meal for mom and baby

[mightyh]

It's a topic that's been done before, but I always like to hear your freshest ideas... So, I'm slated to bring a meal for a new mom and dad (and 2 year old) and am wondering what you suggest.

Has anyone tried the creamy chicken and rice casserole from the Complete cookbook? Woudl you recommend it?

Also, any tips on what others normally bring so I make sure they're not eating chili 5 nights in a row?

Any ideas on how to make the dinner a fun/special one for them during these exhausting days?

Thanks for your help!

[lindrusso]

mightyh -

Hi there. Our MOMS Club does meals for our new moms and I have found that lasagna (or pasta in general) is quite popular and chicken as well. We had one mom get 3 lasgnas!!! Now we have everyone tell us what they are bringing in advance!!

I try to choose dishes based on their tastes. Do they like just plain old normal food or are they adventurous??

One thing that I have done is to bring calzones. Most people like pizza-type meals, you can cater to each person's preferences, and you can bet that probably no one else will be bringing them!

I personally don't think that you need to do too much to make it fun and exciting - they'll be too tired for that! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Just getting a meal is exciting enough! One thing I like to do is bring something for the sibling who might be feeling a little left out these days.

And dessert can make it special too - I don't normally make dessert for my family and it was nice getting things like brownies and all those "naughty" things.

[MrsReber]

where do I sign up? Can you guys come to my house, say, around the end of May??

[Ohioan]

Wow, MrsReber, is it that close by now? It seems like just yesterday we were cheering your first announcement!

This really is like sitting around the kitchen table with friends, isn't it? How about all you other pregnant Susans -- and nonSusans? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif When is everyone due? (Or should we start a new "OT" thread for this?)

Cheers,
Phoebe

[MrsReber]

Phoebe, me and SusanD have been posting on the Healthy Living board so as not to clog up this board with our posts. SusanD is due at the end of April/beginning of May.

Sorry mightyh! My vote would be for spaghetti pie. It freezes nice, it's very filling (hubby loves it) and it's fairly easy to put together ahead of time. Or a lasagna - looks like CL had a bunch of good lasagna recipes for April. The pastas always seem to freeze nicely for future use. I'm sure the new mom would appreciate healthy lowfat meals, too, after gaining all that weight! Ugh!!

[mb]

if you go to SusanD's at the end of April, and MrsReber's in May, then I think you all can certainly swing down to south florida somewhere around June 17... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

it's getting closer for me too... months ago, i said i wanted to make several meals to keep in the freezer for when the baby comes - luckily, there is still some time to get cooking!

lindrusso, how do you think i could go about freezing calzones? that is such a tasty idea. should i just prepare & bake as usual, then freeze, and later reheat? do you think that would work well with that veggie calzone from the december issue?

i can't wait to get my april issue http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/mad.gif lasagna sounds like a great idea to freeze and reheat.

[Cbyerman]

mightyh-

The creamy chicken and rice casserole is one of our family favorites. I think it would be great - and the 2-year old would probably enjoy it also. I've also made it in advance with great success.

What a wonderful thing that you're doing for that family - I know they appreciate it!

Caroline

[schuh]

There is a really good chicken, pasta, and asiago cheese casserole recipe from Cooking Light that I'd recommend. I can post it if you'd like. To make such meals special, I always add a prepared salad (dressing on the side) and a simple dessert.

I recently did a recipe for a new mom that was pork tenderloin, twice-baked potatoes, salad, and dessert. They really enjoyed this meal as it was totally different from the other meals they had been receiving.

I'd suggest calling to see if the new mom has dietary restrictions, particularly if she is nursing. As an example, most nursing moms wouldn't do spicy foods (like chili). Others steer clear of gassy foods and dairy products.

Finally, "ditto" on something for the older sibling. Even if you go to the dollar store and get a coloring book and crayons, it makes the older kid feel included.

[shoyski]

After you swing by MB's in Florida you might want to cut the heat and see me in Ohio...I'm due early September.

MB, I've made calzones, cooked and uncooked, then frozen, and both have reheated just fine.

[SusanD]

Wow, so kind of you all to stop by with such delicious meals! I'll keep the door open, and even take you upstairs to see the nursery! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

My due date is April 28th, but doc thinks I'm going to be late due to the ultrasound. Coming up fast! I was going to start making some meals ahead of time and freezing them. Does anyone have good freezing recipes? I've got a couple of different lasagna recipes, plus I have a great recipe for chicken enchiladas that freeze really well. However, I've heard that you're not supposed to eat onions when you're nursing. Is this true?

Thanks a bunch from a starting-to-stress-out-soon-to-be-mom! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Wendy w]

I have posted this before, but it is a great recipe and always gets raves-and we have lots of newcomers to the board!

Back in January, my nephew and his wife had their first child. I asked what would be a good meal to serve new parents and got lots of great suggestions which I have kept. I ended up making my all time favorite enchilada recipe and they were very pleased. I use mild salsa and it doesn't come out too spicy.

from Epicurious:

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
1 16-ounce container light sour cream
1 7-ounce can diced green chilies
4 large green onions, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 cups diced cooked chicken
2 cups packed grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
8 8-inch-diameter flour tortillas
1 8-ounce package light cream cheese, cut lengthwise into 8 strips
1 1/2 16-ounce bottles mild picante sauce or salsa
Additional chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Mix 1 3/4 cups sour cream, chilies, green onions, 1/2 cup cilantro and cumin in large bowl. Mix in chicken and 1 cup cheddar cheese. Season filling to taste with salt and pepper.

Spoon generous 1/2 cup filling down center of each tortilla. Top filling with cream cheese strip. Roll up each tortilla, enclosing filling. Arrange enchiladas seam side down in prepared dish. (Can be made 3 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Pour picante sauce over enchiladas. Cover and bake until sauce bubbles and enchiladas are heated through, about 45 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese and bake until cheese melts, about 5 minutes.

Top with remaining sour cream. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.

Serves 8.


Bon Appétit
September 1994
Molly McCarty: Salmon Beach, Washington

Enjoy!

Wendy

[SusanJoy]

I was the lucky recipient of great meals when I had my last child - amazing friends made a tough time easier and tastier!

So - my thoughts are:

1) one friend made us a pork tenderloin roast - that was awesome. It was the only non casserole that we received, and that was a really nice change. My older daughter isn't "saucy" so she really loved just meat. This frined also packed paper plates, cups, utensils - so all we had to do was eat then throw away the "dishes" - she's the greatest friend ever!

2) My soup making friend brought a few "extra" containers of soup - frozen - that I could thaw later. That was really neat for me to have when I wanted a nice lunch and hubby was off at work.

3) Food packaged in disposable containers - not having to return things was terrific.

4) A little special something for the older kid - if there is one - I always try to put a treat in for the older child (if I know mom well enough I ask what might be good, otherwise its those pink and white frosted animal crackers or fruit snacks)

5) A note encouraging mom - with my first I had numerous adjustments, nursing challenges etc. One small note saying "hang in there" meant the world to me - even if I didn't know the person very well!

6) It was really nice for me when someone brought food earlier in the day - and I was able to heat it up when dinner was best for us on that day, instead of having to wait for dinner to arrive at 6pm.

7) Another person brought my husband a cold bottle of beer with the dinner they brought - it was nice that he got a "treat" too.

Just remembering all the things that people did for us makes me feel so blessed!

Bringing food to someone - with a new baby or any time is such a great gift of the heart! MIGHTYH - Bless you for doing such a sweet thing!

Susan

[MrsReber]

I think it's more the spicy foods than the onions for nursing moms- if something gives you heartburn, it'll give the baby heartburn. But chicken enchiladas sound good. I will have to get some disposable aluminum trays and start putting stuff in the freezer!

[sneezles]

When I had my youngest (and that was almost 14 years ago!) it was great when friends brought over dinner (I already had two at home). The absolute best was my friend who brought dinner and then for dessert there was chocolate chip cookies for the boys and a tube of just cookie dough for me! I had had gestational diabetes and hadn't had any cookie dough for 7 months!!! I guess the baby missed it too because he is the only one of the three who loves cookie dough! So you might ask the mom if she had any restrictions that maybe now have been lifted!

[This message has been edited by sneezles (edited 03-29-2001).]

[schuh]

SusanD,
Every doctor/nursing mom/former nursing mom is going to give you an opinion on what you should & shouldn't eat when you're nursing. It all boils down to your baby and how he/she reacts. Some babies don't want to nurse when mom has eaten food with strong flavors (spicy foods, onions, etc.). Other babies have gas when mom has eaten certain things -- I have known a few moms to stop eating dairy products for this reason. I really didn't have any of these problems and pretty much ate what I want. I found that in my first week or so at home, though, I really wanted sort of bland comfort food. My favorite dish that someone brought me was a white tuna/noodle casserole in a white sauce with crushed triscuits for a topping. I always had a taste for dessert, though!

It's too bad we couldn't shoot food through the computer to you new mommies! I certainly can relate and would love to help out! In the meantime, all I can offer is advice and well wishes. This is a very special time in your life!

[SusanD]

Thank you, schuh! I guess I'll just have to go with trial and error. That's good to know! This entire pregnancy I've been all about desserts, and I have a feeling that's not going to change...she's probably going to come out of the womb looking for a sugar fix! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

[GayeC]

This is a comforting casserole that both adults and children seem to enjoy:

Chicken-Cheese Lasagne

8 T. (1 stick) butter
½ c. flour
3 c. milk (whole or level of reduced fat)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked
12 lasagne noodles
4 c. grated extra sharp cheddar cheese

Melt butter over low heat. Whisk in flour and increase heat to medium. Cook for one minute. Add milk and whisk over medium heat until sauce is thick and bubbly. Keep warm and set aside. Cook lasagne accrding to package directions. Shred (or chop) chicken into bite-size pieces.

Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray. Spread ½ c. sauce over bottom of pan. Place 4 lasagne noodles in pan. Top with one half of the chicken, one third of the cheese, and one third of the sauce. Layer 4 additional noodles, the remainder of the chicken, another one third of the cheese, and one third of the sauce. Layer the remaining 4 noodles and the remainder of the cheese and sauce.

Loosely cover with foil and bake at 350° until bubbly. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before cutting.

[SusanJoy]

As I thought about all the expectant moms on the board - doing their cooking in advance, I remembered something else. I cooked a bunch of meals while I was pregnant for the days after baby - then my tastes had changed, post delivery and many of them didn't sound good anymore. Just a thought if you go way overboard like I sometimes do.....I also set in like a years worth of toilet paper - part of my nesting I guess. Good luck all of you - what a wonderful time!

Susan

[Tiger]

Thanks Wendy W. for posting your Chicken Enchiladas recipe again. I made it last time and loved it. I must have misplaced it because I'd forgotton about it.
We must have the same tastes. We always like the same things!!

[schuh]

SusanD, It's funny what bodies crave during pregnancy, isn't it? During my first pregnancy, I CRAVED red meat. Big slabs of it, which isn't like me at all. And I couldn't stomach any poultry at all. It totally grossed me out. I was so worried that after I had the baby, I'd never eat poultry again and that he'd hate it. But neither came true. For my second pregnancy, I craved salads and my second kid won't touch a veggie. For both pregnancies, my toothbrush made me gag and after delivery that reflex went away. Very, very strange.

And SusanJoy is right, I wouldn't go overboard cooking. You never know what's going to taste good after you deliver.

[KristaMB]

I don't think anybody has claimed mid-August yet, so you should have time to head out to San Diego for my post delivery feast! All I can think about today is banana cream pie! Can't I just have dessert and skip dinner?

Wendy, the enchiladas sound great!

~Krista

[breadmama]

Originally posted by SusanD:
Wow, so kind of you all to stop by with such delicious meals! I'll keep the door open, and even take you upstairs to see the nursery! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

My due date is April 28th, but doc thinks I'm going to be late due to the ultrasound. Coming up fast! I was going to start making some meals ahead of time and freezing them. Does anyone have good freezing recipes? I've got a couple of different lasagna recipes, plus I have a great recipe for chicken enchiladas that freeze really well. However, I've heard that you're not supposed to eat onions when you're nursing. Is this true?

Thanks a bunch from a starting-to-stress-out-soon-to-be-mom! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I never had problems with onions and nursing. There were a lot of things I avoided at first - beans, peppers, spicy things...but gradually, I added these things in small portions and my babies never had problems. One thing that was a problem for a while was cabbage. And I'm still avoiding caffeine. Hope this helps! Good luck on your exciting new adventure!