Favorite Easy Meal Idea to Make Friends with a New Baby

You know when someone has a baby and you just want to do something for the new parents?  I always offer to make them a meal – new mommas have zero energy to cook or wash dishes and the whole house is sleep deprived, right?  This lineup has 3 easy recipes sure to please the whole family.  I’ve used these recipes for so many occasions and they are some tried and true family favorites! Pizza casserole, mayonnaise biscuits and chocolate chip pound cake are great for family meals, to offer as your meal train sign up dishes like I did today and even great freezer meals for later. Easily one of my favorite meals, I’m so happy to pass these great recipes along for others to enjoy!

Today I made a meal for some sweet friends who had their SECOND set of twins!  They have precious boys almost the same age as my daughter and now they have twin girls. Swoon! Some of our friends set up a meal train sign up for them for the first few weeks at home so they don’t have to head out to the grocery store and can just sit at the dinner table and enjoy a home cooked meal! I’m always on the hunt for ways to bless the new mother (and the rest of the family too) and a warm meal will always be a good idea!

Successful meats for gifting include

1. Disposable containers – nobody wants to wash dishes and  remember who to return them to.  Use foil pans or plastic dishes that you do not expect to get back and let your recipients know this!
2. Double check for allergies or sensitivities for the family you’re feeding, shying away from spicy foods for new moms who may be breastfeeding, and offer a nutritious meal, whether it be classic comfort food dishes like below or some your favorite family meals that everyone loves!
3. If the family you’re feeding has older kids, keep them in mind with what you cook – maybe asking what their favorites are and adding this in addition to the meal.  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or chicken nuggets are simple enough and will make most kids happy to join in the meal and not feel left out. 
4. Add a salad side dish option for anyone who may not be interested in your casserole or main dish.  I add separate cups (clear punch cups covered with press and seal) with vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers from our garden, a bag of croutons or bacon bits and ranch dressing as it’s usually a favorite.
5. Dessert – special occasions deserve a treat, right?  Make it healthy if you prefer, but offer something sweet to finish off the meal (or eat after that midnight feeding  as an added bonus)]
6. Add a beverage, whether it be sweet tea (I usually make decaf just to be safe) or a soda to round out a full meal and give the family a non water option if you like. While not necessary, I think adding a drink is a nice touch!  
7. There is NO SHAME in offering gift cards to the family for their favorite restaurants to grab take out or have it delivered – and some new moms may even prefer this option to hold onto for when you are simply too tired to even think about cooking

All of us have good friends who just know how to cook, right?  We want those recipes!  I love these 3 recipes because they are low on prep time and will likely become a family favorite.  I love to share recipe ideas, especially easy dinner ideas because we all need help now and again, and when you’re making food gifts, you need to know you’re offering a delicious way to say “we care about you” – these recipes are time tested, potluck tested, guaranteed winners!

Pizza Casserole

(My sweet momma made this for family gatherings, potlucks at church and to share with friends.  My sister and I continue to make this for our families and I usually make this every Christmas for our family dinners.  It’s easy to prepare, it’s real food and great for weekday meal time or Sunday supper because it can be made ahead and baked the next day.  It’s great as leftovers and I even think it may be better the next day!)

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Pizza Casserole

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword Casserole, Potluck

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Author Stephanie Cope

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 8 oz No Yolk broad or extra broad noodles
• 1 can undiluted tomato soup
• 1 16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 14 oz jar pizza sauce
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Spray 9×13 pan to prevent sticking, I use avocado oil spray for this
• Brown meat and drain, set aside
• Cook noodles and drain, set aside
• Mix tomato soup, pizza sauce, ketchup, brown sugar and spices in a large bowl
• Add meat and noodles and mix to incorporate well
• Add 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and mix well
• Pour mixture into dish and place in oven for 15 minutes
• Top with remaining cheese and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly

Notes

This recipe freezes well. Leave off cheese on top until ready to cook for best results. Thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours before cooking.

If you are gifting this casserole….

For smaller families, I will sometimes split the casserole into two 8×8 pans, one to eat now and one to freeze for later so they aren’t eating leftovers for days.  I’ve also added these casseroles to make ahead freezer parties for expecting moms because it freezes so well. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before cooking for best results.  As a fairly low cost to make option, you can stock community freezers with pans of this as a blessing to under resourced families to be able to have a substantial meal to enjoy.  It’s a great go to option for so many reasons.

Mayonnaise Biscuits

(These biscuits come from a strange sounding recipe, but are a great addition to easy meals with just a few ingredients. I’m ashamed to say, I’m not a great biscuit maker unfortunately, but these are delicious and always welcomed in a great meal and folks are often surprised when I tell them what the ingredients are)

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Mayonnaise Biscuits

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword Biscuit

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Author Stephanie Cope

Ingredients

• 2 cups self rising flour
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise We use Dukes, but any kind will work
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning can be omitted, but we love it added when paired with Italian dishes
• 1/4 cup cheese of your choice optional, but adds extra flavor

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Mix all ingredients together
• Using a large cookie scoop and muffin pan, divide out 12 equal portions of batter
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until tops are lightly browned

Notes

These biscuits are best served the day they are made, store leftovers in the fridge and heat gently in toaster oven or on low in the microwave for a few seconds.

Chocolate Chip “Pound Cake”

(This recipe came from my dear friend Mary Caulder, but originated with one of her family members, Peggy Gilbert, who was a food editor in Forest City, North Carolina) It’s not a traditional pound cake, but you *may* gain a pound or two from eating it…but it’s worth it!

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Chocolate Chip “Pound Cake”

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Bundt, Cake, Cake Mix, Chocolate, Easy

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Servings 16

Author Stephanie Cope

Ingredients

• 1 yellow box cake mix
• 1 packet instant chocolate pudding
• 1/2 cup sugar I don't know why this recipe needs more sugar, I don't make the rules here, just trust me ok?
• 8 oz sour cream
• 3/4 cup oil I use avocado, but vegetable is fine as well
• 3/4 cup water
• 6 oz mini chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Grease and flour a bundt pan (I use Crisco and all purpose flour for this.  I apply Crisco to the pan using a plastic sandwich bag as a glove to grease and then flour, you only need a little bit to make the cake come right out of the pan)
• Sift dry ingredients to remove lumps and ensure easy mixing
• Mix in wet ingredients with mixer, stirring chocolate chips in by hand at the end
• Mix in wet ingredients with mixer, stirring chocolate chips in by hand at the end
• Pour in pan and bake for 1 hour
• Cool in pan on rack for 10 mins, turn out onto plate to finish cooling, do not try to cover it without giving enough time to cool completely or you'll have a mushy cake

Notes

This cake freezes very well, I usually cut in slices and wrap each with wax paper and place them in a freezer bag.  Allow the cake to thaw before eating.  

 

I hope these recipes go a long way in preparing you for the next meal you want to make for friends and family.  They have been a blessing to my family for years and I hope that by sharing them with you, they will continue that tradition in many more families to come.  Most items you can keep in your pantry to be prepared by adding just a few fresh ingredients to your grocery list and have a meal ready in no time.