When I was a recovering post-partum chick, all food gifts were gobbled up eagerly. Some of my favorite meals were the best just because they showed up hot and I didn’t have to do a darn thing. I can recall the perfectly-timed roast chicken from about a year ago; my mom had just left and we had no dinner plans at all when Nate showed up with FOOD. Bless him.
I clearly remember the delicious brisket with spaghetti squash when Milo was an infant more than five years ago. Jeanine just said there was no real recipe. OMG, I have spent so many days in the kitchen trying to replicate it. Sigh…
Whitney found this amazing post from Annie’s Eats about her thoughtful meal for new parents. She likes to make a special Mexican feast with lots of healthy touches. I also love her labels.
feast from Annie's Eats
I recently made a vat of turkey chili (from The Mom 100 Cookbook) and decided to freeze a flat gallon ziplock for an expectant friend. For side dishes, I have a version of the meal with homemade foods and an alternate that includes quickie store-bought items depending on how busy I am when I’m called into duty:
- Starch: either homemade corn muffins or a fresh loaf of crusty bread
- Green: salad bar fixins
- Dessert: my very special chocolate chip oatmeal cookies or a vat of brownie bites
Do you have a go-to meal that you like to prepare for rookie parents at home with a new bambino? The nerdy engineer in me would like to standardize.
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I was sent a free copy of The Mom 100 Cookbook and have been working my way through the recipes. Pretty good so far. If you have a kindle, check out the free recipe sampler.
I always make a huge lasagna in a foil pan. I put lots of fresh veggies and meat. I cover it with aluminum foil and write the cooking directions on top. They can cook it or freeze it. And there is always leftovers for another dinner or middle of the night hunger!
When I had Meike, my husband’s aunt brought over chicken soup and, in late September, it tasted like heaven. My mouth is watering now, just remembering it.
My favorite thing to make for new parents is chili! Specifically, white bean chick chili (http://paperwhitesblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/recipe-update-white-bean-chicken-chili.html) and I dbl it so we have some in our house. I make it mild in case new baby is sensitive to spice, etc. There is dairy in it, so I always ask if that’s okay and I deliver it with cornbread muffins (and fixings – sr cream, cheese, sliced green onions, etc.) and some fresh cut fruit for dessert, or the next day… whatever is in season and would be easy for a new mom to grab in her brief moments of freedom. Fruit always tasted so good to me when I was parched and hungry!
Ladies, YUM. I’m getting hungry just reading these great ideas. Those first few days with a baby can be so voracious.
My friends are just starting to have babies, but we just had our first and were so touched by all the meals we were given. Our friends set up a meal registry for us on mealbaby.com and scheduled dinners for weeks. Some of our favorites were a roast chicken and a pie, big jars of soup with loaves of bread, and the person who brought us several pints of Scream Sorbet
I usually just bring what we are having for dinner that night. The moms group I am involved with uses http://www.mealtrain.com to coordinate the meals. It’s awesome to know who is coming when and sometimes what they are bringing. Typically we do every other night for 2-3 weeks.
I had a baby in June, and my favorite meal that a friend brought over was a breakfast casserole and lots of blueberry muffins. It was ready to bake, and we could choose whether to have it that night (who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner?) or the next morning if we were already swamped with leftovers. It was great to eat something different than standard casseroles! My go-to dessert is chocolate chess pie. In my family, it’s called “funeral pie” because you always have the ingredients in the pantry, so when there’s a funeral, that’s what we end up making to bring to the family. Maybe “new baby pie” would be a little more positive, though!
I still fondly remember by HR director stopping by my house the weekend after I’d come home with my newborn and dropping off BBQ ribs, crawfish alfredo and bread pudding with a white chocolate sauce. OMG. She’d hosted a dinner party the evening before and made extra everything. That was such a treat.
I like to make taco soup; the recipe makes enough for my family and another family to eat for dinner, and it also freezes and reheats beautifully. Plus, everybody loves it. Usually I also take chips and cheese to eat with the soup, plus cut up fruit and cookies and maybe muffins or a quick bread for breakfast. When my daughters were born, getting already cut-up fruit was the best, because some days I didn’t even have the energy to wash and cut up an apple much less a watermelon.
I like to make my homemade baked mac and cheese with cauliflower puréed into the cheese sauce. I make a salad and cookies too. A friend of mine likes to give quiches. I’d love a vat of soup too!
yes, we call it ‘Chicken Spectacular’ and the new moms always ask for the recipe afterwards
I was thankful for all the food brought by. My favorite was my friend’s enchiladas. Those were one of the few things that got eaten even as leftovers.
I either do a quiche or a pork roast. Either one with a salad and some cookies, and usually some bread with the quiche. I usually do a double batch for the quiche so we have one, too. I love the breakfast food and the cut up fruit ideas! I have a couple friends expecting in the next month – I’ll keep those ideas in mind.
Now, I’m just feeling touched by the wonderful community of friends that steps in to support each other. Maybe because I just had lunch and I’m not so hungry.
My friend, Padmini, set up a google doc for people to list their meals and days. Those websites sound terrific but I’ve never used them.
I prefer to take food that’s good cold. I know even heating up food can seem like a herculean task with a little one. If it’s summer and the heirloom tomatoes are good, the meal is gazpacho, fresh baked bread, and salad. I also make chicken salad and take with fresh croissants and greens. This way the food can become a sandwich or salad.
@Alicia, that’s a great idea. I would appreciate it now.
http://toddlermomoncookingmission.blogspot.com/2012/08/beef-meatballs-in-creamy-tomato-sauce.html
For a mom with new baby and an older toddler already at home – meatballs in broth/sauce. This should please both. Beef meatballs will help boost some iron lost during delivery. I also like to add sometimes fresh baby spinach to the “broth” for even more iron boost. And soups, a lot of soups. I like to serve a lot of thin sauce dishes and soups to my little one and new moms to help avoid constipation as they often forget to drink enough.
I’ve used Take Them a Meal and Meal Train. Both are great websites for setting up a meal delivery for people. Here’s the link to Take Them a Meal’s pinterest boards. They have lots of great recipes. http://pinterest.com/takethemameal/ I’m doing a meal in a week or so for a friend having surgery. I’ll be taking them pumpkin black bean chili. http://newhope360.com/recipes/black-bean-and-pumpkin-chili-toasted-pepitas
@Theresa, Thanks for the inspiration. I’ll have to check out that pinterest board.