Bringing Meals

This is so funny, today I’m sharing recipes.

I never thought this would happen, but I talked about gift giving and mentioned that folks were starting to fill my freezer with things my family can easily heat up after the baby arrives.

And some folks want to know what kind of meals I’m getting!

Which makes sense, one of the ways we support our friends and family during difficult times is to bring them meals.

Whether someone just had a baby, recently had surgery, or is caring for a loved one  here are some thoughtful things you can bring to them:

• Soup! Any kind, in plastic containers that are easily frozen.
  
• Breakfast sandwiches, precooked quiche, breakfast burritos. The theme here is hearty breakfast, already cooked and easy to reheat.
  
• All in one pasta dishes like: mushroom or chicken cacciatore, ratatouille, or another combo of protein, sauce, veggie, & pasta
  
• Meatballs!
  
• Marinated, cooked meat & potatoes/rice/pasta
  
• Dessert loafs. Banana bread, pumpkin chocolate chip bread, marble loaf, etc.
  

Here’s what I recently brought to a neighbor whose back was out (ouch!):

Cheesy Onion Quiche
Ingredients

• 1 Pie Crust, chilled at least 2 hours, but not frozen (store bought is FINE)
  
• 6 large eggs
  
• ½ cup milk
  
• 1 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
  
• 1 cup green onions/scallions, chopped
  
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  
• Freshly ground black pepper
  

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
   
2. When the oven is hot, uncover the crust and prick the bottom all over with a fork. Line with parchment paper and fill with dried beans or pie weights (I keep dried beans in the house, I don’t have pie weights). Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges of the crust are set.
   
3. Remove from the oven and take out the parchment paper/pie weights/beans. Bake the crust for another 5 to 8 minutes, until the bottom is beginning to set. Remove from the oven and set aside.
   
4. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
   
5. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Add the feta, green onions/scallions, salt, and several grinds of pepper and stir to combine. Pour into the par-baked crust.
   
6. Bake the quiche for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the eggs are just set. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
   

>You could put other veggies in this like mushrooms, spinach, bell peppers. Just cook them a bit before adding to the egg mixture.
>> You can sub white onion for scallion but dice it fine and sauté it before adding to the egg mixture.

Carrot and Ginger Soup
Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (or other neutral oil)
  
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  
• 1 clove garlic, minced
  
• 3 tablespoons ginger, diced
  
• 1 lb carrots, chopped
  
• 24-32 oz vegetable broth
  
• 14 oz coconut milk
  
• ½ teaspoon salt (taste and adjust, you may need more if your broth is not very salty)
  
  

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large pot.
   
2. Add onion, garlic, and ginger. Cook until it’s fragrant (~5 min).
   
3. Add carrots and vegetables broth (24 oz if you want a thicker soup, 32 if you want a thinner style) And bring to a boil.
   
4. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook until the carrots are soft (~25 min).
   
5. Stir in the coconut milk.
   
6. Use immersion blender to blend soup until smooth or add it to a regular blende in batches.
   
7. Add salt to taste.
   

> It’s easy to add more vegetable broth if your soup turns out thicker than you want, but impossible to take away. Your first time making this err on the side of less broth and add more when you’re blending if the soup is too thick.

Making meals for others is about caring and intentionally creating something to support them in their time of need.

It feels good. 🥰

I like having a process (cooking) where I can actively thinking about my people.​

Also, as a recipient, it feels good to be taken care of.