Help! I need recipe ideas for helping....

**hollyhill** · 03-03-2008, 02:15 AM

a family during difficult times. Their young daughter (age 13)has advanced cancer and is undergoing intensive treatment. I am looking for main dish recipes that feed 6/7 people and that could be frozen. And that are also economical(is that asking too much?). I really would like to help them during this terrible time.

Ideas I already have are-
Lasagna
Macaroni
Chicken tetrazani....

Any other ideas? Do you think oven "fried" (shaken bake style) freezes well?

**brainyblonde** · 03-03-2008, 06:31 AM

Meat Loaf
Chili
Baked ziti
Chicken potpie
Hawaiian chicken (package with instant rice)
Chicken & Rice casserole (uses cream soup)
You could even roast a chicken or turkey, slice it and pack in freezer bags. Deliver with canned gravy, boxed stuffing or instant mashed potatoes and a canned veggie. A hearty meal that requires minimal work to put on the table.

**joyofsix** · 03-03-2008, 06:53 AM

Hmm, I'll try not to repeat
chicken or beef and noodles
sloppy joes-frozen ready to go w/buns
taco meat-frozen ready to go w/ tortillas
a pan of burritos or enchiladas
broccoli,ham and rice casserole
baked ravioli
hash brown and sausage casserole

You are very kind to think of them.

**known2him5** · 03-03-2008, 07:50 AM

homemade pizza

mac and cheese

Breakfast stuff - waffles, pancakes, french toast, biscuits, muffins

**quiltergirl2** · 03-03-2008, 08:10 AM

I use cornmeal for my "oven fried" stuff and it freezes fine. Is there a way you could get other people involved? I'm thinking their neighbors, school families, church members, etc. I've been in churches where the church ladies did this -- each one took a night to provide the meal. It spreads the work around and people feel so helpless at times like this they are usually glad to feel like they can do something.

**mom2bobsarah** · 03-03-2008, 09:25 AM

You may also want to roast a turkey or cook a ham and take it to them. They can eat off it for several days and then freeze the leftovers. Maybe make a pan of mac and cheese or a big container of potato salad to go with it (this would keep better than say mashed potatoes). You have got me thinking of ideas too, my aunt is having major surgery the day after Easter and will be laid up for 8-12 weeks so I am going to do some meals for her family as well.

**suki** · 03-03-2008, 09:43 AM

Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Prepare meat only... like chicken or ground beef so they can use it as a start for whatever.
Biscuits

I'd gather some freezer meal or once a month cooking type recipes and use those.

And, good for you for caring! It's a very good deed you're doing.

**suki** · 03-03-2008, 09:43 AM

Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Prepare meat only... like chicken or ground beef so they can use it as a start for whatever.
Biscuits

I'd gather some freezer meal or once a month cooking type recipes and use those.

And, good for you for caring! It's a very good deed you're doing.

**cissylu** · 03-03-2008, 09:56 AM

Chicken an dumpling`s
chicken and dressing
beef stew
pot of bean`s with sasuage and
fix cornbread.
these are all economical meal`s
you are a sweetie for doing this.

**ladykemma2** · 03-03-2008, 10:10 AM

having been through this, keep in mind they they will not be home much and they will be exhausted and not thinking about cooking.

instead i would buy them
1. parking at the hospital
2. meal card for the hospital cafeteria
3. KFC, McDonalds, and other certificates
4. offer housecleaning, lawnmowing, and petsitting.

**cissylu** · 03-03-2008, 10:10 AM

hm vegetable soup
hm chicken soup

**hollyhill** · 03-03-2008, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by brainyblonde

Meat Loaf
Chili
Baked ziti
Chicken potpie
Hawaiian chicken (package with instant rice)
Chicken & Rice casserole (uses cream soup)
You could even roast a chicken or turkey, slice it and pack in freezer bags. Deliver with canned gravy, boxed stuffing or instant mashed potatoes and a canned veggie. A hearty meal that requires minimal work to put on the table.

Thank-you!
Do you have a recipe for Hawaiian Chicken?
And do you have one for chicken and Rice casserole?

**hollyhill** · 03-03-2008, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by quiltergirl2

I use cornmeal for my "oven fried" stuff and it freezes fine. Is there a way you could get other people involved? I'm thinking their neighbors, school families, church members, etc. I've been in churches where the church ladies did this -- each one took a night to provide the meal. It spreads the work around and people feel so helpless at times like this they are usually glad to feel like they can do something.

Yes it is being organized. But I already thought it had been and then I found out it hadn't! So now I am trying to organizing it.... but it will take about a week to get it moving...so in the meantime....I am doing this "shift", And I have had other asking me for suggestions. That is why I asked for everyones help because I am compiling a list.

I do have a once a month cookbook and am using a few recipes out of it, but I don't want to experiment right now, which is why I am asking for your ladies tried and true..... recipes. Thank-you.

**hollyhill** · 03-03-2008, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by ladykemma2

having been through this, keep in mind they they will not be home much and they will be exhausted and not thinking about cooking.

instead i would buy them
1. parking at the hospital
2. meal card for the hospital cafeteria
3. KFC, McDonalds, and other certificates
4. offer housecleaning, lawnmowing, and petsitting.

Thank-you for your insight. Please let me know of anything else you can think of.

But this is a large family and eating out simple isn't feasable. There are 4 other children at home and they are not travelling to the hospital. One of the older children is usually left to help feed and care for those at home. This is an additional stress for the parents. Knowing that there is food prepared would ease their mind in at least one way.
Also, their finances are stretched to the limit. They have their own business and they are simply not able to put the time in just now, so their income is down and expenses are up. They are also exploring alternative therapies in addition to traditional treatments. But it is all so expensive. My family and I are traumatized by it all, we love this young girl very much and have known her for many years. It is horrible watching her waste away.

**StartingOver** · 03-03-2008, 01:39 PM

What about a tator tot casserole, I think that's a favorite for kids...or shepard's pie? Two very quick and easy meals.

A lot of good ideas here, those are just 2 that I can think of that have not been mentioned.