Lately we’ve been talking about cooking for others, as in bringing a home cooked meal to a family in need. One doesn’t have to look very far to find folks struggling, be it a family in mourning or a couple of sleep deprived new parents.
Curious if this random act of kindness was still alive and well, I posted a Q & A recently, Sympathy Meals: Do You Give & Receive Them? How thrilling it was to see the answers come in and read how so many of you have been blessed by either giving or receiving a meal.
Questions also arose in the Q&A, which I addressed in my next post on the subject: Cooking for Others: A Guide to Giving Sympathy Meals. I surprised myself with how much I had to say on the topic (plus included wisdom from readers that had written) and didn’t have space to include links for meal suggestions.
So, this extended edition of Weekend Links will feature recipes suitable for delivering to others. They are nourishing, travel well, freeze well, and are ready to heat and serve. Here’s hoping this round-up can be a source of inspiration and that more people will choose to reach out with a hot meal to someone in need.
Soups
- Katie’s Chicken Barley Leek Soup :: Kitchen Stewardship
- Nanny’s Favorite Potato Soup :: Bluebonnets & Brownies
- Zippy Chicken Mushroom Soup :: Dine & Dish
- Chorizo & Black Bean Soup :: Under the High Chair
- Simple French Lentil Soup with Bacon
- Creamy Ham and Rice Soup :: Kitchen Simplicity
- Roasted Carrot and Cilantro Soup
- Corn and Wild Rice Soup with Smoked Sausage :: Mama’s Minutia
Chili
- Turkey-Squash Chili :: Poor Girl Gourmet
- Chicken and White Bean Chili :: Mama’s Minutia
- Turkey Black Bean Chili :: Wenderly
- Steak Chili :: Food for My Family
- Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili :: Good Life {Eats}
- Chocolate Chip Chili with Sausage
Poultry
- Barbeque Chicken Calzones :: Dine & Dish
- Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
- Chicken Parmesan with Sundried Tomato Sauce :: Good Life {Eats}
- Indian Chicken & Rice :: Mama’s Minutia
- Chicken, Leek and Lemon Pot Pies :: Under the High Chair
- Lemon & Oregano Roast Chicken
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole :: The Heritage Cook
- Vegetable & Chicken Macaroni
- Chicken Fried Rice :: Food for My Family
- Quick & Cheesy Chicken Pot Pie :: Kitchen Simplicity
- Sweet & Spicy Chicken Stir-fry
Photo by Cheri Neufeld
Beef/Pork
- Slow Cooker Asian Short Ribs with Cabbage & Carrots :: Nourishing Days
- Baked Penne with Tomato, Mozzarella, and Sausage :: Cookie Baker Lynn
- Enchilada Casserole :: A Little Bit of Spain in Iowa
- Cheryl’s Pyrohy with Kubasa :: Backseat Gourmet
- Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs :: Naturally Ella
- Cheryl’s Lasagna :: Tidy Mom
- Layered Taco Bake
- Braised Beef with Root Vegetables :: Under the High Chair
- Wine-Braised Sausages with Lentils :: Dinner with Julie
- Classic Tourtière or Québec Pork Pie
- Pizza Casserole :: Once a Month Mom
- Shepherd’s Pie with Cauliflower Purée
- Classic Pot Roast :: A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
- Spaghetti Pie :: Dinner with Julie
- Italian Style Garbanzos and Sausage :: She Wears Many Hats (pictured at top of post)
Vegetarian
- Spinach Lasagne Rolls :: Stetted
- Coconut Rice & Beans :: Under the High Chair
- Manicotti Primavera :: Good life {Eats}
- Curried Lentils With Sweet Potatoes and Swiss Chard :: NYT
- Parmesan Spinach Casserole :: The Cooking Photographer
- Sweet and Sour Lentils :: Mama’s Minutia
- Butternut Squash Whole-Wheat Mac & Cheese
- Spinach Pie with Portobello Mushrooms :: Kitchen Explorers
- Vegetable Bolognese :: Good Cheap Eats
Have other main dishes suitable for a delivery? Please feel free to link to them in the comments below or email me and I’ll update the post.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great list! We’re coming to the end of two weeks of meals brought in after the birth of our third child, and it’s been a wonderful blessing. I also realized a few things that I hadn’t considered before- like all moms, I encourage my kids to eat what I serve for meals, and I try to include lots of tastes and variety in our menu. HOWEVER, the arrival of our third really set the other two children off balance and I just didn’t want to push them farther. My middle child is two, and for a week refused all food except white rice and milk. I really appreciated when meals included something bland and safe- bread, rice, etc. that I knew my kids would feel comforted eating. Nutritionally, it was terrible, but emotionally it helped.
Myrnie’s last post: Spring is Coming
What a great post topic! I can’t wait to check out these links. I can always use ideas for good meals to send to friends and neighbors. Thanks for the roundup!
Here’s a really good salad to send out. It lasts for a few days in the fridge and it’s popular with adults and kids.
http://www.healthyeatingforordinarypeople.com/2011/02/carrot-salad-and-how-to-slice-orange.html
Rivki Locker (Ordinary Blogger)’s last post: Cookbook Review- The Essential New York Times Cookbook
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Wow Aimee! You really put together a great list. Thank you!
Awesome follow-up and link-ups to your original posts Aimee!
Paula’s last post: A Little Dazed by Glaze
Great list, thanks!
susie bee on maui (Eat Little, Eat Big)’s last post: Weekly Wrap
That is a fantastic round up, Aimee. I’ve actually bookmarked it so I’ve got a go-to list now whenever I need to make something for a friend.
Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies’s last post: Wordless Wednesday – Winter
Great round up! So many fantastic recipes here!
Amanda’s last post: Thank You Cookies For Mr Postman
ah! I am so bookmarking this! Thanks for all the awesome suggestions!
~emily
designhermomma’s last post: It’s Mozzi due in May Giveaway – Sleepy Wrap Baby Carrier
This list is AMAZING! Great to be inspired to try sonething new. I will be bookmarking it for a list of “freezer meals” for my own family.
Yay! I thought the same thing. Hmm, do-ahead dinners for the month?
What a great list that I’m bookmarking. I actually will be taking a meal to a family later this week, so this is mighty handy. Thanks for putting it together.
Amy | She Wears Many Hats’s last post: My hair’s newest friend
So many great recipes!! That “Zippy Chicken Mushroom Soup” by Dine and Dish is one of my family’s favorites – it’s so good! Thanks also for including my Classic Pot Roast, I appreciate it.
Brenda @ a farmgirl’s dabbles’s last post: Classic Pot Roast my family’s favorite!
This isn’t in the spirit of the post…but I must admit I can’t wait to try a lot of these recipes for my own family. Thanks for this treasure!!
Such a wonderful idea Amiee! Thanks so much for this delish list and thanks so much for including my turkey black bean chili!
A very useful list for those times when you want to cheer up someone with some portable home-cooked food or just want something easy and delicious for yourself.
This is a great idea! My neighbour is about to give birth (in fact may already have done so as yesterday was her due date,,,) I thnk I will make up some of this, Crock Pot Brisket. They already have a three year old so they will certainly have their hands full!
http://www.grouprecipes.com/117997/crockpot-brisket.html
Great looking photos… we’d love to have you feature some of your dishes at kitchenartistry.com
What a great resource, Aimee. I’ll definitley bookmark this post next time I have a meal to take to someone. I’m always looking for fresh, new ideas.
Great job on this entire series!
Kristen’s last post: Soup-a-Palooza Link Up and Giveaways
Is the soup/stew/chili/whatever pictured at the top of the post one of the recipes listed and linked? It looks delicious…
It’s under Beef/Pork above
- Italian Style Garbanzos and Sausage :: She Wears Many Hats (pictured at top of post)
I was needing some inspiration for a “Sympathy Meal” – thanks for the list! I think I’ll try the Pizza Casserole first…
Cooking Sharp’s last post: 1 L Amber Visionware Pot w- Pour Spout & Lid
Wow! I favorited this post on foodgawker because I often make meals for people. I just found out at church today about a family who could probably use some meals, and I immediately remembered this post. I had no idea there would be so many ideas! Thank you so much for your help.
Nice! I truly appreciate the website you provided hear. I’m sure I will be looking forward to putting it to great uses this Thanksgiving Day. I’ll be sure to pass this post on to my friends. Thanks you so much, I love your writing&
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