Sounds like a great menu to me Annie. Just hold out the almonds for those beans and tell him to add them when/after reheating them. Some frozen corn would be a good easy side too...the home grown stuff or from the grocery store. Love it when people step up and lend a helping hand to friends, family, fellow employees, or someone in the community.

David

I agree, sounds delish. And David's idea of holding off on the almonds and corn is a good one. One other veg I have done with great kid results is carrots with butter and brown sugar (or maple syrup).

So kind of you Annie.

I too like to hear about the generosity of others. Thank you for helping this family as goodness circulates.
Are you cooking this mostly for her or for the rest of the family? Sometimes with chemo, people will frequently get mouth sores & nausea. Soft foods, bland foods, & wholesome foods are going to be good for her. You're menu sounds like something good for everyone.

I would vote for spinach (see the spinach thread), but I also like green beans. I generally make a mushroom sauce for green beans, and it does not contain almonds, but having them on the side is a good option. I also like frozen corn and frozen green peas - both of which are easy to heat up. Peas and corn are the only vegetables that I keep in my freezer on a regular basis, but I do buy frozen green beans on occasion.

Lars

I love reading that you and friends are circling the wagons Annie :)
Some food smells would make my stomach turn (tuna casserole), and I would get heartburn something crazy, so spicy foods were out. One thing that sticks out in my memory is a friend who made a three cheese mash potato dish that really hit the spot for me. She brought some ready to freeze for later too. But I think you'd probably be cooking mostly for her family and easing her burden in that way, so you're right to concentrate on them.

broccoli in a cheese sauce? Maybe the kids might eat that too?

If you make another meal, you might consider mac and cheese, everyone seems to like that :-)

I think your idea and menu sounds great. The only thing I'd change is the vegetable, as you thought you might. When you're not feeling well, sometimes a nice fresh plain veggie is in order. The beans sound great as does brocoli. Just plain steamed with some butter. The kids might eat it with cheese sauce, but if you could do that on the side I think it would be best. I do know when I was in the hospital last year [they had great, to order food btw] the plain veggies appealed to me more than lots of things. I think it's that old thing where your body craves what's good for it.

You're wonderful to do this for them and I'm sure whatever you decide on will be so appreciated.

What a worry this must be for su8ch a young family.

I think you may want to rethink the green beans, well at least the bacon and almonds part, they may be hard for her to digest. When my sister was undergoing chemo she craved soft, bland , comfy food..... creamed corn or peas would have been her veggie of choice with this meal even with the cream gravy.

How about a creamed corn casserole? Recipe follows (and it reheats great)

two 15 oz. cans creamed corn
10-12 saltine crackers, crushed
1/2 c. milk or half and half
two eggs, beaten
margarine
salt (optional, I usually leave it out)

Mix all ingredients except margarine, place in greased casserole, dot with margarine. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees (depending on your oven, it may take longer)or until center is set.

This is nice comfort food, non-threatening to children and those with a delicate stomach. Also nutritional! You are very kind to help a family in need. We need more folks like you.

Either plain green beans or corn sounds good to me. Have you thought about adding a jar of applesauce? I don't think there is much better than good homemade applesauce when you don't feel well.

Nancy

thank you, everyone, I knew I'd get ideas here.

Nancy, that's a good idea, I have home canned applesauce from my own trees, I'll add a jar. I might throw in a jar of salsa and some chips for the rest of them too.

I was wondering about the bacon in the green beans, I'd like her to be able to eat some of it, I doubt that she'll eat the beef, I thought maybe the potatoes, some bread, the vegetables. Lars, I love spinach but a lot of people don't. I mentioned creamed spinach to Steve and though he's far too polite to say "ick" I pretty much got the impression that only the 3 year old would eat it. Go figure, only the baby, not even the adults.

OK, so it will be either broccoli, with a cheese sauce on the side, or a creamed corn dish. I'll have to see what I have on hand when I start cooking tonight.

Annie

Soup. Sick people need soup. Bean soup was my first thought but if you have lots of cow in the freezer maybe some beef/veggie/noodle soup? The boiled flour/egg/parsley noodles are cheap and with eggs in them provide plenty of filling protein. Leave the noodles separate so they don't go soggy. My little sister loves them with just butter and parmesan cheese.

Boiled dinner with ham/cabbage/potatoes/carrots/onions?

One of my favorites sweet baked beans with hamburger... a permanent request at company pot luck dinners anymore so I know most people like them.

Put spagetti and sauce in a baking dish and cover it with American cheese then broil until the cheese melts! I love summer squash in my spagetti.

Bland dishes off the top of my head... probably think of more while I'm sleeping tonight. All reheats in a microwave just fine!

: )
lyra

Annie, is there any way you could talk to the wife and ask her what she can eat? I have a friend who just went through months of chemo and while she only wanted bland food, even some of that she couldn't eat. It really is very personal for most people and some of their usually favorite things really turn their stomach.

Thanks, Lyra, I'm saving these all ideas so for the next couple of months, after we stop cooking every night, I can still send a pot of soup and a loaf of bread every now and then, or a casserole and dessert, etc.

Beverly, I haven't tried talking to Denise, I see Steve everyday because we work together, but talking directly to her is a good idea. I think we've been mostly focusing on feeding her family so she doesn't have to, but I'd like to think that we're offering her some sustenance too, both in feeding her and in her knowing that she has this support.

Annie

I'm with wiz, green beans or corn are always good bets with a whole family. I've done alot of meals for families with new babies in my neighborhood and I've always done a salad as a side and it's been a welcome addition. Good Luck it's a nice thing your doing.

Very gracious and generous of you to help out this family, Annie. Your menu sounds great. I am sure your homegrown-homecooked-anything would be more than welcomed.

Brenda

I dropped off the meal this morning. I made a swiss steak type dish in a creamy gravy, the twice baked potatoes, plain corn, Sol's honey-white rolls and a batch of Sherry's brownies. I added a jar of my homemade applesauce and a jar of strawberry jam so the kids could have peanut butter and jelly if they chose.

Whenever I make a pot of soup or some bread, I'll try to remember to double the batch and just send it on for a while.

Annie