Entertaining Ideas
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Neighbor just had baby... food ideas?
My down-the-street neighbor just had her 2nd baby. I would like to take something to her because i know how hard it is when you just come home from the hospital (she also has a 3 year old).
Any suggestions?
TIA
Re: Neighbor just had baby... food ideas?
It really seems like my family is in the minority, but we did not receive and would not have appreciated people bringing over casseroles and frozen stuff for us. We're picky/particular eaters (H has lots of allergies and I'm a vegetarian), and since my husband is perfectly able to cook (apparently, he's a rarity) having lots of pre-cooked frozen stuff just wasn't necessary.
What I DID appreciate food-wise was snacky type foods, especially at the beginning of my maternity leave when I was holding my baby most of the day and therefore needed stuff that could easily be eaten one handed, usually while standing at the kitchen counter.....I lived on trail mix. We also appreciated gift cards to restaurants that did delivery/take-out, because it was a nice treat and we didn't have to worry about clean-up or washing someone else's dish to give back to them.
More than food, I bet your neighbor would appreciate a new book/game/movie for her older child.....something to keep them occupied during those first few chaotic weeks with a newborn.
Food Network under Giada - She did a whole show on taking food to new moms and I remember thinking everything looked delicious and easily transportable!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/giada-at-home/special-delivery/index.html
"Don't marry a man unless you would be PROUD to have a son exactly like him." ~ Unknown
If you know them well enough then it's best to ask what they would like. Some people, like pp, are picky or have a "freezer stash," etc.
When I had my first I had food in my freezer or I had simple proteins I could make. I would have loved some fresh fruit and veggies. Getting to the store was a little rough and those were things you can't buy up ahead.
I operate under this thought as well. When someone has a baby, I usually give a big fruit basket/box and some tea or hot chocolate for the mom.
I think those are great ideas. I agree with the posts people can be weird about pre-prepared meals. If you know them very well and know a specific dish of yours they like that would be ok but otherwise I'd go with giftcard, fruit basket, something along those lines! And def something for the 3 year old.
muffins, quick bread
bagels
cut of veg/fruit
brownies/bars
these are all things I would have loved to receive. very thoughtful of you!
Things I've made for friends and have had great responses:
Pizza bread (great for quick grab and go meal)- basically pizza dough or bread dough rolled out and covered in pizza toppings then rolled up and baked.
Mac & Cheese, stuffed peppers, chicken and rice casserole, lasagna rolls (basically just lasagna but you top each noodle with fillings and roll it up and put seam side down in pan), chicken noodle casserole (same as tuna noodle but with chicken and cream of chicken soup).
I like the fruit and veggie idea, snacks and cookies (if you do fresh baked- bake half the batch and then put the rest of the dough on sheets like you'd bake them but freeze them, then give them in a bag with the baking directions written on the bag, then they can pull them out when they want a cookie and bake them up later)
Also, if you aren't sure what they'd like, maybe offer to stop by for her grocery list and run to the store for her?
Getting back to it- my diet and exercise blog
Losing it...Without Losing it