How about quick stir fry with some rice. It's easy and will freeze as well as taste good the following day.

Also, I always send some homemade cookies with the meal, I figure when people are recovering or the family is in need a little cookie will not hurt

Does the meal specifically have to be for dinner?

If not, I second the suggestion of breakfast...like pancakes or waffles, a French toast casserole. A cooked, warm breakfast could be a welcome change for this family.

If you do breakfast, include fresh fruit, like a bag of oranges, bananas, grapes...and bottles of orange juice.

I've delivered meals to a grieving family and I make sure to include nice paper napkins, paper plates plus condiments ( I am thinking of butter, syrup in the case of delivering pancakes, for instance). Maybe the organizer already has paper products assigned? If not, think about it...just makes it easier and less burdensome for the family.

Does the meal specifically have to be for dinner?

If not, I second the suggestion of breakfast...like pancakes or waffles, a French toast casserole. A cooked, warm breakfast could be a welcome change for this family.

If you do breakfast, include fresh fruit, like a bag of oranges, bananas, grapes...and bottles of orange juice.

I've delivered meals to a grieving family and I make sure to include nice paper napkins, paper plates plus condiments ( I am thinking of butter, syrup in the case of delivering pancakes, for instance). Maybe the organizer already has paper products assigned? If not, think about it...just makes it easier and less burdensome for the family.

Ham and a big green salad with homemade vinaigrette sound great and would probably be a welcome relief from pasta, chicken and casseroles. Another idea that comes to mind is marinated, grilled flank steak. You'd probably have to make two pretty big ones though to feed 12.

Anonymous wrote:In our multiples club, we have a committee that brings home meals to parents who have just brought their multiples back from the hospital. I've made meals for four families so far and I've been able to contact them and ask what they prefer. I usually have a list of six entrees (pasta and sauce, chicken or beef stirfry, roaster chicken, etc) and 4-5 side options. So far, 4 out of 4 have all asked for meatloaf, so I've made meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy and a vegetable side (or sometimes a salad). I make individual meatloafs (8 1/4-lb meatloafs) for them and one big meatloaf for my family. It's a nice treat for us, since we like meatloaf but I don't always take the time to make it for us at home. Note: I make the individual meatloafs for the parents of multiples because one of the side issues with bringing multiples home is that Mom and Dad don't always get to eat together the first few weeks and this allows them to easily dish and heat up a portion whenever each of them is ready to eat. You could make a full loaf for a family not dealing with this issue.

I had meals delivered by a people from my church after a surgery. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes was greatly appreciated. Other items I remember :
-lasagna
-sliced ham with mac n cheese
-sliced roast beef -small round potatoes
-roast boneless chicken breasts and stuffing
-baked rigatoni with meat
They coordinated and brought veggies and fresh rolls etc.

It was so wonderful. I had many small children and could not walk. Food was delivered every 3rd day for 1 month.

I would make 2 chicken pot pies. They freeze nicely and are easy to reheat whenever they want.

This is similar to the recipe I use:

http://wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/normandy-chicken-pot-pie

It is a pasta dish but I take a tray of eggplant parmesean which is easy to heat up. A ham is also good as it can be made into sandwiches and soups and easy to heat up. A couple of roasted chickens and a big salad can be used for lunch or dinner. Less personal but also appreciated are gift certificates for places that deliver.

In our multiples club, we have a committee that brings home meals to parents who have just brought their multiples back from the hospital. I've made meals for four families so far and I've been able to contact them and ask what they prefer. I usually have a list of six entrees (pasta and sauce, chicken or beef stirfry, roaster chicken, etc) and 4-5 side options. So far, 4 out of 4 have all asked for meatloaf, so I've made meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy and a vegetable side (or sometimes a salad). I make individual meatloafs (8 1/4-lb meatloafs) for them and one big meatloaf for my family. It's a nice treat for us, since we like meatloaf but I don't always take the time to make it for us at home. Note: I make the individual meatloafs for the parents of multiples because one of the side issues with bringing multiples home is that Mom and Dad don't always get to eat together the first few weeks and this allows them to easily dish and heat up a portion whenever each of them is ready to eat. You could make a full loaf for a family not dealing with this issue.

You could do rice, grilled shish-kabobs with meat and vegetables, and a salad.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP!

BTW this is for Office Laboy of the Alexandria PD, who was injured in the line of duty. If anyone would like the info to help out, just let me know and I'll post it. They really need the support, and probably will for months to come.

Officer Laboy

I think something freezer friendly or crockpot friendly would work for the number of servings requested. Here are some thoughts from my files... you are a good neighbor to help out!


Way Easy Chicken Stir Fry

[Note: This is not a meal that is frozen, but the chicken breasts, could come from the freezer as well as the rice. It would also be easy to create a "freezer kit" from this recipe. The chicken could be frozen in the marinade. In a separate bag, the cut up veggies, and another bag the rice, Put all three bags in a larger freezer bag with cooking instructions.]

1 tablespoon ketchup
Soy sauce, to taste
2 teaspoons ginger
2 cloves garlic, pressed
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, sliced thin
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
6 green onions, sliced thick
1 small green pepper, sliced thin
1 small red pepper, sliced thin
4 cups cooked rice (recommend brown)

Mix soy sauce, ketchup, ginger and garlic in re-sealable heavy-duty plastic bag. Add Chicken; seal bag and turn to coat with marinade. Let stand 15 minutes, while you cut up the veggies. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in 10-inch skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add green onions and bell peppers; stir-frying until crisp-tender. Remove from the skillet. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil in skillet and add the chicken, quickly stir-frying about 5 minutes or less, until chicken is cooked. Stir in bell pepper mixture. Serve on top of brown rice.


******

Spaghetti Casserole

1 1/2 cups ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (35 oz) tomatoes, undrained & coarsely chopped
1 can (12 oz) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
1 bay leaf
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 can (3.8 oz) black olives, sliced
1 pound spaghetti
2 cups cheddar, shredded
1 cup fresh bread crumbs

In a 5 - 6 quart Dutch oven, cook, ground beef, onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic over medium-high heat, stirring often to break up lumps of meat, until beef loses its pink color, about 8 minutes.

Add tomatoes, tomatoes, tomato sauce, Basil, oregano, bay leaf salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large pot of lightly salted water, cook spaghetti until just tender, about 9 minutes. Drain well.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add olives, spaghetti, and 1 cup cheddar to sauce; stir gently to mix. Transfer to a lightly oiled 10x15 inch baking dish. Sprinkle bread crumbs and remaining cheese over top.

Bake until top is lightly browned and casserole is bubbling throughout, about 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving with some bagged lettuce for a salad.

****

Crock Pot Beef Burgundy

1 1/2 pounds beef round steak or beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 cup red wine
1 small onion, chopped
1 package sliced mushrooms
1 package (1 ounce) dry onion soup mix
1 tablespoon minced garlic

Combine all ingredients in 4 1/2-quart CROCK-POT® slow cooker. Cover; cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours or until beef is tender.

Serve with butter noodles.

When I was undergoing chemo my favorite meal delivered to us was an excellent quiche with some cinnamon rolls! I was soooooo sick of pasta, chicken, pot roast, ect ect (although eternally grateful don't get me wrong) that it was a reallly nice change. It also reheats up well. Once I brought hot and fresh chocolate chip pancakes over to a neighbor who just had a baby and I think I made at least 20 huge pancakes and they were gone within the 25 mins of my visit!

Thanks PP!

BTW this is for Office Laboy of the Alexandria PD, who was injured in the line of duty. If anyone would like the info to help out, just let me know and I'll post it. They really need the support, and probably will for months to come.

I'm a big fan of soups. You can do a huge pot on your stove or in your slow cooker and then package it up in two or three containers. Together with a loaf of bread or two and it's a good filling meal.

Things like pulled pork or chicken or sloppy joes would work well, too.

The other benefit is that things like these can both freeze and also be served a few servings at a time, i.e. if the 4yr old is eating at an earlier time than the older children.

I recently signed up to prepare a meal for a family in need (the father in this family of 7 was critically injured). While this family is a member of my community, I do not personally know them, so do not know preferences etc. for them or their children.

It looks like his recovery will be very long, so they'll be getting meals delivered to them for quite some time. Is there anything outside the realm of pasta/taco type dishes that could be prepared in advance and delivered with some ease? It is requested that the meals provide enough for 12 people. I believe the children are approximately ages 4-14.