MEAL IDEAS

Lets make this a little easier for everyone who wants to bring a meal but just doesn't have time to sit and think about what to bring. Listed below are meals that have been enjoyed by others in the past.

Dinner Ideas

Scalloped potatoes and Ham

Chicken/Turkey Casserole
Veggie soup, buns, pie
Chicken Parmesan, noodles, french bread, salad

Chicken Chow Mein

Beef roast, potatoes and carrots

Turkey pot pie

Cheesy ham, broccoli and potato soup

Taco chili

Pork chops, baked potatoes, corn
Manicotti 

A ham and potato salad

Sour cream chicken enchilada's and rice

Brisket, twice baked potatoes

Chicken Kiev Casserole

Pizza, salad and dessert

Pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad

Sloppy Joe's, buns, veggies

Lasagna, caesar salad, french bread

Spaghetti, caesar salad, french bread

Meatloaf, salad, mashed potatoes

Taco fixings

Ham sandwiches, chips, fruit

Sausage casserole

Baked chicken, broccoli, baked potatoes

What is your families favorite meal? Can you double it or triple it next time? On your next grocery store visit, purchase enough items to do so. Freeze the extra proportions and now you have a meal to bring to another family.

Soups are a wonderful thing to bring. If the family does not eat it all they can easily be frozen for a later date. Not to mention, soups are usually a balanced meal all in one bowl. One time my friend brought me an ice cream pail half full of soup. It lasted us a few days and was nice to eat for lunch or dinner.

Breakfast Ideas

All of these can be prepared days a head of time and froze. 

Muffins -blueberry, banana, pumpkin

Croissants

Danishes

Eggbakes

Breakfast breads

A bag of bagels and tasty cream cheese. What a treat!

Pancakes, waffles and french toast are my favorite things to freeze and have on hand. 

Breakfast burritos (eggs, cheese and salsa)

Breakfast sandwiches (eggs, bacon on english muffins)

You can also find a variety of crockpot breakfast recipes online. Drop the crock off Friday night and they can have a warm breakfast waiting for them on Saturday morning!

Baked Potato Bar

A baked potato bar is a popular way to serve baked potatoes along with a variety of toppings.

Here are some topping ideas:
Butter or greek yogurt instead
Cheese (shredded cheddar, american, swiss, pepperjack, ricotta)

Nacho cheese or chili con queso

Sour Cream or French onion dip
Ranch dressing
Salsa
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Chives
Broccoli
Roasted red peppers
Black beans
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Fresh Bacon bits
Chili
Beef tips
Shredded beef
Stroganoff sauce
Pepperonis
Shrimp

Did you know you can bake baked potatoes in your crockpot! Here's how: place your potatoes upright on end. Cover and cook without opening lid on LOW heat setting for 6-8 hours or until potatoes are tender.

You can bake them in the oven on a cookie sheet for 50-60 minutes, smothered in EVOO.

Great Recipe Book

I came across a great book to help me with making meals ahead of time and freezing them. The book is called "Dont Panic more Dinner's in the Freezer" by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell and Bonnie Garcia. By the title of this book I would say this is not their first book in the series.

The Pulled Pork Sandwich recipe is one of our families favorite. This is also where the Italian Stuffed Meatloaf recipe came from.

I dont cook!

What if I dont cook!

Just when you thought you could weasel out of not bringing a meal! Here are 3 easy ways to still help out. 

1. Gift cards are always welcome. Yes the family would have to go and pick up the meal if they wanted it right away which may not work will with those that are ill. However all restaurants take to-go orders. You can pick it up and bring it to them. Or the family can save the gift card for an eventual time when they can get out. 
2. A friend of mine once ordered a pizza and had it delivered to the families house around dinner time. 
3. Warehouse stores (Costco and Sams Club) are excellent resources for those that dont cook. They will sell you an entire Lasagna or a whole box of quiche! With their large proportions the family can have leftover or freeze a second meal. This is a simple and convenient way to bring a meal in a hurry. 

Packaging and Freezing Meals

How to package a meal

Instead of throwing out those to-go boxes (plastic works best), old sour cream containers and old pie pans, save them in a paper bag in your basement. They work great for delivering meals. Garage sales are a great place to purchase used cake pans and casserole dishes that you can give away with your meal. 

Freezing Methods

There are a few different methods. 

1. Freezer bags work great for liquids such as soups, chili, gravy, stews. Get as much air out as possible and lay flat in the freezer
2. Foil and Plastic Wrap works great for semisolid food items like lasagna, casseroles, meatloaf and breakfast items such as breakfast burritos and sandwiches. You can either just cover the top of the baking dish with plastic wrap and foil if your freezing for a day or two. The other method saves space in your freezer and lasts much longer. Line the baking dish with foil, then plastic wrap (making sure you have to cover the bottom, sides and top of the dish). Let the food cool completely, seal the plastic wrap, removing as much air as possible. Seal the foil layer. Put the whole thing in the freezer and once the food has been frozen slip it out of the pan and into a freezer bag. 
3. Double wrap baked goods in plastic wrap and freezer bags. Muffins, rolls, breads, cookies.   

Date and label everything and always include baking directions.