For families with kids, I usually roast a chicken and bring mashed potatoes and brown sugar glazed carrots as a side. For new parents, it's usually chicken and butternut squash risotto with a salad.
bruschetta chicken casserole (can be frozen), lasagna, spaghetti sauce (can be frozen), chicken with rice casserole. I always give things that make great leftovers or that can be frozen.
A lot of girlfriends gave us giftcards to restraunts like Fridays, Applebees, Panera, etc. these were a god send! My DH would just go get curbside pick-up. Absolutely no cooking or cleanup. It was really great with a newborn.
I should not read posts like this BEFORE I've had dinner
I make muffins often (bran, banana/chocolate chip) and berry scones, freeze on parchment paper in a single layer then, bag up in freezer bag and give to families, some times in addition to a meatloaf or batch of meatballs.
We do a lot of this among our group of friends (mainly because we are mostly expats far away from family). I think I have taken 5 meals in the last 4 weeks. I usually try to take some kind of banana bread or zucchini bread for snacks or breakfast and something sweet (cookies, brownies, cheesecake). Some favorites are:
Manicotti or lasagna; salad; bread
White chicken lasagna; same as above
Italian sausage and tortellini soup (take the tortellini uncooked and they can do in 5 minutes on their stove - if you don't the tortellini will got soggy before you can get it to them); salad; bread
Chicken and sour cream enchiladas; mexican rice and guacamole
BBQ meatballs, baked macaroni and cheese, broccoli
Chicken and broccoli casserole; rice, corn on the cob
Baked potato soup with all the fixings
Poppyseed chicken and rice casserole, sides
Shepherd's Pie (with beef, not lamb); sides
Chicken marsala (for friends that live really close since it needs to be eaten right away); mashed potatoes, steamed asparagus
I am sure your friend will appreciate your willingness to help!
Re: Go to meal for new parents
bruschetta chicken casserole (can be frozen), lasagna, spaghetti sauce (can be frozen), chicken with rice casserole. I always give things that make great leftovers or that can be frozen.
A lot of girlfriends gave us giftcards to restraunts like Fridays, Applebees, Panera, etc. these were a god send! My DH would just go get curbside pick-up. Absolutely no cooking or cleanup. It was really great with a newborn.
I should not read posts like this BEFORE I've had dinner
I make muffins often (bran, banana/chocolate chip) and berry scones, freeze on parchment paper in a single layer then, bag up in freezer bag and give to families, some times in addition to a meatloaf or batch of meatballs.
eclaire 9.10.06 diggy 6.2.11
We do a lot of this among our group of friends (mainly because we are mostly expats far away from family). I think I have taken 5 meals in the last 4 weeks. I usually try to take some kind of banana bread or zucchini bread for snacks or breakfast and something sweet (cookies, brownies, cheesecake). Some favorites are:
Manicotti or lasagna; salad; bread
White chicken lasagna; same as above
Italian sausage and tortellini soup (take the tortellini uncooked and they can do in 5 minutes on their stove - if you don't the tortellini will got soggy before you can get it to them); salad; bread
Chicken and sour cream enchiladas; mexican rice and guacamole
BBQ meatballs, baked macaroni and cheese, broccoli
Chicken and broccoli casserole; rice, corn on the cob
Baked potato soup with all the fixings
Poppyseed chicken and rice casserole, sides
Shepherd's Pie (with beef, not lamb); sides
Chicken marsala (for friends that live really close since it needs to be eaten right away); mashed potatoes, steamed asparagus
I am sure your friend will appreciate your willingness to help!
m/c at 13 weeks - March 23, 2011