meals for moms: tips

16 months ago when my daughter was born we were blessed with many meals from our friends and family.

blessed.


through that i've learned a few tips that i'd like to share with you to make life easier for the new mommy.

1. most important tip! if you do nothing else do this: bring your food in containers that can be thrown away. i usually buy foil pans from the dollar store. not only is it easier clean up for the mommy, but there won't be a pile of dishes that she has to return to you.

2. include the recipe. yeah, she might like it and want to make it herself, but mostly it shows the mommy if there is anything in the recipe that she may need to avoid - like anything spicy that might bother the newborn's tummy. i have a lot of my "new mommy" recipes typed up on my computer so that i can just hit print.

3. try to email the new mommy to see if anyone else has made for her what you are making. if she doesn't respond, no worries. with our daughter we got the same delicious dish from 3 different people. was still wonderful and a blessing, but just a good way to be thoughtful {not that those people weren't thoughtful}. just don't be burdensome in your methods of contact.

4. bring paper plates, forks and napkins. everything disposable for easy clean up for mommy {or daddy!}.

5. remember dessert. those days right out of the hospital i was so hungry. having a c-section after laboring for almost 12 hours meant no food for over 24 hours. yeah. remember dessert.

6. remember the little guys. if the mommy has older kids try to make something kid friendly. when in doubt, pasta is usually a kid pleaser.

7. consider something mommy can put in the freezer. just in case she has too many left overs, she can save yours for a rainy day!

this isn't a freezer meal, but a recipe that i've given to new mamas and have also witnessed children loving. it is a copy cat recipe from my mom.

cheesy chicken crescent dish


1 3/4 cups cubed chicken {i use from a can}
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 (8 ounce) can pillsbury refrigerated crescent rolls
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk


preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

combine chicken and 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese.

separate crescent dough into 8 triangles. place about 3 tablespoons chicken mixture on wide end of each triangle and roll to opposite point.

in medium saucepan, combine soup, milk and 1/4 cup cheddar cheese. heat until cheese melts. pour half of soup mixture into greased 8- or 9-inch square baking dish. reserve remaining soup mixture for sauce.

arrange filled crescents over hot soup mixture. bake at 375 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. during last 10 minutes, sprinkle with remaining cheese. serve with remaining sauce poured over the top.

for the do-it-herself kind of mom {or any mom that wants to save money}

my sister shared this website with me when my little one started eating solids.

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/index.htm

it is a good one for the mom who has a little extra time {doesn't take much time at all} and who would like to save on buying baby food.

word up!

i am doing some "wedding consulting" for a great friend of mine. she is getting married in a renovated barn.

so cute.

so we came up with the theme "rustic elegance" and i have to say i love what we came up with {the bride is a bit excited too}.

i could see the scrabble idea used for a baby shower too. it gives your guest something to do as they sit at the table!

easy appetizer

today i made fruit bruschetta for some friends.

such an easy appetizer. or dessert. or for a brunch.

i found this recipe at the best bites blog and had to try it out. it was super simple!

since i am pregnant i can't eat honey, so i made my "sauce" by thinning out some vanilla yogurt with some orange juice. otherwise i followed the recipe that i found on the blog.

my guests enjoyed it, as i hope you will too!

a nifty gifty

sorry it has been so long. growing a baby has taken up my time and energy, but now that i am in the second trimester i am optimistic.

anyway.

this is from the files from way back in december. with five nieces in my family i try to be creative at getting them all the same gift.

this can be a challenge. one is 10 and the youngest is 2.

this year what i came up with was making these jewelry boxes. all supplies came from hobby lobby. i found the jewelry for the oldest 4 girls at gordman's {they had no clue. the necklaces came in fancy boxes. one thought it was from jarred's!}