Seeking Good Recipes for NEW Mom & Dad

There is a recipe my sister-in-law developed that I put an easy twist on that makes it super easy and cheap! Not to mention quick.

2 boxes scalloped potatoes
1 bag prepared diced ham (quantity to taste)
1 bag frozen vegetable blend of choice

Make scalloped potatoes as directed, but keep out 1/2 cup water due to having water in the ham. Before you put in oven, add desired amount of ham and bag of vegetables. Cook about 5 minutes longer than directions call for. Serve with biscuits or dinner rolls if you wish. Prep time about 5 minutes, cooks in about 25 minutes.

These became 2 of my favorites:

1. Chicken/Spinach Alfredo Lasagna.
You can make ahead of time and let her throw in the oven.
10 Partially cooked lasagna noodles
1 or 5 cups fresh spinach
1 containter Cottage Cheese
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (you can either buy like a cub roasted chicken and shred that or grill about 4 chicken breasts)
1 jar of alfredo sauce
1/4 c milk
As much mozzerella cheese as you like

Combine the jar of alfredo sauce and 1/4 cup milk.
Partially boil noodles
Cook chicken and cut into small pieces/shred

Layer noodles, cottage cheese, spinach, chicken sauce, and cheese as desired. Bake for 50 min at 350.

2. Fajita burgers
We use jalepeno fajita wraps, but if she isn't into spice you can use flour tortillas. We do it because it saves on bread carbs and it makes it seem new/fun. We made it up based on a version from Applebees.
You can grill the burger patties ahead of time use some taco seasoning/chili like spices. Then all they have to do is lightly butter one side of the tortilla, put it on a Forman Grill or pannini sandwich grill (or such).
Put the patty on one side of the tortilla, top with cheese/salsa/sour cream - whatever you like. Fold the tortilla over the patty and grill until golden brown on the outside.
Our favorite quick Rachel Ray is a Turkey Meatball Parmesean Sub. You could make the turkey meatballs ahead of time, they fill subs with meatballs, sauce and cheese. Bake for a bit and voila.

Congrats and best of luck!!

One recipe we love is for this Shredded Chicken:

2-3 FROZEN Chicken breasts
1 can corn
1 can black beans
1 small jar salsa

Put it all in a crock pot and cook all day. Use 2 forks to pull apart the chicken breasts after they are completely cooked to shred them. You can then use this to make nachos (spoon over chips, add black olives, cheese, lettuce, your other favorite nacho toppings), or put it in a tortilla or hard shell for chicken tacos (again, add your favorite taco toppings). This is super easy and delicious!!

I'm a new mom and I just love to have food on hand that I can grad when I'm nursing or for a quick snack (I get so hungry when I nurse!). So, it might also be thoughtful to bring her some quick and easy snacks, like fresh fruit (bananas, apples, cut up watermelon/cantalope, grapes, etc...), granola bars (I like Fiber One - they help keep me regular and taste good), trail mix, or some other homemade treats/snacks she might enjoy. Sometimes I don't have time to sit down to a meal, or it's just easier to eat a banana than to cut up food at dinner when nursing.

Congratulations to you both!

It's so nice of you to help out!

My first thought was a cold pasta salad that my mom makes. Hers is made with little ring pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, calamata olives, feta cheese, shredded chicken, and some garlic. Toss it all with some olive oil (all ratios to taste). If you don't like this particular salad, the idea of a cold pasta salad holds up; when mine were brand new, I loved being able to grab something to eat without having to prepare it in any way--something that was real food, even!

Congratulations!

It is so nice that you are helping them out! Here is one of my favorite recipes for ground turkey enchildas: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1657,142191-247198,00.html

I use whole wheat tortillas and light cream cheese to make it more healthy. It is great leftover too!

Congratulations on the birth of your 2nd grandchild. It is wonderful that you are being so helpful. I remember when my second child was born - my mom brought over a roast with potatoes, onions and carrots - already seasoned and ready to go. All I had to do was throw it in the oven. It was wonderful. A couple of other ideas would be a macaroni chicken or tuna salad with croissants, hotdish, enchiladas, chicken and rice or basically anything that can be made ahead of time and then heated up when they are ready to make dinner. Dad could even do dinner - just has to turn on the the oven.

Good Luck and congratulations again!

If she makes things like tacos, sloppy joes, spaghetti with ground beef in it, beef enchiladas, etc., one thing you could do to help the prep is buy ground beef in bulk, cook it up and freeze it in one or two pound quantities. Then all she has to do is add the seasoning or add it to her sauce for her meals. It will save her lots of time and mess cleanup. Could be done with ground turkey too. Another idea is to make mashed potatoes. A quick easy meal would be to microwave some good sized potatoes and add her favorite toppings (butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, ham cubes, broccoli, bacon bits, chili or taco meat leftovers, etc.).
Turkey breast in the crockpot with cream of (whatever) soup on top is pretty tasty too!

The Rachael Ray website has some great recipes! And has catagories like: under 30 minutes, 5 items or less, budget friendly, rollover (take the leftovers from night 1 and use in a totally new recipe on night 2), e etc....

I love the Mayan Chicken burger, very tasty!

congratulations!
m

Make your favorite meatloaf recipe, but cook it in muffin cups! Put in a zip loc and freeze-- they can take out one or 2 at a time, add a baked potatoe and some green beans or a salad and have a good meal! It's one of the things I filled my own freezer with before Isaac was born. There is NO hunger like nursing hunger and meatloaf and a baked potato is FILLING!!!

There is a really simple and good recipe on the box of stove top, easy bake chicken (i think). Has chicken and veges so I works will to get in the stuff you need instead of making extra side dishes.
For fruit try a can of pie filling (we use cherry or raspberry) and add any other fruit you want. Easy salad.