Hop On Board the Meal Train

You may have been asked at some point by your church or other organization to participate in what is called a “Meal Train.”  This is a helpful and practical way to provide meals for individuals and families who have been ill, or had a baby, or have had surgery.  People who are not quite up to cooking meals for themselves and their families and could use a little help.

A meal train is for anyone who can use a bit of help “meal-wise” during some pretty common life events.  Things such as:

• The birth of a child
• A death in the family
• Illness
• Surgery
• Deployment
• Loss of a job

In short, anyone who is needing a bit of help getting it together and feeding themselves and their families.

Today I am providing some simple and yet delicious ideas of things that you can put together simply that are sure to be enjoyed by anyone in need.  This is a very common and loving act of service.

Usually, you will be told ahead of time how many individuals you are expected to provide a meal for and if there are any dietary constraints or dislikes.  You can prepare a tasty meal and freeze it, ready to pop into the recipient’s freezer so that they can thaw it out and cook it when it is most convenient for them. You can also bring it in fresh and ready for them to either eat on the day or to freeze as they wish.  Always include cooking instructions either way.

I think the most practical thing to do is to prepare the meals in a disposable type of baking dish which has a lid if you are making a casserole. You can find some very sturdy aluminum foil baking dishes these days that come with plastic lids, or that you can simply cover tightly with foil.  Masking tape is ideal for creating labels, which should include what the meal is, how many it serves and any cooking or freezing instructions. Just write it on the masking tape with indelible ink.

This way you don’t have to worry about getting your dish back and the recipient doesn’t have to keep track of who brought what in what dish and get it back to you. If they are in the situation where they are needing meals brought in, the last thing they need is to have to worry about other people’s dishes.

If you are making a chili or a soup, then a clean Ice Cream Bucket is the perfect way to transport it.  This can be stored very easily in the refrigerator or the freezer, and once again, no need to worry about getting anything back.

You can keep these meal offerings as simple as you wish to. It can be a tasty pot of soup or a delicious casserole. Perhaps some salad and a bread on the side and if you are really keen some kind of dessert that they can enjoy. None of it has to be complicated or expensive, but it should be something that you yourself would enjoy and appreciate receiving.

I have always felt that when I am gifting something like a meal to another, I should be giving them my best offering, or the best that I can afford. That doesn’t mean that you have to go out and buy an expensive roast or the like, but it should be something which feels like a bit of a treat, and which is deliciously taste tempting. It is a gift after all.

I like to include a soup or some kind of casserole. A salad or vegetable to enjoy on the side.  Some type of bread to enjoy with it.  This can be biscuits, or bread or even savory muffins. Also, a nice dessert is always more than welcome. Cake, or cookies are always welcome or if you are really keen a pie. I have never seen anyone turn down dessert of any kind!

Here are a few suggestions to whet your whistle and inspire you the next time you get asked to Hop on Board the Meal Train!

 SOUPS

A good homemade soup is one of the most beautiful examples of love you can share with someone you care about . . .it is indeed soup for the soul. They are also very easily frozen, ready to take out and thawed when they are needed.  I always wash out and then keep my empty ice cream buckets. They are perfect for transporting soup.  Simply label with the contents and any directions needed for heating up on the day or freezing and reheating at a later date.

GROUND BEEF & BARLEY SOUP - Beef and Barley are a really delicious combination. This simple soup makes great use of both in a soup that is not only really tasty, but very quick and easy to make as well. The recipe starts out with ground beef, followed by onions, carrots, celery, beef broth, and barley. It is seasoned with thyme, rosemary, paprika, tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce for a soup that everyone will enjoy.

Quick and easy to make, delicious, and easily expandable to make as much as you need, this soup also freezes very well. All you need on the side is some crusty bread and you have a meal everyone will enjoy.

BEST KEPT SECRET SOUP - Rich, tasty and hearty this is a soup that goes together very quickly using things that you probably already have in your store cupboard.  Six simple ingredients and a can opener are all you need to throw this together.   It is delicious served over crunchy corn chips, but I also like to bake some cornbread muffins to serve on the side.

This is the perfect soup to make at the last minute. Nobody will believe that you didn’t slave over it all day!

HAM, POTATO & GREEN BEAN SOUP – A delicious soup to make when you are short on time. It goes together quickly and with very little effort, using only a few simple ingredients. Cubed potatoes, cubed ham, green beans, celery, onions, stock, milk, cheese and a few seasonings are all you need. I often use a ham steak to make this delicious soup.

Again, all you need on the side is some type of bread or crackers. This is quite simply delicious.

ROAST CHICKEN SOUP WITH BARLEY & PARSIPS – This soup starts with  a delicious homemade stock which is made from the carcass of a roasted chicken.  I always freeze my roast chicken carcasses specifically for the purpose of making soups.  Failing that you can use a good quality ready-made stock. You will also need some leftover cooked chicken shredded.  A rotisserie chicken is perfect for making this soup if you don’t have anything else. Pearl barley, grated parsnips and cabbage are also used with incredibly delicious results.

You can also whip up a quick batch of baking powder biscuits to go along with the soup. Nobody will be complaining. These biscuits also freeze very well.

CASSEROLES

Casseroles are the perfect dish to take to someone who is needing meals brought in. Not only are they incredibly versatile, but they also freeze easily. I always bake mine in a disposable container that goes from the freezer to the oven. One that will not need to be returned. If you don’t have such a vessel, it is always a good practice to label your casserole dish with your name. Simply write it on a piece of masking tape and stick it to the bottom of the dish. Don’t forget to include a label wih the contents and any heating instructions that may be needed.

BASIC MIX & MATCH CASSEROLE - With this basic Mix and Match Casserole recipe you will never find yourself at a loss as to what to do with your leftover veg, or meat, not even your leftover starches will be safe.  You will be able to find a use for all of it, guaranteed! This casserole is simply a basic combination of protein, vegetable, carbohydrate, sauce, and toppings. It is very adaptable.  You can use whatever you have to hand for making it. You can use leftover proteins of course, but you can also brown some ground beef, turkey or pork to use in this.

Again, a crusty loaf on the side and maybe a salad, and you have a meal that will be very much appreciated.

BEEF & POTATO CASSEROLE – Amazingly delicious this casserole is simply potatoes, browned ground beef and cheese layered together with a simple sauce made using tinned condensed soup, sour cream and regular cream.  Simple ingredients put together in the most delicious way.

You might want to include a cooked or ready to cook vegetable to enjoy on the side and again, perhaps some sort of bread or bun.

COTTAGE PIE WITH POTATO COBBLES - This may be the most delicious Cottage Pie ever and I don’t make that claim lightly!  Tender beef in a rich and tasty gravy, topped with potato cobbles.

Potato cobbles are simply boiled potatoes cut into thick slices and layered on top of that rich beefy gravy, brushed with melted butter, sprinkled with cheese and baked until golden brown. Why settle for ordinary!  These are not much more effort than making mashed potatoes. In fact I think they are a whole lot easier!

CREAMY CHICKEN & BUTTER BISCUITS – With its rich and creamy base of chicken and vegetables and its butter biscuit topping, this is a real favorite dish and its not at all very difficult to make. It also freezes very well.

All you need on the side here is perhaps a salad as the bread is already included in the casserole.  Mashed potatoes would work well for heartier eaters also.  I recommend my Copycat KFC Coleslaw which everyone will enjoy.

HAM & CHEESE CASSEROLE - Baked ham, noodles and green beans in a cheesy creamy sauce.  This always goes down a real treat. I like to top it with more cheese and something crunchy like cracker crumbs or French fried onions. (The kind that come in the can.)

If you don’t have leftover ham I find that a ham steak can always be cut into a small dice and used for casseroles like this one.  Again, some sort of bread and maybe a salad on the side and you have a perfectly delicious meal.

CLASSIC TUNA CASSEROLE – You are always taking a bit of a risk taking a fish casserole, but unless it is specified that NO fish is wanted, then you can always assume that bringing a tuna casserole will be okay and there is no tastier version than the Classic!  Tuna, noodles, a creamy sauce, peas and potato chip topping. Its not fancy but it sure is delicious.

Again, some kind of bread and a salad would go very nicely.

DESSERT

There is nothing nicer than something sweet to enjoy at the end of a meal. I don’t think anyone will be turning down one of these tasty offerings. When it comes to desserts, cakes are probably your best bet.  They keep and transport very well. I would avoid anything with peanuts just in case.

LEMON & GINGER SNACK CAKE - Lemon and ginger are a beautiful flavor combination and this cake combines them both beautifully.  Moist and delicious, it mixes together right in the pan. I like to create a lemon glaze for on top and garnish it with some chopped stem ginger. 

CHOCOLATE CHIP SNACK CAKE -  A simple butter cake loaded with plenty of chocolate chips and toasted walnut nuts. Again, if in doubt leave out the nuts. This is a simple cake with a beautiful crumb. I like to top it with a simple chocolate buttercream frosting.  Everyone loves it.

DANDY CANDY CAKE -  This is an old, old recipe for a simple butter cake which has a crunchy brown sugar and coconut topping baked into the top of the cake. It is delicious as is but is even more delicious if accompanied with some fresh berries.  Very pretty also.

MAPLE CAKE -  This is an old family favorite. A moist and delicious cake loaded with plenty of maple flavor with a lush maple frosting on top.  You can garnish with toasted walnuts if you wish, or leave them off.  It is delicious either way!

MONKEY FACE COOKIES - Children love these cookies.  Partly because of the name, and partly because they are delicious!  It’s fun to pick the raisins off and eat them separately . . . its fun to eat them all together.  It’s just fun to eat them! A simple molasses sour milk cookie, topped with raisins.  They also freeze very well.

And there you have it, a few ideas to get your started on the Meal Train.  I have always felt that when you are gifting someone with a meal you need to gift them with your best and all of these ideas are sure to be thoroughly enjoyed!  I guarantee!

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