Loving and Caring

There is a beautiful thing that happens when friends and family rally together for a common cause. There is power in numbers but even more power in that unmistakable thing we call Aloha when we share our heart and resources with others to see them through challenging times. One of the ways we can share with others is by sharing a meal. Let’s face it – everyone needs to eat and unless you are on a religious fast, eating is an essential part of everyday living. When we have friends that have new babies or on the other end of the spectrum have an aging or terminal family member, nothing says I really care more than a shared meal. When a family is in crisis, the last thing on their mind is “What shall we have for dinner?” The question is closer to “How am I going to make it through this transition?”

That being said I thought I would share with you some of my favorite no hassle recipe ideas for sharing with friends and family that will not only bless them but be nutritious as well.  Now there is nothing wrong with getting pre-made food for such an occasion, and if time is more of an issue, better to do something than nothing at all.

One of the first elements to consider is the transportation of goods. Most of the time it is advisable to use some sort of container that you do not want back. I love using foil pans because when my friends are done with them they can just toss them and there is virtually no clean up necessary. The only drawback of using foil pans is their inability to work in a microwave.

The first dish that comes to mind is what I call “Pasta Surprise”. This is a dish I came up with in the midst of raising four children and needing to do a quick one dish type of meal. The basic ingredients are a meat item, vegies including aromatics, pasta and cheese. My meat of choice is chicken; it cooks quickly and adds nice texture to the meal. I’ll have the complete recipe in another blog (sorry, trying to be more inspirational here than absolutely practical)

Some other 1 dish meals that I like are enchiladas, lasagna, eggplant parmesan and any type of salad that would have all basic food groups. Any one of these one dish meals can also be complemented with a nice green salad.

So remember, the biggest thing we can give is anything straight from the heart.