What should I bring for the main dish?
The two meals I would suggest are Chicken Teriyaki and BBQ Chicken. These suggestions take into account that most people preparing the meals are not going to have unlimited time and money. These are crockpot meals that can be prepared quickly in the morning and then cook slowly throughout the day. They are easy to prepare, affordable, and they appeal to most people, including picky eaters and kids. And they are easy to transport. [They are not, however, the most amazing gourmet meals that have ever been made. If you have the ability to make this kind of meal instead, go for it!!]
Casseroles are also always good - things such as lasagna, chicken pot pie, Shepherd's pie - because you can prepare them the night before (or whenever it's convenient for you and then store in your freezer) and then all you have to do is cook. Or bring them to the recipient with baking instructions.
What should I bring for sides?
You can get really creative with this, but if you don't know the people's dietary preferences well and / or if they have kids, it's probably best to keep it simple. Some kind of veggie (salad kits are great for this), some kind of bread (pre-made from a bakery works great) / rice / potato / grain, and some kind of dessert (again, store bought is fine). (And for those times when you're REALLY short on time but longer on money, restaurant take-out is always an option.)
What about when there are special dietary needs?
The Internet has great ideas for almost any special diet needs. Chili is an excellent, hearty meal that can be tinkered with in a hundred ways and is gluten free, dairy free, egg free, and can be made meat free. Other types of soups will often work for special diets. If the special need is gluten free, there are many products available at the grocery store that will be allow your favorite recipes to be modified to gluten free - pasta noodles is where I've used this the most. These peanut butter cookies are a good, easy, delicious gluten free dessert. If the special dietary need is more unusual, you can always ask the person what some of their favorite meals are to get ideas flowing. It can feel like an insurmountable challenge to cook under restrictions that you're not used to, but it's a great chance to be creative and it's *really* not that hard to figure out a plan and follow a new recipe.
Any other tips?
- When you hit the grocery store, consider buying disposable containers to deliver the food. This will be easier on the recipient than working out a plan to return containers and ensure you don't lose your favorite containers.
- Text the person to let them know when you're coming and keep them updated if there's changes to your schedule. This facilitates the person being home and ready when you deliver the meal, which is good for everyone :).
And while we're on the topic of recipes, here's one bonus crowd-pleasing, super easy but not low-cal idea for potlucks:
Cheesy Potatoes
Ingredients:
2 lbs frozen hashbrowns (defrosted)
1/2 cup melted butter
1 tspn salt
1/2 tspn pepper
2 T dried onion
1 cup cream of chicken soup
2 cups sour cream
2 cups grated cheddar
Mix all ingredients and put in 9x13 casserole dish. Bake covered for 1 hour at 350 degrees F.
Bon Appetit! And please share ideas / recipes / links with your favorite things to bring people!
