Best meal to take to new parents?

[halfpint]

I want to bring something they can either eat right away or throw in the freezer. 

I am a pretty basic cook, so I need something easy. 

Things I currently have on hand that come to mind: 
lots of frozen chicken breasts
pasta
jarred pasta sauce
lots of canned beans (black beans, garbanzo beans, maybe cannellini or something?)
lots of canned tomatoes
a variety of frozen veg - broccoli, cauliflower, peas, corn
cheddar and parmesan cheese
eggs

I may have some panko bread crumbs...I could do some kind of chicken parm? I've never made it before, and not sure how well it freezes, or what recipes might be good and easy. 

Maybe just some kind of baked pasta dish? 

I also make a pretty good pork tenderloin, but again, not sure how it would freeze once cooked?

They are fairly healthy eaters, but no dietary restrictions right now - I just don't want to roll up with like, Frito pie or something equally unhealthy. 

[badtzmaru22]

Make it easy on yourself. I would bring over a rotisserie chicken, a couple of bags of frozen veggies, and a package of premade mashed potatoes. (We get the Wegmans kind, but Bob Evans ones are good as well). I would also bring a gallon ziploc bag, so if they don't want to eat the chicken now, they can stick it in the bag, and put that in the freezer, and they can throw the veggies in the freezer as well.

[rondonalddo]

Soup?

Also, not a meal, but if you have time, throw in some muffins! They don't have to be refrigerated, can be frozen if needed, and are quick and easy to eat. Breakfast gets forgotten pretty easily, so it's nice to have something like that on hand.

[momin2013]

We only got one meal brought to us, but it was a good idea: chicken pot pies. They were in those foil tins, so we didn't have to wash/return the pans afterwards. With your ingredients, you could probably make that; you'd just need the tins to make them in.

[genet313]

Chicken parm would be good and freeze well, but I wouldn't make a new recipe that you haven't tried yourself for this.  Just go for what you know and what tastes good.

[h]

Chicken parm, Caesar salad, garlic bread, and a pan of brownies is my go to mean for new parents and seems to go over well.

Roast chicken, mashed potatoes or homemade mac n cheese, and a veggie side is good, too, and you can just buy a rotisserie chicken.

[thebreakfastclub]

I would have liked a fruit basket, but I am generally against freezer meals.

[niq]

Comfort food was great at the time. Lasagna, mac & cheese, roast chicken, whatever.

You could do chicken parm or pasta fagioli with your ingredients on hand

[fortnightlily]

This is one of my go-to's. It freezes well, and can be eaten as chili, nachos, or burrito filling.

2 packages of ground turkey
1 jar of mild salsa
2 small zucchini or 2 bell peppers, diced
1 cup of frozen roasted corn
1 can of black beans, drained
1 onion, diced
2 teaspoons of cumin
1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 a lime
If not freezing, garnished with chopped fresh cilantro or chives

1. Heat some vegetable oil on in the bottom of a large pot, then add the onions and cook until soft
2. Add the turkey to the onions, mix, sprinkle with the salt and pepper, and cook until there is no more pink, stirring occasionally
3. Add the salsa, corn, black beans, zucchini, cumin, and smoked paprika. Mix well, cover, and simmer on low for at least 20 minutes, or up to 1 hour.
4. Before serving, squeeze in the juice from half a lime and garnish with herbs
5. If desired, serve with some cheese and a dollop of sour cream

[AlpineSlide]

my sister recently had baby #3 and I made them a breakfast casserole but it would be delicious for lunch or dinner too. It had hash browns, like 12 eggs, 1 pound cooked ground sausage, milk and cheese. I used soy milk and skipped the cheese because her H can't have dairy. could be portioned into single servings and frozen also. Could add onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, etc if you wanted to add veggies. I know niece and nephew don't like onions and peppers though.

[fortnightlily]

Here's another one that can be eaten straight from the oven or frozen and reheated. This recipe makes two, because when I make it I usually eat one and freeze the other for a night I'm feeling lazy. Best if you bring alongside a soup or salad.

BROCCOLI AND CHEDDAR QUICHE
4 eggs
1 pt half-and-half
8 oz shredded medium cheddar
2 roma tomatoes
1 bag chopped frozen broccoli
1 med zucchini
2 deep dish pie crusts
salt
garlic powder
black pepper


Let the pie crusts defrost 10 min, prick with forks, then bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes and take them out. Lower the oven to 375.
Whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, and seasoning
Put a layer of cheese in the bottom of each pie crust, then a layer of the broccoli/zucchini
Pour half of the egg mixture over each pie
Top with tomato slices and a sprinkling of additional cheese.
Bake for approx 40 minutes.

[iheartbanjos]

I loved when friends brought over a rotisserie chicken, salad, cut up fruit and veggies, stuff from the deli at Whole Foods, etc.

[spk926]

I usually try to do a breakfast casseroles, a bowl of cut fruit and some cookies. The casseroles are good because everyone seems to bring dinners so breakfast is a nice change. If the family doesn't want them right away they can freeze them. The same with the cookies. The cut fruit almost anyone likes and seems to go fast so I don't worry about that needing to have the possibility of being frozen.

[CloudBee]

I agree that you should pick up a rotisserie chicken. Many grocery stores have hot sides like mashed potatoes and mac & cheese right there in the warming area.

If you don't normally cook, now is not the time to try.

[purplecow0206]

Our favorite thing, actually, was when a friend of H's brought us sandwich stuff; a couple of pounds of cold cuts and some bread, with some salads. We paired it with soup for a meal, would grab a piece or two of deli meat if we just needed a quick nosh, or threw the bread in the toaster with some pb or something. It was nice to have the alternative, after all the heavy casseroles that people were bringing us.

[katiescarlett]

I make a chicken parm that's easy and good. Pound chicken breasts a bit so they're not hugely thick. Dip in egg then seasoned breadcrumbs. Bake for 20-30 min depending how thick and how many. Then pour pasta sauce on top and mozzarella cheese and cook till done (I typically make 2 breasts and they take another 10 min or so). I serve over egg noodles with a salad or whatever veggie you'd like.

[redheadk]

This is my go-to:

ourbestbites.com/2014/07/baked-creamy-chicken-taquitos/

I freeze them at home then package them in gallon size freezer bags with the baking instructions on the front. They are perfect because you can put them in the oven frozen so mom can make 2 while home alone during the day on maternity leave or they can have them for dinner. I make double batch which normally makes 20 taquitos. The suggested sauce is fantastic, too. I find them satisfying without a side and don't bring one to new moms, just the taquitos and a mason jar of the sauce.

[redheadk]

Nov 2, 2015 16:13:55 GMT -5 spk926 said:

I usually try to do a breakfast casseroles, a bowl of cut fruit and some cookies. The casseroles are good because everyone seems to bring dinners so breakfast is a nice change. If the family doesn't want them right away they can freeze them. The same with the cookies. The cut fruit almost anyone likes and seems to go fast so I don't worry about that needing to have the possibility of being frozen.

Ooh, filing this idea away for the future! I love breakfast casserole and would happily eat it for dinner so it is an "anytime meal" for me.

[Muddled]

Not chili. 4 different people made it for us. It's all delicious and very thoughtful, but has only added to the gas that is constantly leaving my body since delivery.

[ladygrey]

I loved things that were individually portioned like muffins, breakfast burritos, mini quiches, etc. A huge container of soup or a casserole is nice, but stuff you can eat one-handed is so helpful when you're holding a baby or wrangling a toddler (or both at once).

[scribellesam]

My favorite meals were when people brought us takeout. But maybe my friends just can't cook.

[halfpint]

OK, you've convinced me to pick up something from Whole Foods or similar. For some reason showing up with a casserole dish seemed like the more thoughtful thing to do. And it's not that I CAN'T cook - I cook often - I just didn't want someone to be all, ooh, I have a lovely recipe for salt and rosemary crust pork loin with a handmade apricot glaze and a parmesan risotto or someshit.

But I'm saving some of these ideas for our own dinners

[VillainV]

I usually do baked pasta (in a disposable pan), bagged salad, and garlic bread. Sometimes i'll also bring homemade muffins or cookies or whatever.

Sams/Costco have some good meals that you just throw in the oven (chicken parm, etc) that can also be frozen.

[redpenmama]

I'm cooking for a very health-conscious family in a couple of weeks, and I'm doing white chicken chili, salad, and cornbread. It's light but satisfying and is good for fall.

Sometimes, I'll do chicken fajitas -- cook the chicken, peppers, and onions in a crockpot and then bring tortillas and all of the fixings.

If the family is getting a lot of meals, I would avoid doing pasta. We were fortunate to get weeks of food from our friends and playgroup, and we had every baked pasta dish known to man (and some twice). I am a pasta lover and even I tired of it.

[Deleted]

I'd also be easy. Like pp said someone brought me a tray of bagels (froze some), fresh ground coffee and a fruit tray and I could've kissed them. Esp. since we had a lot of overnight weekend visitors. It was so nice to toss them a bagel and be done.

Someone brought me a tray of hardboiled eggs. At first I was sort of hmmm...but H and my older DD loved them. Girl who brought them new what she was doing. And they keep quite awhile.

I always like shredded pork or beef too. I just send the sauce on the side in case someone is sensitive.

Tacos was another good.

I always appreciated fresh. Pasta bake is great and I will be forever grateful but so few of them actually taste awesome out of the freezer. And noodles aren't that hard. Even on my worst days H and I could find 10 minutes to boil some noodles and throw sauce on top.

[Deleted]

Nov 2, 2015 16:39:29 GMT -5 scribellesam said:

My favorite meals were when people brought us takeout. But maybe my friends just can't cook.

Mine too. 

I think it was because my friends always picked places we never really frequented/knew about. It was something new and fun. 

And not another pasta bake...lol. 

That and I never had much problem with dinner. Somedays it wasn't great but I could at least boil noodles or make scrambled eggs. Take out though..Takeout was fancy.  

[pizzapizza]

I love ziti, chicken parm, etc. those were always winners when folks brought them.

Whole Foods makes some really nice family meals to go that come with a large salad for free. Throw in a baguette and some dessert and it is a filling meal that is not too expensive and easy when you are busy.

[speckledfrog]

Anything. Literally anything. Even meals we didn't really love were awesome.

[kategm]

Sorry if I missed this, but pork tenderloin freezes well after being cooked. I do this often.

[scribellesam]

Nov 2, 2015 23:45:56 GMT -5 @justdairy said:

Nov 2, 2015 16:39:29 GMT -5 scribellesam said:

My favorite meals were when people brought us takeout. But maybe my friends just can't cook.

Mine too. 

I think it was because my friends always picked places we never really frequented/knew about. It was something new and fun. 

And not another pasta bake...lol. 

That and I never had much problem with dinner. Somedays it wasn't great but I could at least boil noodles or make scrambled eggs. Take out though..Takeout was fancy.  

Yes. No more variations of pasta and chicken! I'm spoiled, though; my H had very long paternity leaves with both kids so it was easy enough to cook our own simple dinner.