Comments on: Taking a Meal to a Family in Need is Easy

By: Bush's Chicken and Beans Nacho Casserole | reluctantentertainer.com Reluctant Entertainer I Sandy Coughlin - Lifestyle, Entertaining, Food, Recipes, Hospitality and Gardening

Sun, 17 Nov 2013 17:11:39 +0000

[…] But I’d say this recipe is PERFECT ENOUGH to serve for company, for sure! (Or to take to a family in need.) […]

By: Reluctant Entertainer 2011 Round-Up - Reluctant Entertainer I Sandy Coughlin - Lifestyle, Entertaining, Food, Recipes, Hospitality and Gardening

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:46:17 +0000

[…] to take a meal to a family in […]

By: Rita

Rita — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:49:56 +0000

This is great! While trying to organize our church’s “take a meal” program I realize many people wish to help but many do not cook or lack the time. They as well as those they serve will be blessed by your encouragement. Thank you all for your tips – this is the first I’ve heard about the CareCalendar and Take Them A Meal sites.

By: Jody

Jody — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:04:38 +0000

Sandy, Please keep posting the meals you gift to others, they truly inspire me and are some of my favourite posts!
Just off the top of my head, I tend to share breakfast:
Baskets of homemade muffins [so easy to make a variety and lots of them once you have all of the baking ingredients out] with Fruit salad with the best fruit I can find [I didn’t have the energy to chop anything when my baby was born, and I craved healthy food! – there were only so many bananas one girl can eat]
Other food that has been well recieved:
Soups
A plate of cookies or squares – Hello Dolly squares are very easy. I think it’s important to keep in mind that it doesn’t always have to be a full dinner that you gift [although this was your question to all of us].
Also, we have a place that sells terrific frozen gourmet filled pastas [tortellini, ravioli, manicotti etc.] with fresh pasta sauces – easy for recepiants to throw in the freezer in case they don’t need it right away.

By: Anita

Anita — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 06:51:39 +0000

I am at that age and stage where lots of my friends are having babies (me too!) I love to take an ice-cream container filled with snacks- roasted nuts, a mix of home-made biscuits, dried fruit. I also like to take a simple meal like soup and scones- I make big batches of soup and scones at a time and freeze them, then just pull out some of each when I hear of a friend in need. Another favourite meal to make is a roast. If you make LOTS of roast potatoes (which, done well, are the best bit of the meal if you ask me!) and other veg, it doesn’t need to cost alot or even take that much prep time or active work, just lots of baking time, which is fine with me, a stay at home Mum. It’s also a big treat for the family receiving it and seems special.
I also like to take a packet of popcorn and/or jelly, as they’re both fun snacks that are really simple for anyone to help the kids in the family make and favourites for kids to eat :)

By: Tonia

Tonia — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 04:07:01 +0000

Love the post!
My meal to take to families has long been a frozen party size lasagna (the 8×10 size), a bag of salad mix complete with croutons and dressing, 1-2 loaves of frozen garlic/cheese bread, and pudding cups. No, none of it is homemade, but no one has ever turned it away. I have even had people ask me for my lasagna recipe! :)
The lasagna can be delivered frozen or already heated, depending on the desire of the recipient or the scheduled delivery time. The salad comes with everything they need, so its okay if they don’t have dressing in the fridge. It is best to bring the bread frozen, takes 5-8 minutes to reheat and is much better fresh and crispy than lukewarm and soggy. The pudding cups…well, they were my kids’ favorite store bought treat, and I’ve never met a kid who didn’t love them. They are also easy, pre-portioned, and make us all feel like kids. I also bring paper plates, plasticware, and paper napkins, so there are no dishes to wash and nothing to return.
The simplicity of this plan makes it possible for me to be able to say “yes!” cheerfully and easily. I buy the lasganas and frozen bread at a Costco/Sams and keep them in the freezer so I’m ready to help. Just pick-up the salad and pudding on the way to their home….
Tonia
PS: If your plan makes you a stress case and a grump to your own family, then you need a new plan! That was the genesis of this plan for me, I can do it, its good, and I can be a blessing both to others AND my own family.

By: courtney

courtney — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:49:50 +0000

Love that you deliver it in a basket. Last meal, I prepared was for a woman in my study who gave birth. I made quiche and added a bag salad. This is my signature meal to prepare and give. But now I must include brownies!!!

By: Jo Draven

Jo Draven — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:05:26 +0000

In reply to emily green. Ok, I love this. I was planning to do a rotisserie chicken with salad & garlic bread as inspired by the post, but I think this "tacos n fixins" is super fun, totally indulgent and easy for the giver as well!

By: Robin Helms

Robin Helms — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:49:28 +0000

As the head of our church’s Helping Hands Ministry, I found and love TakeThemAMeal.com for scheduling. We are currently taking meals to a family who is ministering to a dying mother. That site gives great tips & hints as well as recipe ideas. I took chicken & rice, green beans, cheese biscuits & a watermelon.

By: Diana

Diana — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:06:23 +0000

Last meal I took was to a family who just had a baby and the gal who sit it up was using Take Them A Meal and it was so nice to see what others were taking so they didn’t receive the same things. I have a simple chicken casserole that is quick and easy to make and it freezes well so you can do it ahead if you want too, a complete bagged salad kit, some nice french bread and a frozen salad with bananas, pineapple, and cranberry sauce in it..nice and refreshing and you can freeze it for months ahead. I love simple but I also like good taste.