amberpi, they didn't become popular in my area, until I was a young adult. We moved away from home in my late 20's, so I didn't really have time to get sick of them. I only make them for my family at Thanksgiving, so they're still like a nostalgic, comfort food for me. I was hoping she may feel the same way, since she's also from NC, albeit a different part of the state.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Pinterest or Google crock pot dump meals.

In 2/3 hours, I prepared 15 meals, doubling the recipe. You could keep some for yourself too! So far our favorites have been:
Taco Chili
Beef & Broccoli (served over rice)
French Dip Sandwiches

There are a lot of recipes out there, and your neighbor would just dump these in the crockpot and forget it until dinner! No oven heating the house either.

ETA you're pretty awesome for helping your neighbor out so much!

Thanks for the suggestions. Beef & broccoli sounds great. I'm definitely looking for a recipe, unless you have a favorite one to share.

Thanks for the kind words. As I mentioned above, we had amazing people go way above & beyond to help us out at a very difficult time in our lives. I could never do enough for others to make up for that kindness, but I try to pass it forward.

I would also do a lighter dish. How about a deli platter? Some cold cuts, rolls, pickles, potato salad and chips. Quiche and a fruit salad would be nice too.

Thanks for the ideas.

Yes like half tray would feed a bunch of people. - the more I hear about other states the more I realize I can't move out of NY lol.

We have some pretty fantastic food here too, but I'm sure your Italian is much better than ours.

 

[amberpi]

That makes sense. I love creamy soups. Homemade is definitely preferable, but I can handle canned in a recipe. I can see why anyone who didn't like them wouldn't like casseroles. A cream soup of some kind is in practically all of the savory casseroles.

FWIW, casseroles didn't become popular until I was a young adult, so my Mom didn't make them when I was a kid either. I have a feeling I was a kid several years before you though.

I love creamy soups, I'm talking about the "cream of whatever" soups from a can, that just "plop" out. Why are they jiggly? That's the bit I find unsettling. I'll eat casserole with cream of whatever soup that is served to me (not something I'd seek out at a potluck or make, but if served, I'll deal, no problem, I even like some of them). My folks were/are particular about food which is why we didn't have casseroles. Most people here would consider them og food snobs. I'm mid 30s, so I'm not that young unfortunately. There was plenty of crappy food in the 80s and 90s...

Its pasta salad all the time right now with the gardens:

Al dente penne typically holds up the best - however much you need.
Fresh tomatoes
Onions
Squash/zuccinni/broccoli
Olives
Olive Oil or grapeseed oil
garlic
salt
pepper
balsamic
A mess of fresh basil, garlic and parsley
Fresh parm

For an asian take make it minus tomatoes/olives/parm/balsamic/olive/grapeseed oil/parsley + carrots and snap peas
Sesame oil
Soy Sauce
Red pepper flakes
Crap load of fresh ginger

A lot of my cooking is just whatever's in the garden. Tomorrow its going to be tuna nicoisse salad as I've got loads of green beans and potatoes and everything else for salad. My fingers are actually all gross right now from breaking beans...#southernproblems

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Those recipes sound great! I'll definitely try both of them. Our DS is vegan. DH & I are perfectly fine with eating vegan too. I'll take a pasta salad recipe, if you have a great one to share too.



Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, my pot roast is always lacking. My Mom would be disappointed. Does your wife have a foolproof recipe?

As for your wife's knee, I have major knee problems also. I hope she doesn't get arthritis in it.



That makes sense. I love creamy soups. Homemade is definitely preferable, but I can handle canned in a recipe. I can see why anyone who didn't like them wouldn't like casseroles. A cream soup of some kind is in practically all of the savory casseroles.

FWIW, casseroles didn't become popular until I was a young adult, so my Mom didn't make them when I was a kid either. I have a feeling I was a kid several years before you though.



I can understand you getting burned out on them. As I mentioned to amberpi, they didn't become popular in my area, until I was a young adult. We moved away from home in my late 20's, so I didn't really have time to get sick of them. I only make them for my family at Thanksgiving, so they're still like a nostalgic, comfort food for me. I was hoping she may feel the same way, since she's also from NC, albeit a different part of the state.

Yes, the coworker who made the pot roast for us shared her recipe. Get a good chuck roast, and sear it in a pan. Put in the crock pot cover meat with water. Add salt & pepper, 4 beef bouillon cubes, 1 packet dry Hidden Valley Ranch dressing, 1 packet dry onion soup mix, couple shakes of garlic, parsley flakes. All day in the crock pot. You can add baby carrots in the final 2 hours if you wish.

 

[crazylady]

Thought of another lighter favorite. Grilled chicken caesar salad.