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.