meals for family with new baby

[redcaryellowcar]

i have just spoken to a friend whose new baby has arrived, i too have a smallish baby, but want to make them a meal to drop over; it needs to be semi simple to make by me (whilst jiggling baby with one hand) and be able to withstand a short car journey, and ideally be suitable for the two of them and their toddler, and if it was possible to freeze it if all her friends have the same idea even better? any thoughts?

Lasagne?

Great idea btw

Shepherds/ cottage pie. Freezes well, easy to make in quantity, most people like it.

You're kind, she'll be grateful.

Bolognaise, pasta (both cooked so just need dinging), crusty bread rolls and a bagged salad.

You are a lovely friend! I am due with DC3 in a few months (DS1 is 4 and DS2 is 3) and I would be so happy I would probably cry if one of my friends made me/us a meal once the baby arrives!

I second lasagne, or how about a pasta bake? Can be dead easy to prepare and bake, easily portioned up and frozen if needs be, and who doesn't like pasta?! Also flexible on ingredients (chicken, bacon or tuna? Bung in mushrooms, sweet corn, tomatoes or whatever you have in. Can put plenty of veg in for goodness )

Thank you, great ideas, i hadn't thought to cook paata for bolognese before delivering it, will do that i think, now off to recipes for bolognese sauce!

I'd do soup so it doesn't just need to be for dinner.

Do you have the Mumsnet cookbook? I made the Inauthentic Mexican slow cooked chicken - it's the easiest meal ever, just bung ingredients in slow cooker for six hours. Not super spicy so ok even if breastfeeding intolerant baby (though my kids were fine being bfed despite spicy food!), goes well with tacos or rice or tortilla wraps - and really nice. Got veg in too- healthy. Will post recipe if you have slow cooker as it's just so easy and healthy and good.

Mexican chicken sounds great, yes would love the recipe.perhaps should buy mumsnet cookbook too, but am trying to diet and rumours of a quick n cook sponge pudding probably won't help the weig ht loss!

Everyone says lasagne, but as someone who is lactose intolerant, I'd double check.

My friend made Thai curry for me, and crammed it with veg. It was easy and bloody lovely.

Fish pie would be another good one, Rick stein does an amazing one and you can easily substitute the cod fit a cheaper fish like coley.

We had a lasagne and a Chicken one pot dish made for us and we were eternally grateful for both. DC is three months now and id still bite anyone's hand off for a meal!

Your friend will be very grateful for whatever you make :)

Totally inauthentic Mexican chicken from Top Bananas!

Serves 4 adults

400g tin chopped tomatoes
1red onion, chopped
5 tsp ground cumin
1 garlic clove, crushed
Juice of half a lime
450g diced chicken breast or thigh ( thigh will be moister!)
300g tin sweet corn, drained and rinsed
400g tin kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Mix tomatoes, cumin, onion, garlic and lime. Spread half over base of slow cooker. Put chicken on top and add sweet corn and kidney beans. Cover with the rest of the tomato
Leave in slow cooker on low for six hours.

That's it! Serve with rice/grated Cheddar/sour cream/tortillas, whatever. Tortillas would be easiest for mum with newborn I reckon, or I'd buy a pack of microwave rice for her to eat with it. It's not very spicy and you could vary the above (I added some chipotle flakes!) but it's v nice and it's healthy.

No suggestions but just wanted to say that it is a lovely idea, what a nice friend you are, I would have loved that. My mil used to come over and make me lunch- I love her!

thank you for the Mexican recipe and also lovely suggestions of soup, Thai and fish pie, i am feeling inspired!
i don't know her as part of a big group of friends so whilst having met many at hen parties, wedding baby shower etc, i don't know e mails etc, and perhaps would come across a bit bossy if i started trying to persuade everyone into cooking meals!
think whatever i make i will do on day i deliver it and then she can freeze should she be overrun with food!

Redcar, the chilli you could split into two maybe- label and suggest she freeze one.

Someone brought me lovely cheese and bread too which I loved. And a bottle of wine:)...