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My Favorite New Mom Meal + 🎉 A GIVEAWAY 🎉

FEBRUARY 5, 2019 / MAUREEN WITMER /

When you're taking a meal to a new mom, do you change up what you make or take the same meal every time? I used to get creative with each meal I took, racking my brain for new recipes with each new baby. Recently, I decided to keep it simple by preparing the same delicious, trusted meal, and I'm excited to share it with you today (and tell you about our fun giveaway because at TakeThemAMeal.com we love new moms!).

There are many questions to consider when cooking for a woman who just gave birth or welcomed a newborn home through adoption/foster care. First, as always, check the TakeThemAMeal.com schedule for food allergies or sensitivities. Even if none are listed, and the new mom is nursing, be mindful of not including gas-inducing foods, such as beans, broccoli, cabbage and others. Also, consider the whole family when judging quantity. Are there other children? How old are they? Finally, think about taking nourishing foods. Her body and emotions have just been through a lot and she's not likely getting much restorative sleep.

This is my go-to new mom meal for many reasons. It's simply, nutritious comfort food made with whole ingredients (i.e. no cream of anything soup), is easily customizable, transports well, and is family-friendly. Now when you sign up to take a meal you can immediately fill in the "What I Plan to Bring" field with confidence! Here's the menu-

Chicken and Rice Casserole*
Spinach Salad*
Applesauce (store bought or homemade)
Rolls (store bought or homemade)
Brownies (from a box or my favorite homemade recipe)
(optional) Baked Oatmeal, for breakfast or snacking*
*recipes below

Now let's talk giveaway! Since we have a special place in our hearts for new moms and the kind people who cook for them, we're giving away 30 adorable "Feed My Mommy" onesies! Simply fill out this form and we'll ship your onesie for free! But hurry! This is limited to the first 30 people who respond!

Chicken and Rice Casserole
recipe details

Serves: 6 (easily doubled if cooking for your own family too)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter- 1/2 stick (use Earth Balance if dairy free)
1 small onion, chopped
1 large stem of celery, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 cup uncooked rice
3 cups chicken broth
2 chicken boneless breasts (or use 1-2 cups pre-cooked chicken, like from a rotisserie chicken)
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Boil chicken until cooked, at least 30 minutes. Let cool and cut up into bite size pieces. Set aside.
Melt butter in a skillet. Add chopped veggies and rice. Saute for 5 minutes.
Add chicken broth, salt and pepper.
Cook in a large baking dish (use a foil 9x13 pan for easy transport and clean up) and spread the cooked chicken on the top. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

Cranberry Almond Spinach Salad
recipe details

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
3/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered
1 pound spinach, rinsed and torn into bite sized pieces
1 cup dried cranberries

Dressing (or buy your own):

2 Tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon minced onion
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cider vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Directions:

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook and stir almonds in butter until lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and let cool. Mix spinach, almonds, and cranberries in a gallon-size plastic bag for easy transport.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, onion, paprika, white wine vinegar, cider vinegar, and vegetable oil. Put in a small container to transport. Mix with spinach right before serving.

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal
recipe details

Serves: 10

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 cup oil OR 1/2 cup oil + 1/2 cup applesauce
6 cups oatmeal
2 tsp salt
2-3 tsp apple pie spice
4 eggs
2 cups milk
4 tsp baking powder
1 can pumpkin

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.
Grease 9x13 pan (use foil for easy transport and clean up).
Mix all ingredients together and spread into greased pan.
Bake 45-55 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Read other recent articles by Maureen Witmer:

Adina & Maureen

Welcome! We're thrilled you stopped by. Our own joys and sorrows have taught us that a well-timed meal delivered by a friend is one of the best gifts imaginable. In this space, we share our favorite recipes to take to friends, meal-taking tips, and other ways to care for those who are dear to you.

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