My son's schoolmate was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. I know they are spending alot of time and back forth at the hospital and I wanted to make some meals for their family that they could freeze and reheat when needed. ANY recipes would be appreciated. She said the girls like chicken and eggplant. Not spicey. They are family of 4. Thanks so much!
Eggplant lasagna? I made tater tot casserole for my neighbor when his wife passed away, that's really easy and it's very tasty. Go to allrecipes.com for some great casserole recipes.
How very nice of you to do this. My little brother had cancer and my parents practically lived in the hospital for a year. If someone had done this for them, they would have been so appreciative. It helps SO much.
That is a great thing you're doing and super helpful. Here's 2 recipes (one for upside down pizza and one for quiche) that my kids love, and are perfect for transporting and freezing/reheating:
1. Upside Down Pizza
Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 pound sweet or hot turkey sausage, casing removed
1 cup onion, sliced
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 cup pasta sauce
1 cup pizza sauce
1/2 cup black olives, sliced
16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook for 3 minutes, or until browned and cooked through, breaking up the meat as it cooks with a wooden spoon. Add onion and mushrooms and cook 2 minutes, until soft. Add pasta sauce, pizza sauce and olives and bring to a simmer, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer sauce to the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and oil until blended. Whisk in flour and salt until well blended. Pour mixture over sauce in pan. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
2. Quiche Lorraine
Ingredients:
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 c. heavy cream
3 egg yolks
1 egg
1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
6 slices bacon
1 (8 inch) crust (unbaked)
Beat cream cheese with next 5 ingredients until smooth blended. If you have a blender, it can be blended on the blend cycle. Cut bacon into 1 inch pieces and cook until lightly brown and almost crisp. Microwave cooking of the bacon takes less time. Arrange the bacon in bottom of pastry lined pan. Pour cheese mixture over bacon. Bake in preheated 400 degrees oven for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 10 minutes longer or until puffed and golden brown. Let stand for 2 to 3 minutes before cutting. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Homemade soups and spagehetti sauce freeze well. Even pasta freezes well and can be reheated by running under hot water.
Casseroles, including lasagna, - prepare and freeze *before* baking
Beans and rice
Roasted Turkey breast, taken off the bone, will re-heat nicely when wrapped in aluminum foil.
God Bless.
Things that can easily be reheated without drying out too much, like lasagna, stew, chili, spaghetti sauce w/ meatballs, macaroni and cheese, eggplant parm., etc. I would stick with comfort foods. Also, give it to them in containers that don't need to be washed and returned, if possible.
Here are some websites you may find helpful that have other ideas of ways to help.
http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-support-fam...
A favorite that I send to families all the time:
Beefy Macaroni, Beans and Cheese:
2/3 c elbows or corkscrews
12 oz to 1 lb ground beef
1/2 chopped onion
(1) 10.75 oz can of mushroom soup
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp garlic or 1T garlic pieces (I prefer the pieces)
9 oz cut green beans
1/4 c milk (or water)
1/4 c shredded cheddar (I usually send this seperately.)
- Cook pasta till al dente
- If using frozen green beans, drain pasta over them to slightly thaw.
- Place pasta and beans into pot.
- Brown meat with onion and garlic. Add to pasta.
- Mix soup, milk, basil (and garlic powder, if using that instead) into pasta.
- Stir well. Spoon into 10x6x2 pan. Cover with foil, seal, label and freeze.
- To reheat: Thaw in fridge overnight and heat till warm. OR Bake at about 350/375 till thawed. Stir every 45 minutes. [Note: this can take a long time to heat if not in a thin layer.] Top with cheese and allow to melt.
I usually add a bit more milk for moisture before reheating.
Blessings for you for being so considerate and to the family in need. Lord hear our prayers...
~C.
Homemade chicken soup with noodles or pastina (our favorite). You can divide into several containers of about 4-6 bowls.
Tater tot casserole freezes well: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Savory-Tater-Tot-Casserole/D...
As do chicken bundles: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Crescent-Chicken-Bundles/Det...
(I food process the chicken instead of cubing it)
Mac & cheese is a great staple to have in the freezer...I have a recipe somewhere on my blog http://www.peekababyny.com I'm pretty sure that I also have a fish-free puttanesca sauce up as well which they oukd freeze and have over pasta or chicken cutlets
I don't have recipes but did find this link and hope you find it helpful.
http://www.jlsfoundation.org/treatments/nutritional.html
I think i's wonderful that you are making meals for this family. Continue to allow you child to play and hang out with this classmate -- it can help the child with leukemia feel less isolated.
if they haven't already a few camps for the family that they may want to look into for famlies dealing with caner:
camp Sunshine; and here's a link to others: http://www.cancer.org/InYourArea/NewEngland/AreaHighlight...
Much luck!
When I was super sick I was soooo grateful to receive dinners. It was one of the most heartfelt gifts I ever received. You are a gem to think of doing this.
2 of my favorites were:
Russian chicken (which I learned to make later) and steamed rice, complete with a bag of salad & bottle of salad dressing (ranch since we had a picky eater).
RUSSIAN CHICKEN
Several chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces
1 env. onion soup
1 bottle Russian dressing
1 med. jar apricot jam
Put chicken pieces in a casserole dish. Mix together onion, soup, Russian dressing and apricot jam. Pour over chicken pieces. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until done. (If you can't locate Russian dressing you may use Catalina, though it changes the flavor slightly - - - still YUMMY!)
And: Poppy Seed Chicken, again with rice & salad.
Minute rice
3 lbs. chicken breasts
1 (16 oz.) carton sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 c. crushed Ritz crackers (one pack)
1 stick butter
2 tbsp. poppy seeds
Boil chicken 15 to 20 minutes or until thoroughly cooked. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Mix chicken, sour cream and soup together. Spread thinly in greased casserole dish. Salt & pepper to taste.
In separate dish mix together: crushed crackers, melted butter and poppy seeds. Sprinkle this mixture on top. Bake at 325°F for 30 to 40 minutes.
(The friend that brought this to me knows how much I like mushrooms, so they added a layer of fresh mushrooms. OMG Yummo)
Both were brought in disposable tins, with instructions taped to the top on how to heat.
Oooh, and a cobbler. A delightful mixed berry cobbler.
B. my heart goes out to your son's classmate. A good friend of mine's son had leukemia starting when he was 9 months old with a recurrence a year later and now at 5 years of age they just found a tumor which hopefully will be nothing. Anyway I found that I made/make things like Eggplant Parmigania and Chicken Cacciatori, both of which I can freeze and bring over to them. They too are a family of 4 so what I do is make the eggplant by buying 2 of them and make 2 different batches and the same thing with the chicken only one I make with drumsticks and/or thighs and the other with boneless breasts. Then what I do is bring one of each at one time along with a tray of baked ziti or homemade Manicotti both of which can also be frozen and popped in the oven. The other thing you can do is make pots of sauces, such as Alfredo and plain tomato sauce, put them in containers and freeze them as well then all the family has to do is take them out and boil up some pasta, cook chicken (unless you cook it ahead of time for them) or even better some stew meat or steak. Hope this helps.
T.
B., what a wonderful idea. I had many good friends make us meals when I had cancer, and it was so very helpful and much appreciated. I'd suggest even just making breaded chicken cutlets and providing some jarred sauces/pestos/salsa's so the kiddo's could have theirs plain if they prefer and the parents could have a yummy topping. Quick and easy is the name of the game when you're dealing with cancer treatment. Even something like a vat of homemade chicken soup and a fancy loaf of bread would be lovely and a comforting meal. Also, be sure not to give them things in any containers that you want back!
Mild soft shell chicken tacos? put grilled chicken, and all the ingredients you think can withstand re-heating - corn, blackbeans, rice, tomatos, onions. These are great because they can be individually wrapped.
how about easy chicken cordon bleu - bread chicken breasts, top with ham and swiss and bake.
I had these at a german brewhouse and they were really good - puff pastry topped with chicken, honey mustard, sliced granny smith apple, and red onion.
you might also do a re-heat friendly breakfast. Make a giant fritata (like an omlette you make in the oven). after the eggs have set, cut into small squares, and make into breakfast sandwiches with english muffins, toast, burritos, or bagels.
you are an excellent friend.
You could make soups or stews, lasagna, casseroles, chicken and eggplant enchiladas, cabbage rolls.
