Chili is good - freezes well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks for the suggestions. I have a really dumb question. How do you bring over things that are not casseroles. I usually bring baked pasta dishes in those foil pans. If I roast a chicken or do a pot roast, how do you transport in something they won't need to return to you?

You can put those items in the foil pans, too, after cooking.

I actually roast my chicken in a foil pan and add potatoes and green beans and a bread on the side. I'm really sorry for this family. It's really nice of you to think of them.

You could also try a hearty soup. Chicken soup with vegetables or a beef minestrone. It's nourishing food for when you are sick or grieving and they also are really easy to keep and heat. Maybe also bring some bread.

Anonymous wrote:When I bring a meal, I usually do roast chicken and vegetables with some good bread.

Yes, my options for such a situation are lasagne, roast chicken or meatloaf. I typically add a starch (for the chicken or meatloaf) like roasted or mashed potatoes or rice, a hot veggie like broccoli, green beans or corn for children, and a salad.

If I am rushed for time, I can purchase a roast chicken from Sam's (their chickens are significantly larger and cheaper than the supermarket ones) and get bagged salad. I put the salad in a disposable dollar store bowl with lid, add some cherry tomatoes, some cut cucumbers and shredded carrots. If you make your own roast chicken, I take my poultry shears and cut into about 8 pieces and then you can put it into a gladware dish (I like the microwavable gladware containers for reheating), a dollar store container or foil pan.

+ on telling the family no need to return my cheapo generic brand containers! I did this recently after taking 5 or 6 containers of food to a grieving family.

Ina Garten's grilled chicken with satay sauce and veggie salads

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks for the suggestions. I have a really dumb question. How do you bring over things that are not casseroles. I usually bring baked pasta dishes in those foil pans. If I roast a chicken or do a pot roast, how do you transport in something they won't need to return to you?

You can put those items in the foil pans, too, after cooking.

Enchiladas
Soup

I hope this doesn't sound bitchy, but when I lost my grandpa we received a lot of food. It was all appreciated (grandma was blind and we were caring for both), but it got very hard to wash all the containers and return them. Foil pans were awesome. And if you don't want the tupperware returned, indicate that please.

OP here: thanks for the suggestions. I have a really dumb question. How do you bring over things that are not casseroles. I usually bring baked pasta dishes in those foil pans. If I roast a chicken or do a pot roast, how do you transport in something they won't need to return to you?

Second the recommendations for pot roast and chili. Shepherd's pie also reheats nicely.

These aren't all "summer foods," but they reheat nicely and most people will eat them:

Pot roast
Chili
Chicken enchiladas
Pulled pork or chicken

Very nice of you to think of them, OP.

First - how sad. Sending good thoughts to them.

My go-to is this recipe for enchiladas, which you can prepare and refrigerate so all they'll have to do is pop it in the oven for 20 minutes or so. You can adapt it to be milder if needed and it can be made with shredded rotisserie chicken. Drop off with some fixings and a salad.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-enchiladas-with-salsa-verde-10000001173802/

When I bring a meal, I usually do roast chicken and vegetables with some good bread.

You can do a Nicoise salad with roasted red potatoes.
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/nicoise_salad/

A family in our school lost their mom a few weeks ago and I am bringing over dinner to the father and son. They eat pretty much anything, but are overloaded on pasta. Since that is my usual go-to recipe for bringing to others, I am seeking EASY, but delicious options for dishes to bring by their house.

Thanks!!!