Audrey at Recipe Tips and Hints and I are giving away a Magic Bakeware Fluted Round Pan from Tupperware. It has a retail value of $22.50.
For your first (and mandatory) entry into this contest, suggest two different easy dishes I can make to freeze for my grandparents. They are both sick at the same time and just don't have the energy to do more than reheat. Please make sure to leave your email address in your comments.
To earn extra entries you can (please leave a comment for each additional entry):
1) I would love to convince my grandparents to move to my town so I could help them more. Suggest a way I could push them toward moving up here
2) Become a follower of my blog (please don't do anonymous, i have to be able to see you)
3) Become an email subscriber of my blog
4) Blog about this contest (and comment with the url)
5) Follow me on twitter and tweet about the contest (comment with your twitter name and the url of your tweet)
6) Make a purchase from Audrey's site (not mandatory but worth 5 extra entries so leave 5 comments!)
This contest is open to anyone with a US mailing address that is 18+. Contest ends Sunday, May 31st at 11:59 pm pacific time. Winner will be picked and notified by email on Monday, June 1st.
151 comments:
there are alot of great dishes you can make from stews- to lasagne. You can also make soups and make individual, or tortillas to heat up. If they like chilis and stuff you can make turkey chillis, etc.
a way to push them closer is research - find out all there is for seniors, housings, etc. Maybe give them a boost by doing that and finding affordable housing, and look up all senior events, etc so they can make friends and get out.
Be honest with them and tell them you love them and you know they want their independence but you would love if they were closer so you can be together more instead of travleing here and there- you can actually have quality care and time.
subscriber- and I will be praying for them and you-
Baked Chicken and pot roast I find are easy dishes to make in the oven! Your grandparents would love either.
T think soups and lasagna are a good bet you can make them full of healthy vegatables. Also casarols are a good bet. get smmaller containers so you can freeze single meal size containers
beef stew & chicken pot pies!
I think they would enjoy soups and pot roast. That sounds like good comfort food.
Lasagna freezes very well and is easy to reheat also chicken casserole
I would make soup and freeze in individual containers that can be heated in the microwave; and then make up some individual containers of dinners you make for the family...that way they have variety and can heat up what sounds good.
Stuffed shells- easy and yummy!
Chili, portioned out- there are so many varieties, you could never make the same thing twice!
Baked Ziti and Macaroni and Cheese are 2 dishes that freeze well.
Chicken tortilla soup and lasagna freeze VERY well!
Just being honest would be best. They have to know they are getting older and need help. I'm sure it might upset them (nobody likes to lose their independence) at first, but I'm sure they will see the benefits! Good luck!
For one, I would make a big pot of stock and then make soup for them with it -- it would only take about 5 minutes.
The second idea is to bake a loaf of bread and freeze it -- then you just have to slap on the fixins' for a sandwich.
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I think that you probably should tell them that it's hard to help them with them living so far away, and that you could do more if they moved. At the same time, it's a huge ordeal to move, and think of whether you'd want to move yourself...
Homemade vegetable soup or chicken noodle soup, and Ziti pasta.
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PS. I wish you much luck with getting the grandparents to move closer. I don't have any grandparents living any more, and I miss them a lot, so I know how special grandparents can be. Sending you lots of love and luck!
Almost anything that you can put together in a slow cooker, from pot roast to beef stew, would make be easy to fix and would make enough for several individual servings for them.
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If your grandparents decide to move closer to you, it is really going to have to be presented as their decision. A lot will depend on the benefits available to them from a move, even though it would help you tremendously as well. A comparison list might point out some of the pros and cons of such a move, and to do that you will really have to research the things that are important to and for them.
But it will probably have to be pretty persuasive to overcome the attractions of a long time community and home.
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I send portions of food with my son when he visits. He freezes them and microwaves them when he gets home from work. Among his favorites are meatloaf with carrots and potatoes and Meatballs in sauce that he can put over freshly boiled pasta. Thanks for the chance.
Shepherd's pie (hamburger gravy on the bottom, peas, then cover in mashed potatoes and garnish with shredded cheese)is very easy to freeze the proper portions (and has the added benefit if they have trouble chewing or swallowing...) and stews are also easy to freeze & portion... beef, turkey, chicken...
stew/soup and a tuna casserole
Beef Stew freezes well, and lasagne.
I think that macaroni & cheese and chili are two meals that are easily made and freeze well.
Thanks for the giveaway!
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fettucine alfredo and macaroni and cheese both freeze well.......and are both comfort foods.....
How about homemade chicken soup (yum!), and a pasta/cheese casserole. Thank you!
Lasagna, soup, chili, or most hamburger style casseroles freeze well. Red beans and rice can be made non-spicy and freezes well.
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Soups and stews freeze well. My favorite is vegetable beef soup with lots of fresh vegetables.
Stew and lasagna. Stew is great because it has all the veggies and is just a good comfort food. Lasagna. I need not say more. My one tip on the lasagna is mix the meat, cheese, egg, spinach if you like and spoon in the middle of a noodle. Roll up and cut in half. Pour a little red sauce in the pan and put the cut side of the filled lasagna noodle down. Do with all the noodles and then cover tops (florets) with rest of the red sauce and mozzarella. Bake until bubbly. But don't forget about dessert. Make sure you take some cookies or brownies. I hope they feel better soon.
Chicken and biscuits
Cream of Chicken soup
bag of mixed veggies
Chicken breast cubed (precook)
add all in a pot, bake 350 degrees for 60 minutes.. add a can of biscuits on top and bake the additional minutes for the biscuits
Spaghetti or add any leftover to a seal a meal bag and have them handy when you get busy
I know when my in-laws and parents were sick I'd often make them "No Peek Chicken" and both sets loved it (the recipe is all over the internet).
I think either beef stew or meatloaf would also be easy. Thanks. Good luck!
pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net
You could freeze stuff shells and meat loaf.
samsakara@twcny.rr.com
Turkey chili and spaghetti and meatballs are two great dishes that they can just reheat.
Have a baby - that'll make them want to move here - LOL
Tamale pie is easy and it freezes well, another thing is baked potatoes. Cook them and then they can heat them up and add cheese, bacon bits, and sour cream to them.
Is there anyway you could help them sell the house where they live now? I know this can be an overwhelming task especially if you don't feel well.
Offer to help them find movers and housing too.
It won't be so scary for them to move if they know there is support to help them.
salisbury steak and mac n cheese
imjessica(at)mail(dot)com
Lasagna (make one for you and one for them, it reheats beautifully) and Chicken Casserole (filling and delicious, and again, easy to reheat).
msurosey@yahoo.com
Thank you for a great giveaway. I think baked spaghetti and hasbrown casserole are both easy and yummy reheated. thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
macaroni & cheese and chicken soup.
Lasagna and Chicken Noodle Soup freeze really well!
Thanks,
Lainie
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Creamy Chicken and Rice casserole and Beef Stew would be perfect and they can be made for a low sodium diet too.
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I would give them a guilt trip and say how much you love,miss them and wish you and your children had more quality time with them. Tell them all of the things they are missing being far away and it bothers the children.
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A nice creamt risotto heats up well. You can add any amount of protein or vegetables as needed too. The other one I would recommend is a lasagna or ravioli - again with as many veggies and meat added as needed.
To add some fruit - how about fruit scones for breakfast?
I think Veggie Minestrone Soup would be great to make and freeze. It would be delicious and also healthy!!!
Another dish I love to make and freeze is Veggie Chili. You can do this with either meat substitutes such a Boca ground meatless in place of meat or just use beans and corn and all kinds of veggies. Very healthy and it freezes very well..
Leslie
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I would suggest to YOUR Grandparents that as YOU grow older, YOU desire to be around them more.. I don't know if YOU have children. but if you do.. you could say that YOU want your children to KNOW their GREAT Grandparents MORE... and if yo don't then just say you miss them and YOU want to be with them as much as POSSIBLE!!!!
I found that the more I told my mom I WANTED TO HELP her the more she resisted. The more I told her I wanted to just be NEAR her the more she agreed!!!
Leslie
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spaghetti and chicken pot pie cassorale
Freezing soup in individual containers is a great way to go.
I also like to slice meatloaf and freeze it in one or two slice portions.
Beef stew and chilli and theres allways a varity of soups you can make good luck just them them you love them and it would be easier for them to live by you than to travel thanks.
I see everyone is suggesting chicken soup. It is tasty when you are not feeling great. How about stew? Applesauce, pasta is always easy to reheat.
Meat loaf always freezes well. I made this for my sister after she had her third baby in 3 1/2 yrs.
Another that is quick is a quiche. Quick and easy to reheat.
You could buy those divided plates and make them up "TV dinner" type plates - with a main dish, side, etc. Lasagna and other pasta dishes seem to freeze well. What about sticky chicken?
Poppyseed chicken freezes really well, and a baked spaghetti would work well also.
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I would suggest a good, chicken noodle soup (you can freeze individual portions - then they can defrost in fridge & microwave).
And, I would also suggest a Turkey Meatloaf.
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Hmm? To convince them, maybe you could seek out some good houses/apartments for sale in the area that you think they'd like. Maybe a reason they have had not to is that they feel overwhelmed w/ the thought of having to find a new place.
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I'd make Quiche (either spinach or with ham/bacon) and homemade chili. Both freeze well and you can make subtle variations based on what foods you know they love. Send homemade cornbread muffins in freezer bags to go with chili. utgal2004[at]yahoo[dot]com
I would suggest soup ans stew. Easy to heat up.
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I love making meatloaf, it reheats well! Look up Kraft's easy pleasing meatloaf recipe. It uses stuffing instead of breadcrumbs, so easy!
Also try kraft's beef noodle bowl recipe. It freezes great and is delish!
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I like to make and freeze lasagne's and stews..they seem to be the easiest to reheat.
Stuffed shells freeze well and one recipe makes servings for quite a few days. Hearty soups (like those with beans) make easy one dish meals and they're easy to reheat.
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how about lasagna and stuffed peppers :)
Oh, there are so mnat things for both breakfast, lunch and dinner that can be frozen and reheated. Casserols of course, like tuna casserol, lasagne, manicotti, tatertot casserol. Any soup or jumbalaya. Cook up a bunch of meat and taco seasoning or sloppy joe mix and freeze. All foods should be frozen in tupperware the right size for just enough to serve two.
For breakfast you can make a bunch of french toast or pancakes and freeze them individually and put in a freezer bag and as many as needed can be taken out. I do this with cinnamon rolls and sticky buns as well, but wrap each one in foil before bagging so that they can just be thrown in the oven. You can even make sausage, egg, and cheese english muffin sandwiches and cool them in the fridge, freeze a nd wrrap in foil so they are ready for the oven as well! Good luck and be creative!
You can even make cheesecakes, brownies, carrot cakes, cookies and candies and freeze them individually so they have some treats now and then.
tell them that YOU NEED THEM not the other way around..or cash always works..lol
Maybe you could have some kind of intervention for your grandparents to help convince them to move. Gather all of their friends and family and give them all the reasons they should move. It will also be important to make it easy for them by helping with the planning and executing of the move. Good luck and thanks for the giveaway!!!
I've found individual servings of soup that are frozen can be a life saver when your just too durn tired. Also a favorite of mine and a local treat are bierock/runzas. they are german pockets of ground beef and sauteed cabbage in bread pockets. Make a big batch and pull out 2 or 3 when you need them.
Freeze batches of homemade soup. Pasta dishes freeze well also. They are not to heavy or spicy when you are not feeling well.
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My aunt used to make huge pots of stew and freeze them in (of all things) ice cube trays. It made it easy to make dinner for the kids - pop a few cubes out and microwave them - SIMPLE!
My mom does the same with her chili - she always makes a ton of it and freezes it so we always have it around. (She doesn't use ice cube trays, however!) LOL
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You are very sweet to do this for your grandparents.
Older people tend to like things easier on their stomachs so perhaps mashed potaotoes, sliced turkey and canned gravy with a frozen vegetable
or another one is tuna noodle casserole. Both are high in protein and creamy and easy to eat. rosans4@comcast.net
I am a grnadparent-a young one. Recently we had to lend our son some money until he found a job. I did not want the money back. I asked that when we are older he let us make our own decisions. I was referring to us having to move out of our home. The older one gets the harder it is to change. Old people feel secure in the place they raised their families. Try going to them rather than moving them. I still have my 83 year old mother in her home. I think she should be in an assisted living but she refuses but is very happy. On Medicare they can get help in the house. Good luck and God Bless you for being so caring.
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Canned chili with cornbread and Melted cheese over noodles with peas in it.
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Just tell them you care so much about them and that moving to town would fill you with joy and happiness.
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I would make broccoli rice casserole and macaroni and cheese for them.
Homemade veggie soup. Lasagnas are great to freeze.Hope they feel better soon!
Homemade soups and chili are always easy to make and reheat. You could try a casserole too. My hubby makes a Chicken-Tatertot Casserole and my grandparents love it.
Thanks
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I've found that with my grandparents, the way to get them to do things you want is to tell them that you need them to do it....ya know, YOU need THEM closer to you, you'd feel more secure, etc. Best of luck and you'll be in my prayers!
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i think lasagna and macaroni and cheese are the best options. When I make mac and cheese to freeze i make my sauce by using cream of mushroom soup and shredded cheese and i add some canned chicken to it which is super easy and it tastes wonderful
Meatloaf and try hormel dinners. They taste great and yuo wouldn't even have to cook them.
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I would suggest a dish called hotdish; hamberger,diced tomatoes, tomato soup, small elbow macaroni and a little bit of onion, this is great for older people because it is not to harsh on thier systems and so on plus you can make the dish as big as you want so you can have some to. For the secound one I suggest, a roast you make in your crock pot its a beef roast and two cans of mushroom soup plus two envelopes of dry onion mix this is so tasty and also makes great sandwiches. I hope your parents enjoy as well as you and your family. sincerely, Kathy
Pork chops are an easy re-heat and so is grilled chicken!
Cjicken soup and pot roast
Lasagne is a favorite dish to freeze, but so is chili. We like noodles in our chili, but don't add those until we are ready to serve. They tend to get a little mushy, otherwise.
I make a "mock" lasagna, it has all the same ingredients, but no need to layer, just mix it all together. I also freeze a lot of chicken casseroles. They are kind of a lot of steps, so makes sense to make extra. Whatever you make them, make sure you make plenty to freeze for your family too. And if there was a favorite "family" dish, maybe make that so they can reminisce.
You can freeze Lentil Bean Soup and also a Beef Stew. It is a healing food in our home for sicklings.
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You can try to push them to live nearby by showing them communities or apartments that are nice in your area that they can still live indepently in and not feel as if they don't have their independence.
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I'm sorry to hear your grandparents aren't feeling well, and hope they're getting better each day! I always like to freeze lasagna, and also I love to make a big pot of chicken & rice soup and put single/double servings into separate containers. Soups freeze so well, and heat right up in the microwave.
I always feel the best way to convince anyone of anything is the direct approach. Tell them how much you would love to have them closer to you, so you could see each other more often. Then perhaps make a list of pros & cons and present it to them (hopefully with way more pros than cons!)
I have found that most casseroles freeze well and Potato Soup freezes too. I make mine with frozen hash brown and most everyone loves potato soup and your grandparents probably would love something light like this. ybutler@oppcatv.com
Try pancakes and Lasagna
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I would suggest goulash and homemade macaroni and cheese.
kngmckellar@hotmail.com
lasagna and pot pies
johnpratt@ecologyfund.net suggests tv dinners or pot pies since they work for me. thanks and have a blessed day.
Chicken stew is good and nourishing. Lentil or pea soup makes for a filling lunch. Thanks for this offer.
Adele
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Let's see I would make a chicken and rice casserole and probably chicken vegetable soup.
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maybe a thick lentil soup and a turkey meatloaf
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I think an honest and straight to the point talk with them would be the first thing to do.
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I'd say home made chicken noodle soup and lasgna!
Chicken pot pie and a baked pasta dish. I am queenesperfect @ yahoo.com
meatloaf and beef stew are 2 of my favorites when someone is sick
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I would make soup and meatloaf to freeze. It is easy to micro.
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2 easy meals to freeze,any kind of soup my favorite is chicken rice soup and meatloaf is also quite easy!
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beef stew & chicken pot pies!
Lasagna and chicken casserole would be my suggestions for good freezable meals! Great giveaway! Thanks! senekers@comcast.net
Lentil and vegetable stew freezes well. So do pre-cooked meatballs.
Jennifer, jennem22 at yahoo dot com
Baked Ziti or Turkey soup
How about meat loaf? Just mix it up and then they could put it in the oven. I reckon you could cook it and freeze it too.
Stuffed Shells or Baked ziti or their favorite pasta dish.
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Just express how much you miss them and how you want to spend more time with them. Also say you wanna help them out.
Also you could make up some meatballs in spaghetti sauce and they could have meatball sandwiches.
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Chili is really easy to make a head of time and freeze. Also you can make any kind of bean puree and freeze it ahead of time like Lentils, Kidney Beans or black beans.
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I would try to get them to live closer to you by telling them all the activities you can take part in together when they are near by.
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I live to freeze these vegetarian options:
blackbeans with bellpeppers and rice
garlic mashed potatoes--very gentle--cheese can be added too
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What I used to do with my mother was get some divided dinner plates. Then make a larger portion than my family could eat for dinner and put the rest in the divider plates, i.e., a slice of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn. It freezes will and is ready to eat after thawing.
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I would make a pok chop casserol and spagetti and meatballs
Always a pleaser
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Change is so tough for everyone but when you get set in your ways your home
Talk to them and ask them to think about moving.
Nothing sudden or you need to's.
Maybe they will move
Thanks
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How about freezer chili, and freeze small portions of a big pot of chicken stew.
Hope they get better!
Convince them by telling that hospitals are more local and you can reach them in a timely manner if there is an emergency
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I would suggest Chicken Soup and Quiche.
Minestrone soup and ricotta stuffed shells :)
I actually make quite a few meals ahead to take to work for lunch. I have had very good luck with freezing pasta dishes like spaghetti and I also love freezing meatloaf. I put the pasta in single serve portions and cut the meatloaf into slices so I don't have to defrost the whole thing to get a serving.
Our greatgrandmother likes the Gerber Jr food trays the best. She says some taste good without heating up. I make casseroles for her like tuna casserole and lasagna with mild tomato sauce. Tomato soup for "sauce" is liked by her and the younger children.
I'm not much of a cook but I second lasagna. Beyond that, meatballs? Soups are easy to freeze, not sure how easy they are to make though.
Maybe a skirt or flank steak
Convincing the elderly that they're at a new phase is never easy. A lot depends on how long they've been in their current town and how your town differs. certainly research options for them in your town, enjoyable things not just social services. Maybe start with a weeklong vacation staying with you to wet their feet and get them used to the idea. It'll help you decide too, if it's really a good idea or not!
Two good freezable meals:
(1) Lasagna
(2) Crockpot rice and beans - easy to make, plentiful in quantity, and perfect for freezer to microwave
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I did this for my mother in law a while ago.
Some faves were tex mex casserole (ground meat, salsa, tomato sauce & corn a layer of cheese and jiffy cornbread made with creamed corn and diced green chiles on top.
Lasagna
Stuffed Shells
Baked Ziti
Enchiladas
Chili
Easy on you- double your dinner and you can make some tv dinners (the dollar stores have divided covered containers) and you will know they have good home cooked meals as needed.
To get them to move to town- I might stress the importance of being near family and how they need to be close if something happens.
I would also make sure they know it was not just because it was inconvenient but because I wanted them near enough to be involved in family activities.
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Baked Ziti and Chili both freeze great.
My favorite for easy reheating are small containers of soups and chilis. I'm not much of a cook, so I usually get the canned versions of chili and add a few onions and green peppers.
Also, shepherd's pie. That freezes really well, and it reheats very nicely.
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I talked my mother into moving closer to me by telling her how nice it would be to see eachother more often and the importance of being close to family. Good luck!
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I love making an easy lasagna (with no-boil noodles) that freezes easily, and there are lots of good casseroles, including a chicken and rice casserole.
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