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#Post#: 68385--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sympathy Meals
By: chigger Date: July 19, 2021, 1:39 pm
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[quote author=lowspark link=topic=2114.msg68367#msg68367
date=1626711100]
When my mother died, my then MIL brought over some homemade
strudel that she had in her freezer which I served to people who
came over during the mourning period. A friend of mine was
astounded that MIL could whip out those labor-intensive strudels
at a moment's notice. She specifically said something like,
"Does she make strudel and store it in the freezer just in case
somebody dies!?" LOL
In fact, she just liked to make a bunch of it at once and then
pull it out as needed, but when you mentioned keeping pound
cakes, or other, in the freezer for this, it brought back that
memory.
I don't really have any suggestions for you on this except to
say that I'd do something savory and smallish. Events like this
tend to produce a ton of sweets for the recipient, and most
people just don't need that much dessert. Something like a roast
beef or roast chicken is small enough not to take a bunch of
space in your freezer but is still substantial and easy to
supplement with a fresh salad or the like.
[/quote] I used to work at a CCRC (continuing care retirement
community). Very wealthy people, think former White House
employees, heads of major companies. I had a member order 4
apple/cran/walnut strudel. I baked them and was taking to her
home, when she told me, "I like to have them in the freezer in
case someone dies"! I almost fell over!
#Post#: 68392--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sympathy Meals
By: Buffalogal Date: July 19, 2021, 2:39 pm
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My go to is shepherds pie (which I make with beef, so it's
probably really cottage pie). It's a complete meal (meat, veg &
potatoes all in one). Can be frozen and because the meat and
potatoes are cooked it really just has to be heated, not cooked.
#Post#: 68397--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sympathy Meals
By: kckgirl Date: July 19, 2021, 3:14 pm
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When my dad passed away, there was a lot of ham at my mom's
house when I got there two days later after a cross-country
drive. Several people brought deli sliced ham, one person
brought one of those really nice boneless hams, and of course
there were other things as well. None of us had to cook unless
we wanted to do it. All of your ideas above sound like wonderful
offerings for grieving families. We froze some of the ham,
served some as sandwiches to visiting family members, and cooked
some into a wonderful scalloped potato dish which I still
remember 23 years later. The neighbors and friends were all so
kind.
#Post#: 68398--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sympathy Meals
By: STiG Date: July 19, 2021, 3:23 pm
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When my Mom was in hospice, a number of friends brought various
things. The whole lasagnas went into the freezer for when we
had everybody home at my parents' house. Some of the other
meals were eaten the day they were brought or the next day. At
one point, we had a lot of leftovers that were soon going to
have to be thrown out. Various vegetables and some leftover
roast beef. My SIL took all the leftovers and some barley out
of my Mom's pantry and made soup. It got dished out into single
serving containers and was labeled 'Stone Soup'. Which made the
rest of us smile.
There is a story about stone soup; let me know if you aren't
familiar with it.
#Post#: 68404--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sympathy Meals
By: silversurfer Date: July 19, 2021, 5:27 pm
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I've had a bit of a run on making meals for others - a few older
friends lost their parents, and a few younger ones had babies.
My go to is always pasta salad. Light, full of veggies and an
easy thing to eat with one hand (especially if you have a
newborn!).
My colleagues mother recently passed away and i delivered some
pasta salad to him on this weekend just gone. I remembered he
was vegetarian, so it was easy enough to leave the cheese
separate.
I'm also a fan of a fruit salad for new mums in summer - again,
easy to eat with one hand, and easy to snack on!
Also, I would love to hear the Stone Soup story!
#Post#: 68409--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sympathy Meals
By: STiG Date: July 19, 2021, 7:45 pm
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Stone Soup:
A weary traveller stopped for the night just outside a small
village. He was out of all provisions but built a fire, put on
a large pot of water and put a stone in the bottom. He
proceeded to stir the pot occasionally. The villagers weren't
much better off than the traveller but they were curious as to
what he was doing. One by one, a villager would come and ask
the traveller what he was making. 'Stone soup', he'd reply.
'Doesn't look like there is much in there. I have some old
potatoes; we can pare off the bad spots and slice those in.'
And so it repeated with each villager. 'I have a small piece of
salt beef left; I can add that to the pot.' 'I have a few
carrots; we can add those.' 'I have some dried herbs.' And so
on and so on. By the time all the villagers had come to inquire
what the traveller was making and adding their small
contribution, there was a lovely, large pot of hearty soup that
fed all the villagers that night with leftovers for breakfast.
So SIL's soup was made with small contributions from many
neighbours and friends. Stone soup.
It's not an exact repeat of the story but it gets the gist
across. (:
#Post#: 68417--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sympathy Meals
By: NewHomeowner Date: July 20, 2021, 5:34 am
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[quote author=Soop link=topic=2114.msg68369#msg68369
date=1626712349]
I have had to arrange food to be sent to Jewish families when
co-workers have had deaths in the family. I am not Jewish, so
called a local Jewish grocery and asked what could be sent. For
one, we ended up sending platters of nuts and dried fruit, as
they would be having a lot of visitor in during shiva (7 days?).
In all cases, they were appreciative of helping feed the guests.
[/quote]
A friend of mine's husband died during the worst of the
quarantine, so I knew that visiting while they were 'sitting
shiva' was impossible. One of her cousins set up something
through a website (through Facebook) where we could 'sign up'
for meals, and I texted my friend who instructed me where and
what to order, and DoorDash delivered it. (I live an hour away
from her).
It worked out very well.
#Post#: 68427--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sympathy Meals
By: BeagleMommy Date: July 20, 2021, 8:57 am
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I am getting ready to do this since my mom will be having knee
replacement surgery in a few weeks and my father can only make
toast, tuna fish sandwiches, and canned ravioli.
We are planning:
Lasagne
Meatloaf with mashed potatoes
Macaroni and cheese
Chicken and noodles
Pot roast
BeagleBoy is going to make her some butter pecan ice cream since
it's her favorite.
While we won't be freezing anything since I will be going over
everyday to help with cleaning/laundry all of these things
freeze well.
#Post#: 68429--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sympathy Meals
By: kckgirl Date: July 20, 2021, 9:03 am
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[quote author=BeagleMommy link=topic=2114.msg68427#msg68427
date=1626789429]
I am getting ready to do this since my mom will be having knee
replacement surgery in a few weeks and my father can only make
toast, tuna fish sandwiches, and canned ravioli.
{Big snip here}
I will be going over everyday to help with cleaning/laundry all
of these things freeze well.
[/quote]
You will be such a blessing to your mom! I had knee replacement
surgery last summer, and my daughter took the first week off
from work to help me. After she went back to work, she stopped
in every evening when she got home, and had my granddaughter
check on me during the day (they live next door to me). There
are no words to explain how grateful I was for all she did for
me during such a difficult time.
#Post#: 68436--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sympathy Meals
By: Gellchom Date: July 20, 2021, 11:03 am
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Soup. I usually have bags in the freezer, so it’s ready to go.
I add bread if I have time. I think the best ones for these
situations are the kind that are a nutritionally complete meal;
BuffaloGal’s shepherd’s pie fits the bill, too. It’s so useful
for an overwhelmed family at those moments when, like, you
realize you hadn’t thought about lunch. And it can stay in the
freezer until needed. Sweets and even fruit are less useful and
don’t keep as well, although you do need some for a shiva week.
If you don’t cook, soda and coffee are good choices, too, if
they will have guests.
I have a friend who instead of food brings a bag of paper
towels, toilet paper, paper cups, napkins, and other necessities
so no one will need to go to the store. And in the years where
every few months someone among our friends was losing a parent,
there was a box of coffee stirrers, sugar packets, cups, etc.
that moved from house to house! It was kind of sweet, actually.
Usually I will bring the food in a bag, put it on the doorstep,
text that it’s there, and drive away before they need to feel
like they need to chat to be polite. If they want you to visit,
they’ll tell you to come back. But usually they are resting or
busy.
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