Supper for friend

Active Poster Joined: Jul 22 2010 Posts: 54

My friend just had baby and I offered to make her supper. I always make simple suppers though so I need ideas. I would really like a menu with recipes please!! thanks Smile

Gold Member Joined: Nov 11 2009 Posts: 1402

My never-fail favorite is meatballs and spaghetti. Kids love it, and adults do too.
I often add a soup that's also super easy: Sautee an onion for about 10 minutes and add a bag of frozen vegetables. Sautee a bit longer, add water and spices, cook for about 45 minutes, blend, and thicen with some elbow pasta or lukshen. Yum and easy.

Posted: Tue, May 15 2012, 3:31 pm Post subject: re: Supper for friend

meatballs and spaghetti always does well. I send a salad and either a brownie or cookies fresh from the oven. If they want milchigs you can make lasagnia or quiche with a simple soup and salad. I always try to send garlic bread or some type of rolls in case they want to wash.

I always ask if they have a preference and what the people the night before and after me are making so it's not the same. Also I find that the majority of people make plain chicken on a bone so I NEVER send that.
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Posted: Tue, May 15 2012, 4:28 pm Post subject: re: Supper for friend

I just want to say that while meatballs and spaghetti is a generally loved dish, its for that reason that so many people make it for families with a new baby!

I made supper for my friend a couple of months ago after she had her baby (lasagna, salad and cc cookies) and she was thanking me over and over because she said, "Almost EVERYONE gave me some sort of chopped meat and pasta dish and we're sick of it!"

Maybe check with them what they like, or what people have made already so they're not getting repeats.
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Mommy to
DS1--born Dec. 10, 2009 (Erev Chanukah)
DS2--born Sept. 5, 2011 (6 Elul)

Silver Member Joined: Jan 09 2008 Posts: 725

I would do oven baked chicken cutlets, mashed potatoes or sesame linguine, and some kind of salad or veggie side dish
I also like to send either something baked or cut fruit

dip cutlets in crumbs, egg, crumbs, spray with pam and bake uncovered abt. 20 min. until crispy

mashed potatoes with fried onions
sesame linguine - spaghetti with sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar (equal amounts of each) scallions, sesame seeds

Executive Member Joined: Nov 14 2009 Posts: 360

I think simple is the best - because more likely that will reach a versatile crowd

my favorite was when I got shnitzel, with a rice pilaf or roasted potatoes, and a hearty soup everyone ate at least one thing

easy soup - saute onion sweet potato regular pot celery carrot and add 2 pea soup mixes and any additional seasonings

Posted: Tue, May 15 2012, 7:01 pm Post subject: re: Supper for friend

My SIL did this for me after I had my baby and it's a great idea if you can afford it: call up a take-out place that is local to them and have them deliver supper at suppertime.

Even better, speak with your friend about what she'd prefer to have and order that.

Posted: Wed, May 16 2012, 1:16 am Post subject: Re: re: Supper for friend

Silver Member Joined: Jan 13 2009 Posts: 817

I like to send a "burgers bar" with buns, hamburger, sliced red onion, tomato and lettuce, avocado, sauteed mushroom and onion. Add some sliced baked sweet potato and some cookies and its a hit! (And as you can see it is such easy stuff to make! Barely any prep or cooking involved)

Posted: Wed, May 16 2012, 2:26 am Post subject: re: Supper for friend

Yes, meatballs are great...but be careful.

When we had a baby, we had a week straight of meatball tasting lol!! We had meatballs on rice, pasta, spaghetti, mashed potatoes, etc. EVERY NIGHT FOR 6 DAYS.

I am eternally thankful for all those who sent me meals after that particular birth, since it wasn't such an easy recovery, but I'm just saying...it pays to find out what others are making and think out of the box.
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Posted: Wed, May 16 2012, 2:27 am Post subject: re: Supper for friend

Perhaps my husband and myself are really picky eaters, but most of the suppers that people sent ended up in the garbage. People sent things that made no sense. For example, people sent these huge salads that we couldn't finish before they went bad or someone else sent us another one.

True, the baal tashchis could have been avoided had they called and said 'I was thinking of sending over xyz. Would that be okay?'. But no one did.

So I really appreciated the 1 night of takeout.

Gold Member Joined: Jul 14 2009 Posts: 2094

I had a huge salmon we got on sale in the freezer so I sent my friend baked salmon, mashed potatoes & green beans, we had the same for dinner. she said it was a real hit w/ her & the kids! I usually ask if they want either A or B.

Posted: Wed, May 16 2012, 5:58 am Post subject: re: Supper for friend

As others already commented, ASK BEFOREHAND because a lot can depend on how many children they have (and if they're picky eaters) and any food allergies.

Agree baked chicken, schnitzels, BBQ'd/grilled chicken fillets, meatballs, meatloaf are all "safe" main course.

My personal twist and what's been appreciated when I send meals are:
- non-meaty meal: mac and cheese went very well with families with young children. Baked salmon,
stir-fry veggies and noodle, vegetarian cottage pie, fish goujon, salmon loaf, lasagna, eggplant
parmesean etc.

- something you can freeze: one reason I like including soup. Also something the new mother
can have for lunch.

- "gourmet" dinner: I did for a couple who had their first baby (ie no other kids). it's nothing too fancy
but interesting things like cream of celeriac soup, seabass panfried with pesto, roasted baby potato with
rosemary, some filo pastry dessert sent with a single long-stemmed rose and they said it was like a
restaurant date probably miss for several months ahead. Only if you're into cooking and got spare
time.

Gold Member Joined: Nov 11 2009 Posts: 1402

I want to just repeat what others have said- ASK beforehand. I always ask whether the kids want milchig, fleishig or parve. If it's fleishig, which it usually is, then I ask if they've gotten before meatballs and spaghetti. The answer for some reason is usually no, and then I send it.
Always ask cuz you don't want your hard worked supper to go for naught.

Posted: Wed, May 16 2012, 2:45 pm Post subject: re: Supper for friend

It's also good to ask about dietary/allergies/or just preferences.

I felt so bad we don't eat fish and dairy together, and someone sent us a tuna casserole which looked SOOOO good (with soup which I could eat) and I really really wanted to eat it but in the end gave it to a neighbor and never told the friend. Now I've learned to just ask is there anything because I wouldn't want my work to go to waste. But I really appreciated that she made it and thought of me...and I think that's a big part with these meals, that of course it's having a yummy dinner but it's also that someone thought of you (or maybe that's just me living here without any family, no one came in when I had a baby, etc).