Thank you all for your advice and recipes. Caliloo, I am definately going to do up the Chicken and Noodle casserole. How couldn't anyone like it? it has all the goodies in it- chicken,mushrooms and cheese. And it looks like even I could cook it! Sherrmann, I hear you, I really do. Just thinking about someone bringing me a steak or something if I were convalescing, would probably set me back immediately. Annie 1992, there is no problem with sodium or sugar. If I repeat Sherrmann's words while I deal with stew meat, I will probably be able to carry it off. And I have to admit, I am intrigued by the gingerale ingrediant. But if I stay for dinner (I'm going to be on dishwashing duty as well) I will bring my own peanut butter sandwich! Rachelellen, Great suggestion about deli meats and pre-cooked meats. You have reminded me that I know of a place that sells pre-made and cooked meatballs.So, that is one dinner down- spagetti, meatballs, and some tomatoe sauce, and he will like that. And Kathleenca, I think I will put a few good frozen dinners in his freezer. They will be my back up plan. Thank you all for your good wishes for my Dad's recovery. I will be so glad when his surgery is over and he is on the mend.

If you haven't found it yet, I think this is what you are looking for. Posted by: Anne (StrayKat11369@aol.com) on Sat, Apr 7, 01 at 23:26 This is a recipe that my family literally will fight over. It makes a delicious gravy (what they fight over) and absolutely nothing to making it.I double the recipe and there is still none left at the end of the meal. No Peek Casserole 2 lbs stew meat ( i use 3 lbs) 1 can Campbell's Chicken Mushroom Soup 1/2 cup Gingerale 1 pkg Lipton Onion Soup Mix 1 4 oz jar mushrooms, drained (optional) Preheat oven to 300. Comebine ALL ingredients (DO NOT brown meat and DO NOT dilute soup with water) together. Mix well. It will be lumpy before it's cooked. Pour into a casserole dish and cover. Bake 2 1/2 to 3 hours. DON't PEEK!! Serve over pasta, rice or mashed potatoe's. The smell as it's cooking is WONDERFUL It's in the thread titled Posted by: Anne (StrayKat11369@aol.com) on Sat, Apr 7, 01 at 23:26 This is a recipe that my family literally will fight over. It makes a delicious gravy (what they fight over) and absolutely nothing to making it.I double the recipe and there is still none left at the end of the meal. No Peek Casserole 2 lbs stew meat ( i use 3 lbs) 1 can Campbell's Chicken Mushroom Soup 1/2 cup Gingerale 1 pkg Lipton Onion Soup Mix 1 4 oz jar mushrooms, drained (optional) Preheat oven to 300. Comebine ALL ingredients (DO NOT brown meat and DO NOT dilute soup with water) together. Mix well. It will be lumpy before it's cooked. Pour into a casserole dish and cover. Bake 2 1/2 to 3 hours. DON't PEEK!! Serve over pasta, rice or mashed potatoe's. The smell as it's cooking is WONDERFUL It's in the thread titled "Favorite family recipe?".

Put some ham or turkey into a grilled cheese sandwich. Hamburger (or ground pork or sausage or a mixture) makes chili, sloppy joes, spaghetti, tater tot hotdish, tacos and a myriad of other things. Pork chops in cream soup/milk mixture makes its own gravy. Submarine sandwiches. Meatball subs using frozen meatballs & canned marinars sauce, topped with cheese, onion, green pepper or whatever you like. A plain old sandwich with good deli meats and cheeses on a good bread or bun is a treat. Canned and frozen veggies are a good assistant. How about a veggie tray? Chef's salad? Nachos can be hearty if you top it with some cut up cooked turkey, chicken, hamburger or what-have-you. Making lasagna isn't difficult. The pasta package has a good basic recipe and just add what your like. For that matter making a meatloaf isn't complicated. A good quality sausage and some rice or sauerkraut if you like it is easy. Decent hot dogs decked out how you like them. The whole point is you're not going to have YOUR cooking. Hopefully you'll enjoy a change of menu during your recuperation. BTW, putting a turkey in the roaster, or a ham or even a pot roast doesn't have to be that difficult or complicated. Bake some potatoes, salad or frozen/canned veg can be a source of pride for an accomplishment. Do you have any community cookbooks? Church, community or school fundraiser types? They usually have a lot of simple, homestyle recipes and give good detail if needed. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

My Mom often asks me to make the V8 stew, it is her favorite. Beef stew with V8 From Better homes and gardens new cook book 2 TBL all purpose flour 1 pound beef or pork stew meat 2 TBL cooking oil 3 ½ cups vegetable juice cocktail ½ cup chopped onion 2 teaspoons instant beef bouillon granules 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ tsp dried basil, crushed ½ tsp dried thyme, crushed 2 ¼ cups cubed, peeled potatoes 2 cups sliced carrots 1 cup sliced celery Place flour in a plastic bag. Add meat cubes, a few at a time, shaking to coat. In a large saucepan or dutch oven brown meat, half at a time, in hot oil. Return meat to saucepan. Add juice cocktail, onion, bouillon granules, garlic, basil, and thyme. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover, simmer 1  1 ¼ hours for beef (30 minutes for pork) or till meat is nearly tender. Add potatoes, carrots, and celery. Cover; simmer 30 minutes more. Skim fat. Makes 4 main dish servings. My notes say use 1 ½ lbs beef, 1 ¼ cups potatoes, 1 cup carrots. We prefer more meat and less veggies at our house.