Community Chat

[ScrapHappy]

A co-worker is having surgery (double hernia) and I would like to surprise her with some meals so she doesn't have to cook.  Of course I'll make chicken noodle soup.  I though ziti (without meat) is easy to re-heat.  Maybe make some brownies for a sweet treat?  I've seen her eat the cobb salad from Chick Fil A,. she seems to like that.  Does any of that sound good?  If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear some.  Thank you.

[jlkz]

@ScrapHappy 

What a thoughtful, caring soul you are !

As for chicken noodle soup:  try to make it with orzo.  It doesn't break down the way rice does as well as thin noodles, esp. when reheating it stays al dente !  Add some savory crackers or breadsticks.  Chicken pieces should probably be small...her diet restrictions may come into play here since the abdomen is involved.

You may want to have something ready to heat in the soup line along with a small frozen container for later !

[Mary Bailey]

It sounds wonderful! How thoughtful and caring you are.

[Q-Checker]

Check with her, her surgeon, or Google to learn about any potential post-op dietary restrictions before you prepare the meals. And thank you for being such a good friend!

[smoochy]

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@ScrapHappy wrote:

A co-worker is having surgery (double hernia) and I would like to surprise her with some meals so she doesn't have to cook.  Of course I'll make chicken noodle soup.  I though ziti (without meat) is easy to re-heat.  Maybe make some brownies for a sweet treat?  I've seen her eat the cobb salad from Chick Fil A,. she seems to like that.  Does any of that sound good?  If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear some.  Thank you.

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what a lovely person you are 🥰

I like to make baked chicken thighs in these situations. Its a bland choice for someone who had abdominal surgery. They are easily reheated for other meals. 

[AuntMame]

What a lovely thing to do, @ScrapHappy ! 

When I had abdominal surgery a friend brought over some tuna noodle casserole which I was so grateful for. But I'm a big fan of tuna casserole. She made it with noodles, canned cream of chicken soup, a bag of frozen veggies, and can of tuna all stirred together in a pot with water and cooked until the noodles were soft. 

She also did a small bit of grocery shopping for which I was also terribly grateful. 

She focused on buying high protein things that would be easy for me to eat in small amounts straight out of the frig. Like cottage cheese. And hard-boiled eggs. 

I'm sure your friend will be delighted. After one has been in the hospital it's so hard to get proper food to eat in the days feeling weak after surgery. 

[spumoni99]

Thats very thoughtful, when I recently had hip replacement surgery my youngest daughter ordered us prepared meals for two weeks and it was very helpful.  She lives far from us and wanted to help.

[Sooner]

@ScrapHappy Check with her first to make sure she wants and needs them--she may have other arrangements.  See what kind of storage/freezer space she would have, and what she can/would eat.

Amazon sells those plastic cube molds to freeze things in all sorts of sizes--from 1/2, 1 and 2 cup sizes.  You can also get less expensive ones, but Souper Cubes is a brand to search on Amazon that brings up a lot.  

Maybe some less expensive ones (they are silicone and probably much alike) and maybe a small microwaveable tray to cook them on).  You can defrost and reheat in the molds.

Wonderful thoughtful sweet person you are!  

[MoonieBaby]

@scraphappy,

I worked with all kinds of folks, none seem like they were as kind or generous as you. How lovely of you. I mean that. Lovely. Putting love out there as you are doing should come back to you tenfold. As my Italian grandmother used to say, God is always watching, make him proud.

[kathie66]

@ScrapHappy, what a wonderful friend you are! How kind and thoughtful!