Poised to make a contribution meal for a family in need

16 years ago

Tomorrow is my day to make my first meal for my neighboring family that tragically lost their Mom just before Christmas. The surviving family is the Dad, two 3rd graders, a middle school child, a HS student and a college child. I'm making an herbed pork roast, au gratin potatoes, butter parsley carrot chips, and a sour cream nut and choc chip cake [no food allegies].

Here's the rub - the dinner delivery is by 5:45, I work part time, and I have no microwave to defrost the roast. It's been in the fridge for a day and a half, feels mostly defrosted but I'm concerned about making it on time so I'm thinking of putting it in the crock pot in the morning and maybe crisping it up the hour before delivery, you think that's ok?

Also I wanted to sign up for another night and I thought a "dinner for breakfast" nite might be fun/different ala an egg cheese sausage cresent roll casserole and Rice Krispie treats. Should I ask the family first or just sign it up [they have no say in the sign up]?

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Comments (8)

donnar57
16 years ago
We personally have "breakfast for dinner" periodically - it's fun. We learned that from another family. My daughter says her college serves breakfast for dinner once a month, and our K-12 schools also offer breakfast for lunch once a month. So....unless you know that another family did that for them just recently....why not????

PS the pork roast idea sounds yummy. No microwave by choice or because it's out of order????

DonnaR/CA
sands99
Original Author
16 years ago
Hey Donna, our microwave just took a dive last week - we're awaiting a new stainless convection micro this Thursday. I had originally signed up for a dinner 1/19 but the family decided to fend for themselves on weekends so I was rescheduled and wasn't prepared to have my kitchen in shambles while waiting for a new stove micro and a [last night] install of a new dishwasher but in comparison to what the Jones' dealt with unexpectedly I will gladly do whatever I can to work with my problems to help out with theirs. My 2nd grader is in the special education program with their 3rd graders. Travis and Trevor are doing so well through all of this, god bless those lil buggers!

PS I love Breakfast for Dinner too!
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Cloud Swift
16 years ago
I know nothing about pork roasts, but the same method that works to speed turkey defrosting should work for other meats - immersion in cold water. Heat transfer is faster with water than with air. Not quite as quick as a microwave but a lot faster than the fridge.
deborah_ps
16 years ago
Sands,

I'm by no means a specialist when it comes to meat...but I wouldn't put it into the crockpot and then "crisp" it up in the oven. I'm thinking it will be over cooked and dry with that method.
I don't know how large the roast is, but it will probably be de-frosted by tomorrow and you'll be able to just roast it off like you normally would.
And if the roast is especially large, maybe bring along a bottle of nice bbq sauce, some buns and instructions on how to put together hot pork sandwiches for the leftovers.
I love the breakfast for dinner idea!
How very nice of you to take care of this family during their difficult time. It does take a village :)
caliloo
16 years ago
No, I would not put it in the crockpot then try to crisp it either.

I made a bone in pork rib roast for dinner last night and it took 20 min/lb at 425. That meant my 4 lb rib roast was done in 80 minutes. Is there any way you could prep it in the morning (just a rub with garlic, salt and pepper would be great), keep it refrigerated, then pop it in the oven when you get home? Even if the roast is larger, I might cut it in half to make 2 smaller roasts in a shorter time.

It was really good with the crispy garlicy crust and tender juicy meat.

On the second idea - I love breakfast for dinner too. As DonnaR mentioned, unless someone else did the same idea recently, I would go ahead and plan on it!

Good luck!

Alexa
jcrowley99
16 years ago
If you are concerned that the center is still frozen cutting it in half (like Alexa suggested) is a good idea. That way any frozen meat will be exposed and thaw faster. If you can cut it in the morning before going to work it should finish thawing by cook time, and it will cook faster.
sands99
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm cutting the roast in half length wise and I'm off to work. Thanks for the suggestions!
Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
We do breakfast for dinner almost every week..It's like a "free" meal for me...It's one everyone will eat!

Poised to make a contribution meal for a family in need

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Poised to make a contribution meal for a family in need

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donnar57

sands99Original Author

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