The day we brought our first baby home from the hospital, a thoughtful family member prepared a warm meal and had it waiting for us in the kitchen. Others had offered to bring meals as well, and I wondered why people would be bringing us meals when I would be home on maternity leave with plenty of time to cook. (HA!) After a few days of caring for a new infant, I realized what a blessing this was!
When my brother-in-law died unexpectedly four years later, neighbors and friends flooded my in-laws home with casseroles, desserts, soups (and toilet paper!). We could feel the love in each bite of food we ate. It was a huge blessing as we all gathered at my in-laws house to work through our shock and grief. Some friends and family members even arrived at meal times to prepare and serve food and clean up afterward.
Now, years later, I try to pass this blessing onto others who are experiencing the joys and stresses of a new baby or the struggles of an illness or death in the family. But, I often stress about ideas of what to bring because I’m not the best cook. And, sometimes lack of a good idea makes me put it off so long that it doesn’t get done. So, I called upon a few of my friends who excel at bringing food during times in need to share some of their meal plans and recipes for taking to families in need.
Here’s what they shared:
Download All “Sharing With Families In Need Recipes.”
If you don’t want the entire recipe book, you can download individual meal plans below:
Recipe for Wild Rice Soup, Beer Bread, Grapes & Bailed Cookies Meal
From Brandy Edgren
Recipe for Meatballs, Cheese Potatoes and Peach Cobbler Meal
Fawn Hamling
Recipe for Stove Top Chicken Casserole, Green Beans, Rolls & Cookies Meal
Robin Reed
Recipe for Cheesy Ham Casserole
Kristy Dvorak (Nebraska Family Magazine editorial board member)
Recipes for Pork Loin, Mixed Fruit, Fresh Vegetables & Scotcheroos
My Go-To Meal (Kristine Jacobson)