Drop-Off Meals to New Parents

A girlfriend emailed me and asked advice on taking meals to friends that just had babies.  I thought I'd share my reply with all of you as well.

"Hi Friend,


I don’t have any “go to” recipes for taking  meals but I have a couple ideas for you.  If it’s a friend that you know is receiving a lot of meals I like to take one of two things: 


(a) a lot of times I’ll take breakfast items, usually the night before, because making breakfast and having a nutritious start is more difficult with a new baby than making dinner or (b) I’ll take a meal that’s prepared but not baked so they can choose to have it that night or if they have enough meals they can freeze it and eat it later.

Here’s a peak at a breakfast basket I’ll make a lot of times:  http://www.humblehostess.com/2010/06/celebrate-good-neighbors.html (stick a cute little stuffed animal in it for the baby)

For dinners I put everything in a bag and on the outside I type a note that says “Dinner’s In The Bag” (hah!) and write down what’s in it and how to bake it.

If she’s breastfeeding and likes beer, I usually put two beers in with the dinner, one for hubby because he needs it and one for mommy because it brings in milk.

An egg casserole is PERFECT because they can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Zesty Enchiladas. http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/zesty-chicken-enchiladas-00000000012498/index.html.  These are super good and you can make it all in advance, and then she just bakes it at 400 for 15 minutes. Take with chips and salsa."

Long Table Tablescapes

I love having a party and sitting everyone at one long table.  I think it creates a really fun and interesting dining experience.

In early October I hosted a small shower for a friend at my house.  To create a family-style brunch I put three folding tables next to each other and covered them with burlap.  Every guest, including the small children, had a place at the table marked with a box of cookies displaying their name.  The food was set around the table and passed.  Everyone sat there chatting long after the meal was over and enjoying the intimate company.

Here are photos of my simple long table tablescape and some other's I love.

My Table for a Fall Brunch

The shower colors were brown, orange, blue and green.  Dark brown burlap with cream dishes and napkins set the table.  The napkin rings were tissue paper poms in blue and green, and the pumpkins and bright flowers added the orange.

Onesies, hats, mittens and blankets in the shower colors hung on a clothesline.

 More Long Tables

The place tags also served as the favors for the shower.

Small take-out containers contained mini chocolate chip cookies and were tied with a ribbon.

Each guest had their own container with their name on it.

A simple yet sweet item on the menu is seasonal fruit served with a honey-yogurt dip. It's also healthy and a crowd pleaser.

Slice season fruit and place it in individual serving dishes, like a small cocktail glass.

Mix 2 cups vanilla greek yogurt, 1/4 cup honey and a teaspoon cinnamon.  Put a dollop of dip over the fruit and serve.

Homemade Made Easy: Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes

I had this friend growing up whose mom always made pancakes in the morning.  I have fond memories of waking up at her house to chocolate chip pancakes, usually in the form of Mickey Mouse.  I would also think "my mom would never let me have chocolate for breakfast!"  I secretly vowed that if I ever had children I would make them pancakes on special mornings, and so this week I did just that.  I made my nine-month-old daughter her first pancakes.  They didn't include chocolate chips, nor were they in a fun shape like a cartoon mouse.  But they were very tasty, pretty healthy, and she loved every bite.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes
(Makes 4 adult servings)

• 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar (or artificial sweetener)
• 1/2 cup blueberries, or more

Sift together flour and baking powder, set aside.  Beat together the egg, milk, salt, and sugar.  Still in four until just moistened.  Stir in blueberries.

Preheat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat and coat with cooking spray.  Using an ice cream scoop or measuring cup pour the batter into the skillet to create pancakes.  When the pancakes begin to bubble (1 - 1 1/2 minute) flip them over to cook the other side.  

Recipe from AllRecipes.com, edited slightly.

Homemade Made Easy: Coffee Cake

I've been asked to provide a coffee cake for the ladies of Alpha Delta Pi at a local university this weekend. I was thrilled this was their baked goods request because I have the easiest, tastiest recipe.

Aunt Patty's Coffee Cake (c/o Martha Stewart)

Set out 1 stick of butter, 1 cup of sour cream, and 2 eggs.  These ingredients need to be room temperature.  Get out three bowls.  One of them needs to attach to your mixer.  Preheat oven to 350.

Bowl 1 - The Filling
Mix 3 tablespoons sugar, 4 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee granules, and 4 1/2 teaspoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder.

Bowl 2 - The Flour
Whisk 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt.

Bowl 3 - The Mixer Bowl
Fitted with the paddle attachment use your mixer to combine 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter and 1 cup sugar. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 3 - 4 minutes.  Slow speed to medium and mix in eggs, one at a time.  Mix in flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with sour cream.  Add 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and mix 1 minute.

Prepare your 10-inch bundt pan with butter and a dusting of flour.  Or save time by using a baking spray, like Pam for baking.  I love this product! It saves me valuable minutes when baking.

Spread one-third of the batter into pan. Sprinkle one-third of the filling.  Repeat until all batter and filling are in the pan.  Run a thin knife through batter to marbleize.

Bake 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cool 30 minutes.  I add to the recipe a simple icing drizzled over the cake.  To make the icing just mix sifted powder sugar, a little shortening and a bit of milk to mix.