sweetpeasmom
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Jun 27, 2014 14:04:01 GMT
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Post by sweetpeasmom on Aug 4, 2023 15:09:16 GMT
I want to take a friend a meal. She just had surgery. I they have a meal coming tonight and Sunday. So I'll take something tomorrow that they can freeze. I was thinking white chicken lasagna. Will this freeze well and thaw well?
**Edited - Just found out they don't care for ricotta or cottage cheese. So that's out. Any suggestions of a good freezer meal?
***Update***
The only thing they said they didn't like was ricotta. Anyways, based on my schedule and that they had a few meals coming, I decided to go a different route. I got a basket to put some grab and go thing in - muffins, breakfast pastries, bagels, cream cheese. I also put a bag of trail mix, box of Crunch n Munch, some toasty peanut butter crackers, M&Ms and Dove chocolates. I added a $25 gc to Zaxby's, because I know they like Zalads. They loved it and said they were going to steal the idea for when they need to do this for someone.
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Aug 4, 2023 15:42:19 GMT
I usually take some kind of soup (chicken noodle, beef stew, etc) or a roasted chicken, with a bag of ready mix salad and a bag of rolls.
For soups, I deliver it in a covered bowl from Dollar Store so they are not obligated to return my dish.
If I take a chicken I break it down into two each breasts, thighs, legs and wings, and put in an aluminum tray so it's easier for the family to just pop it in the oven to reheat.
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Post by magoosangel on Aug 4, 2023 16:10:14 GMT
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Post by littlemama on Aug 4, 2023 16:11:50 GMT
Lots of things do not freeze well. Also, everyone thinks "lasagna" wheb they want to take a meal to someone.
Can you prep something and then take it over the next day for them to reheat without freezing? If so, I'd do a taco/nacho/taco salad bar assuming the patient can eat that.
Do they have a Meal Train?
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Post by Lexica on Aug 4, 2023 16:20:27 GMT
Food is such a personal thing, as you discovered with their dislike of Ricotta cheese. Can you just ask them what type of food they like to eat? I wouldn’t want to go to all the trouble of cooking something that they can’t eat. And if you don’t want to cook, what about a Costco rotisserie chicken, one of their salad bags that contain dressing and toppings, and a bag of rolls and a frozen vegetable? You could separate the chicken into pieces and put it into an aluminum tray. The only thing that would be time sensitive would be the salad. I find the salads that contain cabbage or sliced broccoli last much longer than a lettuce type.
You are very kind to do this for them❤️👍
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quiltz
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Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Aug 4, 2023 16:21:54 GMT
I take meatballs in a brown gravy. The gravy base is beef broth that is thickened with a packaged dry gravy mix. First I fry a bit of finely chopped bacon, onion and celery. When glossy, add the beef broth and stir until thickened. Now you can also add minced garlic, red chopped peppers, mushrooms and even thin slices of carrots. I like to add a small container of onion-chives soft cream cheese, but you said that this family isn't fond of cheese. (Sour cream can be used, but be careful that it doesn't curdle.) Stir until thickened, you may need up to 2 boxes of beef broth to make a good amount of gravy. Add the meatballs and let them simmer.
You can make rice or noodles for this to be served with. Add a bag of salad and cookies for dessert.
This gravy base freezes really well.
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mamallama
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Post by mamallama on Aug 4, 2023 16:43:20 GMT
Chicken pot pie. I get the recipe from the Pillsbury website and omit the onions for times sake. I also usually buy a rotisserie chicken from Costco or use canned chicken. This is a good meal to make several of and freeze. A Costco chicken will do at least two pies but usually 3. I buy the premade crusts. It’s actually pretty easy but everyone loves it and always requests if I offer a meal.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Aug 4, 2023 20:37:17 GMT
I would ask what their favorite take out place is, give them a gift card.....so they can have it delivered or someone in the Family can go pick it up.
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maryannscraps
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Post by maryannscraps on Aug 4, 2023 20:48:56 GMT
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Post by littlemama on Aug 4, 2023 21:15:43 GMT
I take meatballs in a brown gravy. The gravy base is beef broth that is thickened with a packaged dry gravy mix. First I fry a bit of finely chopped bacon, onion and celery. When glossy, add the beef broth and stir until thickened. Now you can also add minced garlic, red chopped peppers, mushrooms and even thin slices of carrots. I like to add a small container of onion-chives soft cream cheese, but you said that this family isn't fond of cheese. (Sour cream can be used, but be careful that it doesn't curdle.) Stir until thickened, you may need up to 2 boxes of beef broth to make a good amount of gravy. Add the meatballs and let them simmer. You can make rice or noodles for this to be served with. Add a bag of salad and cookies for dessert. This gravy base freezes really well. I love meatballs in brown gravy,but didnt know exactly how to make them, so thank you! Funny story, we were at a wedding in line to get food and there was a dish of what we all thought were meatballs (we werent close to them when we first saw them). They were potatoes. Im not often disappointed by a potato, but dammit, I wanted meatballs! 😂😂
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Post by littlemama on Aug 4, 2023 21:17:03 GMT
I would ask what their favorite take out place is, give them a gift card.....so they can have it delivered or someone in the Family can go pick it up. That is a great idea! Door Dash has gift cards, I believe.
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Post by dewryce on Aug 5, 2023 7:50:12 GMT
If you decide on a soup I highly recommend this one. It’s delicious, freezes and reheats well, and fairly healthy. West African Vegan Peanut Stew. We aren’t vegan but are trying to incorporate meatless dishes into our diet, this is one of the first meals we tried and now we keep some in our freezer at all times. Just make sure they aren’t allergic to peanuts!
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SabrinaP
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Jun 26, 2014 12:16:22 GMT
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Post by SabrinaP on Aug 5, 2023 19:03:53 GMT
How about a gift card? I like to do places where they can get a full meal including veggies or other sides.
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peaname
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Aug 16, 2014 23:15:53 GMT
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Post by peaname on Aug 5, 2023 20:21:34 GMT
People are so particular I think I’d ask for a specific recipe. I know it’s a little over the top but I’ve heard so many sad stories of people trashing food.
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Post by chaosisapony on Aug 5, 2023 20:28:59 GMT
I take meatballs in a brown gravy. The gravy base is beef broth that is thickened with a packaged dry gravy mix. First I fry a bit of finely chopped bacon, onion and celery. When glossy, add the beef broth and stir until thickened. Now you can also add minced garlic, red chopped peppers, mushrooms and even thin slices of carrots. I like to add a small container of onion-chives soft cream cheese, but you said that this family isn't fond of cheese. (Sour cream can be used, but be careful that it doesn't curdle.) Stir until thickened, you may need up to 2 boxes of beef broth to make a good amount of gravy. Add the meatballs and let them simmer. You can make rice or noodles for this to be served with. Add a bag of salad and cookies for dessert. This gravy base freezes really well. That sounds really good. My family bought a whole cow a few months ago and we have 200 lbs of ground beef to try to get through so I'm always looking for new things to do with ground beef. I'll be trying this!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Aug 6, 2023 13:07:06 GMT
I’d do a gift card for takeout or delivery so they can choose what they like, when they need it.
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sweetpeasmom
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Jun 27, 2014 14:04:01 GMT
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Post by sweetpeasmom on Aug 6, 2023 22:53:05 GMT
Bump for update
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Post by lucyg on Aug 7, 2023 4:06:40 GMT
That sounds perfect. You did good!
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