Help me figure out how to get a hot meal to family in need on Christmas

[Anonymous]

I signed up with my church to bring Christmas dinner to a family that has experienced a tragedy. I figured I would order most of the elements of the meal from Whole Foods or Balduccis. Of course I now realize that even the pre-cooked stuff comes cold, with pickup before Christmas. So at minimum I would have to reheat everything and find a way to transport it warm. It's do-able in theory, but I can also imagine a lot going wrong.

Any other suggestions or ideas? I've been sleuthing the web and the only takeout Xmas meal that I can find is from a Chinese restaurant, which my family would love but not what I was asked to do.

[Anonymous]

Transport everything in multiple crockpots. The family can plug them in to reheat things themselves.

[Anonymous]

Does the recipient have a microwave or oven/range to reheat plastic or metal foil trays?

[Anonymous]

Also, add a Chinese takeout order to the rest.

They can give away or throw away the "Christmas food" assigned by the overbearing savior.

[Anonymous]

Save some larger, heavy Amazon boxes. Heat everything up and put in foil trays, and then put those trays into the boxes. However, with the exception of the main roast, if I were the recipient I would figure that I need to heat it up myself -- just don't send anything over that needs hours in the oven.

And for previous PP, yes, Chinese food would be awesome for some people, but the OP isn't exhibiting a savior complex by sending food for someone who recently experienced a tragedy. Let's presume that a mom and toddler got killed in a car crash -- now do you feel like a jerk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, add a Chinese takeout order to the rest.

They can give away or throw away the "Christmas food" assigned by the overbearing savior.

Hot take from an illiterate shitbag

[Anonymous]

I would assume that the family has a stove/oven? Wegmans has a ham dinner and a turkey dinner that are heat and serve. If you’re dropping the food off at their home perhaps you can set things up in the oven and let them know when they can eat.

[Anonymous]

If you wrap the food in heavy foil and the. Wrap in blankets for the car ride it will stay pretty hot. They make special insulated blankets that are good for this or if you have one of those reflective silver blankets. But just regular blankets will work too/

[Anonymous]

You can use a "cooler" as an insulator for hot food, as well. It maintains temperature like a Thermos can, either for hot or cold. Pack warm towels straight from the dryer in with them.

[Anonymous]

Buy a lasagna or chicken pot pie at Costco. Cook in your home and deliver. Add a salad, rolls/bread and a dessert.

I wouldn’t leave my crock pot that they would have to return.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all! I was trying to avoid the dilemma of unpackaging the premade entree and sides, heating them up, and then transporting, but perhaps that's my only option. I always planned to cook some dishes too. I'm going to buy a couple of those big Trader Joe's insulated bags

And btw I'm not an overbearing saviour, really, I'm actually pretty terrible most of the time. But when the church sent out a signup for various nights and Xmas was one of the only dates sitting empty, I figured that I could make an effort for once. My kids are teenagers and we celebrate most holidays without guests or family. And yeah, this family has been through a terrible medical ordeal, so I don't want to do anything that creates more headaches for them, like leave dishes etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all! I was trying to avoid the dilemma of unpackaging the premade entree and sides, heating them up, and then transporting, but perhaps that's my only option. I always planned to cook some dishes too. I'm going to buy a couple of those big Trader Joe's insulated bags

And btw I'm not an overbearing saviour, really, I'm actually pretty terrible most of the time. But when the church sent out a signup for various nights and Xmas was one of the only dates sitting empty, I figured that I could make an effort for once. My kids are teenagers and we celebrate most holidays without guests or family. And yeah, this family has been through a terrible medical ordeal, so I don't want to do anything that creates more headaches for them, like leave dishes etc.

You're a good person, OP. I would definitely consider PP's Costco lasagna idea, with salad and rolls and some kind of dessert. Then you are only heating up one thing

[Anonymous]

I would buy a Honey Baked ham and add rolls and sides. Maybe include a pie. Ham can be served room temperature.

[Anonymous]

Seasons 52 has nice prepared meals. I think they're packaged in containers you can heat them in, which might make the process easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would buy a Honey Baked ham and add rolls and sides. Maybe include a pie. Ham can be served room temperature.

This is the best and easiest. I think HBH even recommends serving ham at room temp (though it can be re-heated). Add a green salad, rolls and something like Mac and cheese or mashed potatoes and pie. It would be a great dinner without having to worry about keeping much hot - just the Mac and cheese/ mashed potatoes.