4 Comfort Food Recipes for Friends and Family in Need
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During difficult times, friends, relatives or neighbors may feel isolated and dropping off a meal can be a way to provide comfort and connection. You can cook up one meal, or if someone is facing a long-term challenge, help organize more regular food deliveries. Sometimes called a meal train, the idea is to organize a scheduled delivery of planned meals (usually dinners) over the course of a few days, a week or even longer for someone who needs it. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Typically one person takes the lead on planning (websites like and make it easy), sharing with participants any dietary restrictions or preferences and offering slots for signup. Then it’s up to you to decide what to cook for the person in need. Whether you’re organizing a meal train or taking part in one, keep a few things in mind. First, don’t feel pressured to make the “perfect” meal.
“When we are supporting someone through grief, it can feel like we have to say, do and, in this case, cook the right things,” says grief consultant Alica Forneret, executive director of PAUSE, a service that supports communities of color through grief. A dish should be a “reminder that there are people willing to put in the effort to support them.”
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and coat a 10 - by 10 -inch baking pan with nonstick spray. 2. Sprinkle panko onto bottom of pan. 3. In medium bowl, whisk eggs, milk and oregano. Entertainment 30% off a 1-year subscription See more Entertainment offers > 6. Pour frittata mixture into prepared baking pan. Top with remaining 2 tablespoons of cheese. 7. Bake mixture for 25-30 minutes, or until the eggs set. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before cutting frittata into squares. Drizzle hot sauce on top before serving (or deliver with a bottle on the side).
1. To a large pot, add the oil, onion and garlic. Stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes, until the onion is softened. 2. Add the squash and sweet potato and stir to combine. Add a pinch of salt and continue sautéing for a few minutes. 3. Add the broth, diced tomatoes (with juices), coconut milk, lentils, tomato paste, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, salt and pepper. Stir well to combine. 4. Increase heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, stir again and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash and potato are fork-tender. Reduce the heat if necessary. 5. Add the apple cider vinegar , to taste. Adjust the other seasonings if desired. 6. Stir in the kale and cook for another couple of minutes until the greens are wilted.
4 Comforting Meals to Bring to a Friend in Need
When someone is sick or grieving show you care with these dishes
Getty Images When someone is sick, grieving a loss or quarantining because of or exposure, nothing shows you care like a warm, hearty meal delivered to their doorstep.During difficult times, friends, relatives or neighbors may feel isolated and dropping off a meal can be a way to provide comfort and connection. You can cook up one meal, or if someone is facing a long-term challenge, help organize more regular food deliveries. Sometimes called a meal train, the idea is to organize a scheduled delivery of planned meals (usually dinners) over the course of a few days, a week or even longer for someone who needs it. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Typically one person takes the lead on planning (websites like and make it easy), sharing with participants any dietary restrictions or preferences and offering slots for signup. Then it’s up to you to decide what to cook for the person in need. Whether you’re organizing a meal train or taking part in one, keep a few things in mind. First, don’t feel pressured to make the “perfect” meal.
“When we are supporting someone through grief, it can feel like we have to say, do and, in this case, cook the right things,” says grief consultant Alica Forneret, executive director of PAUSE, a service that supports communities of color through grief. A dish should be a “reminder that there are people willing to put in the effort to support them.”
Making a meal Consider these tips
• Ask about food allergies or preferences before planning a meal. • Pack food in containers that don’t need to be returned. When possible, opt for containers that are easy to eat from, for convenience, and that can be reused. • Ask if meals should be left on the porch in a cooler or if someone will answer the door to receive them. Sometimes people aren’t up to seeing visitors. • If you're planning the meal train, schedule meals every other day, since leftovers often stack up. • Make a big batch of whatever you’re cooking and freeze extras for someone else, or your own family. Then think about dishes that don’t take a lot of time to make. Some foods can be made in batches and frozen (think tamales, energy bars or smoothie cups), Forneret says. “My number one tip is to take a meal that you like to make and is easy,” says Adina E. Bailey, cofounder of the free meal-scheduling service Take Them A Meal. Consider adding store-bought elements to the delivery to lighten your load, like a nice loaf of or a warm rotisserie chicken, Bailey says. “The love behind the gesture is what counts,” she says. Ready to get cooking? Read on for seafood, vegetarian, chicken and beef dishes that will provide comfort, but aren’t complicated.A seafood frittata for breakfast or dinner
It’s hard to beat the versatility of this dish, which can be served with fresh berries and toast for breakfast or mixed greens and French bread for dinner. “Casseroles make a great meal train food because they are portable and easy to reheat whenever the recipient is ready to eat,” says food and nutrition expert Rima Kleiner of National Fisheries Institute blog, Dish on Fish. This contains nutrient-rich veggies and crab, which provides protein for muscle-building, as well as omega-3s and vitamin B2 for brain health, Kleiner says.Crab Frittata Squares br
1 teaspoon olive oil2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs8 eggs6 ounces milk1/2 teaspoon dried oregano1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced2 cups chopped kale8 ounces pasteurized lump crabmeat1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheeseSalt and pepper, to tasteHot sauce for garnish (optional)Nonstick cooking spray Courtesy Dish on Fish Instructions:1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and coat a 10 - by 10 -inch baking pan with nonstick spray. 2. Sprinkle panko onto bottom of pan. 3. In medium bowl, whisk eggs, milk and oregano. Entertainment 30% off a 1-year subscription See more Entertainment offers > 6. Pour frittata mixture into prepared baking pan. Top with remaining 2 tablespoons of cheese. 7. Bake mixture for 25-30 minutes, or until the eggs set. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before cutting frittata into squares. Drizzle hot sauce on top before serving (or deliver with a bottle on the side).
A hearty vegetarian soup with optional meat br
At Vista Verde Ranch near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, nourishing meals get guests ready for adventure activities like ice fishing or backcountry skiing (or just relaxing in a hot tub). The ranch’s rich vegetarian is a house favorite that transcends seasons (so be sure to make extra to freeze for yourself). “It’s a great hearty stew for anytime of the year and delicious as is,” says Vista Verde’s food and beverage director, Chol McGlynn. Meat lovers can add ground turkey to punch up the protein a bit, he adds.Butternut Sweet Potato and Lentil Stew
2 tablespoons pure olive oil1 medium onion, diced4 large garlic cloves, minced3 cups peeled, seeded and diced butternut squash1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced3 cups vegetable broth1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes1 14-ounce can coconut milk1/2 cup dried red lentils, rinsed3 tablespoons tomato paste1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin1/2 teaspoon chili powder1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more if you like heatKosher salt, to tasteFreshly ground black pepper, to taste3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, or to taste1 bunch kale, stemmed and finely chopped Instructions:1. To a large pot, add the oil, onion and garlic. Stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes, until the onion is softened. 2. Add the squash and sweet potato and stir to combine. Add a pinch of salt and continue sautéing for a few minutes. 3. Add the broth, diced tomatoes (with juices), coconut milk, lentils, tomato paste, turmeric, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, salt and pepper. Stir well to combine. 4. Increase heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, stir again and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash and potato are fork-tender. Reduce the heat if necessary. 5. Add the apple cider vinegar , to taste. Adjust the other seasonings if desired. 6. Stir in the kale and cook for another couple of minutes until the greens are wilted.