Recipes

[AnnaGabbyMama]

I am looking for good, tried and true recipes (dinner) that I can share with others who are in need of a good meal while they recover. One lady at our church has congestive heart faillure, so I'm a little stumped as to finding a recipe that's healthy, low in salt, but good, too. The other person is a colleague who just had a C-Section with her 3rd child. So she could use a meal for the whole family. My kids are incredibly picky which makes me wary of recipes for her kids. She was pretty vague about likes and dislikes of the kids. Thanks for any help.

-Laura

[butterfly123]

@AnnaGabbyMama

American Heart Association has recipes.

Mom and family

Pasta recipes 

[DiAnne]

I was making meals once a week for a friend who had brain surgery.  Things like a large meatloaf (meal and sandwiches), pasta salad, baked chicken thighs, etc.  Meals that create a second meal or more.  I also did homemade soups but this is not exactly the right time of year for that.  

[butterfly123]

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/recipes/heart-healthy-recipes/rcs-20077163

[AngelPuppy1]

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@butterfly123 wrote:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/recipes/heart-healthy-recipes/rcs-20077163

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@butterfly123

I know this was not addressed to me but I want to chime in and say thank you for posting this!  I just book-marked it.  It looks to be a very nice site for some things which will work for my mother, also!!  

[walker]

For the lady at church, I would think a nice salad would be good with rolls...I have a favorite that is Spinach with pasta, chicken and strawberries but have posted it here before.

For the family, this is always easy to take....put in disposable pan and take along some bread to go with it.

Spaghett Bake

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 clove garlic, minced

1 (28 oz) can tomatoes, cut-up

1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce

1 (4 oz) can/jar sliced mushrooms, drained

1 tsp. dried basil

2 tsp. brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp. oregano

8 ozs. spaghetti, broken, cooked, drained

1 1/2 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella

1/3 cup parmesan cheese

In Dutch Oven or large pan, cook meat, onion and garlic until onion is tender.  Drain off fat.  Add undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, mushrooms, brown sugar, oregano and basil.  Bring to a boil and then boil gently, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes.  Stir occasionally.  Meanwhile, cook spaghetti and then add it to meat mixture.

In a 9 X 13" pan, layer half of the spaghetti mixture.  Next layer 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, top with remaining spaghetti mixture followed by remaining mozzarella cheese.  Sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese.  

Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30 minutes.  Let stand a few minutes before serving.

Note.....I have made this many times and it is always enjoyed.  Sometimes I use a package of Three Italian Cheeses instead of the mozzarella and rotini instead of spaghetti.   I have even doubled recipe using 2lbs. of ground beef and 1 lb. of ground Italian sausage.  

[software]

Personally, I stay away from spagetti or meat loaf.   You never know what ingredient, even tomatoes, might upset the stomach.

I have a simple go to chicken casserole I call my "church casserole."

boil a chicken and shred the meat, or buy a rotisserie chicken and shred the meat.

Mix well  1 can condensed chicken soup, plus 1 small container sour cream and 4 oz. cream cheese (at room temp)

Now here you can either combine the chicken with the soup mixture and place in a dish for baking, or you can add frozen peas or other bite size veggies.   Don't go overboard

When my dish is ready for the oven, I lightly cover the top with cheese, a mild shredded cheddar or a good parm.  Into a 350 oven for about 30 minutes.   Or deliver as is and they can heat up when ready.  If you don't think they would like cheese, you can top with breadcrumbs or crushed crackers and drizzle butter over the top.

If they eat dairy & meat, it's a great casserole.

There are many variations of a similar casserole online.

[butterfly123]

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@AngelPuppy1 wrote:

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@butterfly123 wrote:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/recipes/heart-healthy-recipes/rcs-20077163

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@butterfly123

I know this was not addressed to me but I want to chime in and say thank you for posting this!  I just book-marked it.  It looks to be a very nice site for some things which will work for my mother, also!!  

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@AngelPuppy1

You're welcome😊 I'm happy you found this link helpful. You and your dear mother are in my thoughts and prayers.

Blessings sweet friend🌹

[Ruthie-Roo]

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DiAnne wrote:

I was making meals once a week for a friend who had brain surgery.  Things like a large meatloaf (meal and sandwiches), pasta salad, baked chicken thighs, etc.  Meals that create a second meal or more.  I also did homemade soups but this is not exactly the right time of year for that.  

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@DiAnne  I love the ideas you posted!  Meals and foods that go further are a fabulous idea.  As for homemade soups, I think that they're great any time of year, regardless of the weather.  We live in MN.  Even in the Spring and Summer, we (my family, et. al.) eat soups (i even drink hot chocolate in hot weather.  People drink coffee all year-round, right?).  I think that homemade is homemade, and has the tendency to warm the heart and soul, as well as feed the body.  :-)  To the original poster -- I wish your friends all the best!!!!    

My idea for a food/meal for someone recovering from illness or surgery: homemade bread, whichever kind you wish to make.  I frequently make white bread either in my machine or by hand, and it's good stuff.  I control what goes in there.  No funky chemicals or what-have-you.  My family loves it.  Maybe people (and their families) recovering from whatever, may enjoy some good, ol' homemade bread (sliced up, too).  Maybe add a nice jar of a good jam.  For great bread machine recipes, check out Beth Hensperger's book, The Bread Lover's Bread Machine Cookbook.  Her basic white bread recipe is my #1 go-to, with a few tweaks from me.  AllRecipeDOTcom's recipe for Amish White Bread is fabulous.  

[RedTop]

When I cook for others, I follow my own tolerances, and basically stick to meatballs in brown gravy, cube steak and gravy, or baked chicken with simple sides, and coleslaw.   

My body doesn't tolerate honey, milk, egg whites, mushrooms or olives, so I don't make dishes for others using those ingredients either.