Idea for dinner to drop off for grieving family

[Rainallnight]

A friend who lives round the corner has just lost her MIL/DH’s mum, and it’s been a very stressful time for them.

I’d like to drop off a dinner that they can either have on the day or bung in the freezer.

I’m a competent cook but lack imagination!

Can anyone suggest something that would suit these circumstances?

Thanks

My fav thing was being given a freezer full of Cook meals for one, two and four people (the massive dishes can go to waste if only a couple of family members can eat)

It’s a nice idea. Reminds me of a nurse friend once telling me not to ask what you can do for people who are struggling, just do something.

Bake a cake.

I was about to say this!

A friend had a very ill husband and kind neighbours took it in turns to deliver meals but most were lasagne/shepherds pie etc. All were appreciated but a bit samey and far too large and not in disposable dishes.

A whole roast chicken wrapped in foil, still warm, and a large bag of mixed salad was a winner as they ate some straight away and the remainder the next day in sandwiches.

I often bake a cake too @goingtotownor a batch of traybake or soft-ish biscuits that keep well like oatmeal raisin. I made a huge apple and olive oil cake for a friend whose DS died and she told me years later that she never ate a bite of it herself, but that it saved her sanity - so many people came to visit her and it made her feel like she had something to offer them that was nice, so her visitors ate it all up and she didn’t have to worry about feeling inhospitable.

I think a casserole is fine. A tray bake/ nice cake would be lovely too

I make a chicken casserole that becomes a pie the next day.

Skinless boneless chicken, sliced leeks, chopped onion, and maybe some sweetcorn.

Put in a slow cooker with a tin of condensed mushroom soup add quite a lot of black pepper(or two depending on the size of your sc) cook for 4 hours or longer.

I would normally eat half as a casserole, and let the rest cool. Put the cooled mixture in a foil tray and add puff pastry (I buy ready rolled).

It can be frozen and cooked from frozen, about 20-30 mins.