ISO: Best dish/dinner to bring to a friend

[SusanJoy]

I need to bring a dinner or two for a friend who just had a minor operation. No dietary restrictions, just hard to get dinner for the family on her own.

Does anyone have recommendations for a meal that they can eat that night and then also for something that can go in the freezer for later? Thanks for your help.

Susan

[kwormann]

Any soup is good...the potato soup in Dec issue is good.

Also, lasagna or spaghetti pie would freeze well!

Kim

[mightyh]

I second the spaghetti pie vote... I also like to bring sour cream chicken enchiladas when giving meals. Maybe with some homemade salsa (laden had a good recipe recently).

And a good dessert is the chocolate eclair cake.

[ColoradoCook]

How thoughtful -- whatever you bring will be appreciated. I've had lots of success with this. Not fancy, but good, makes lots, is open to variations, and kids usually like it. Freezes well, either before or after baking.

Pizza Hot Dish

1 & 1/2 - 2 lbs. ground beef
2 (10-oz.) cans pizza sauce or more to preference and amount of meat
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon onion salt
1/2 teaspoon oregano flakes
14 teaspoon pepper
1 (6-oz) pkg. medium noodles
1/4 or more lbs. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Brown beef in large skillet and drain. Add pizza sauce, garlic salt, onion salt, oregano, and pepper; simmer for 5-10 minutes. Cook noodles. Grease pan; place half of noodles in pan; pour half of meat sauce over noodles; sprinkle with half of cheddar cheese. Repeat layers; sprinkle top with parmesan cheese. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes; remove foil and bake for 20 minutes longer or until brown. Can refrigerate or freeze and bake later.

[Beth]

I posted a King Ranch Chicken and Not Really King Ranch chicken recipe earlier. The Not Really recipe is lighter and has more veggies. That, a tetrazzini recipe and a shrimp and wild rice casserole are 3 of my casserole stand bys. I think I've posted all 3 some time ago, but I can repost if you are interested and can't find them in the search.

[This message has been edited by Beth (edited 12-06-2000).]

[BethR]

All of these suggestions are great. One tip I picked up from a mother's group I was in that provided meals for the moms with newborns: if you can swing it, in addition to the casserole, we would always include a salad kit, rolls or breadsticks (if appropriate for the entree) and a simple dessert like brownies or cookies. No one would turn down a stand-alone casserole from a thoughtful friend, of course, but it was wonderful to receive a complete meal.

[JulieAnn]

I just took dinner to a friend the other night. I took (I believe Lorelei's) Orange Cumin Beef Stew with rice. I thought it was delicious and really easy to make. It was also good reheated the next day. I always worry about taking food to other people because I feel my husband and I eat quite differently. So I never want to take anything with too many veggies! This dish is mainly meat which tends to please other people.

[SusanJoy]

Thanks to everyone for the great ideas. My biggest problem is narrowing down the choices and knowing that this family eats a lot differently than mine does.

I'm going to do spagetti pie for them to put in their freezer for later. I especially think the two kids will like that. Then, I can't decide between the chicken parmagian from a couple months ago (too much like spagetti pie?) enchiladas with fresh salsa or a roast with scalloped potatoes. I'm also making some pre-baked cut-out sugar cookies with a mini decorating kit for the two kids. I hope that isn't more hassle for mom but I know my kids would love that. And a batch of refrigerated cinnamon rolls for them to pop in the oven for the weeekend. This is such fun.

RunnerKim - what a thoughtful daughter! I don't know anyone who wouldn't love to receive meals for a gift. I made a similar gift years ago for a friend and she still talks about it. Happy cooking - and great planning!

[trodman]

JulieAnn, Can you post the recipe for the Orange Cumin Beef Stew w/ Rice? That sounds great!

[RunnerKim]

I'm giving my parents for Christmas a weeks worth of frozen meals. I've been hashing over all my recipes trying to come up with the best ones to freeze and here's what I think I'm going to do (still have to test one or two)

Lasagna
African-Chicken Peanut Soup
Split Pea Soup
Quiche Lorraine
Beef Emanada Pot Pie
Smoked Cheddar & Basil Stromboli & Mushroom & Sausage Stromboli
Garlic Beef & Broccoli
Garlic Chicken Phyllo Rolls

I've decided not to do enchiladas, chili, spaghetti sauce but those also freeze well.

Plus I'll make a couple of batches of rolls and some type of freezable dessert (cheesecake, cookies). I'm looking for other side-dish/veggies things I could make and freeze but I'm coming up blank in that area.

Kim

[sal]

Runnerkim, what an awesome idea! I would be totally & completely excited to receive such a thoughtful gift. I'm sure your parents will be thrilled! sally

[JeanneW]

Taking RunnerKim's idea a step further, I did a similar thing when I lived in the same city as my mom and sister. They live together and both work and neither is much interested in cooking. Sister never has been and mom's
"been there, done that." So I made a bunch of dishes, lasagna, Mexican lasagna, chicken pot pie, broccoli cheese soup, and froze them in individual portions. That way they could take a couple out of the freezer and dinner was ready. They loved it! I can't imagine that anybody wouldn't like that.

[luv2cook]

I had two friends once who were in a spot. So I made one recipe of chicken divan and divided it between 2 of the aluminum pans and gave it to each. One was a couple and the other single with a child. It was the right amt. for both. You can either eat it with rice or alone. It's good either way. I think I also gave them some homemade bread...