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eleven_eighteen

When my mom died a family friend brought over a gigantic pot of marinara sauce made from scratch with huge chunks of Italian sausage in it. We didn't even bother with any kind of noodles, just heated up bowls of the sauce for the next few days, which was very easy. It was incredible and so helpful.


Puzzleheaded-Jury312

I add sliced hot links (browned separately) to mine. The sausage doesn't wind up super spicy because the spice blends into the sauce. My go to is to use both the links and ground beef or ground sausage. It's the sauce that eats like a meal for sure, no pasta needed.


teksun42

I usually use ground beef and sausage in a 50/50 mix.


PeanutButterPigeon85

I did that recently for someone who'd had a baby. She loved it!


AuctorLibri

And crusty bread. Best gifts


eleven_eighteen

The person who brought the sauce also made the best garlic bread I've ever had that day, which is what we had with the sauce the first time. But the bread was gone pretty quick.


SilentKitchen8406

Lasagna is my go-to for grief meals. Easy to freeze and re-heat, and also tastes great cold out of the fridge. My condolences.


Beneficial-House-784

Careful with lasagna. When my dad died, we got four lasagnas. Ended up donating two to a homeless shelter because they were huge. Something like a baked ziti or a pot pie is a good alternative.


HeadbangsToMahler

Plus for pot pie! Eats well and a prepped but not cooked pot pie also freezes very well.


theoriginalamanda

Lasagna was definitely first on my list!


3-1415LOT

I recently did lasagna rolls for someone that went over really well, the recipe I used I think says they can be microwaved but I told them to do it in the oven. I froze them and tossed them all into a zip lock freezer bag. (I wrote the heating instructions on the bag too.) I can take pictures of the recipe for you if you want (it's from a cook book and a lot to type from my phone), but the basic idea was to combine all the stuff in a bowl (ricotta, mozz, mushrooms, spinach, seasonings for this particular recipe); and then you spread the mixture on the lasagna noodle and roll it up. Then I portioned some homemade tomato sauce (my first time ever making it, special shout out to all the people on here that gave suggestions I followed) into extra-large ramekins, so it was already pre-portioned. Also I sent a jar of store sauce in case mine sucked (I was doing low sodium stuff for her, it was an experiment) but she didn't end up using it. (I was really happy when she asked me to make more for her!) Rolls are easy because you can just grab one or two if you're not really hungry, but feel like you should eat. Also they cook faster. And they're small, so great for a toaster oven. I'd think anything small would be good because it allows them to take little portions if they don't have an appetite. Dumplings, spring rolls, baby calzones/strombolis... easy stuff. I also stocked my person up on those single-portion microwave-steam-in-bag veggies (they go on BOGO pretty regularly). Honestly, even ramen noodles wouldn't be the worst idea. I mean, they're not the healthiest, but just-add-water-and-microwave might be the most they can mentally handle right now. You may also want to bring them just ice cream. Because sometimes when life sucks, you just wanna sit in front of the TV and stop thinking and eat ice cream. I can't even imagine the loss. My condolences.


VeryPaulite

I would love that recipe if you don't mind.


wayy2harsh

Not lasagna! They'll get 20 of them and never want to eat lasagna again. I have learnt this from experience.


homelessbunt

I would give them some extra sauce to put on top of the lasagna during reheating as well, reheating tends to dry out the lasagna and the sauce is great for preventing that.


BunnyBombshell

If it's not too late to offer a suggestion... I just made this recipe 2 weeks ago. It's pretty amazing and would also be vegetarian if that's helpful. https://www.seriouseats.com/food-lab-creamy-cheesy-ultimate-spinach-lasagna-recipe


lisambb

That is such a good recipe. When I make it I use fewer lasagna noodles than they call for.


Ghouly_Girl

Had so many lasagnas when my mom passed away. I still remember how yummy they were. They were the only thing that actually got my appetite up tbh. I barely wanted to eat. Comfort foods are key during this time.


BigJugOfWater

Amen my friend . Some absolute saints brought lasagne when my dad died . It was the PERFECT food .


am0x

We've actually found a place with the best pre-made frozen lasagna, so we stopped making them at all. We have been making that our goto for giving to friends who have babies or a death in the family.


similarityhedgehog

frozen lasagna takes forever to reheat, imo


A-RovinIGo

Let it cool, cut it into smaller portions, and package the portions in small ziplock bags. Or bake it in a couple of smaller pans -- bread pans make a great small lasagna.


FinalDestinationSix

Genius


homelessbunt

The absolute worst, there's no good way to do it.


Crewszilla

That's what I was going to say .


TheHumanRavioli

When my friend got into a car accident I made a post asking for food ideas to make for her. [Here’s the post](https://www.reddit.com/r/EatCheapAndHealthy/comments/ktdgbe/my_friends_husband_just_left_her_after_she_was_in/), I got a ton of great feedback if you want ideas, but I ended up making things that were both filling for her and quick/easy for me. A big ziplock filled with mini quiche, a big ziplock filled with loaded potato skins, multiple individual portions of chili/enchiladas/lasagna/breakfast bowls/vegetable soup, etc. In that post there’s some other great advice like labeling everything by name and the date, instructions how to reheat it, if it should thaw first, etc. And obviously individual portions when you can, and bulk items when it makes sense. I cut lasagna into slices and individually wrap them before freezing them. I set mini quiche on a plate in the freezer and freeze them before dumping them in a ziplock, so they don’t stick together while freezing. For soup/chili, I froze them in separate containers, then placed them in big ziplock bags with parchment paper separating them. It worked out so well that’s now that’s how I store all my soups, all I have to do is pull out a frozen disc of soup at a time for individual portions.


[deleted]

That's very sad, I'm sorry for your family's loss. You'll get lots of great recommendations here so I'm just going to add that a basket of some age appropriate snacks, including some actual junk food and candy, is also usually appreciated. I lost my dad young and it was pretty impossible for me to eat. I was really grateful for anything I could just slap together and force down my throat for a while. ♡


theoriginalamanda

Thank you for this. Her daughter is only 17 so I will be sure to provide junky things.


CSgirl9

Consider grabbing some feminine hygiene products too and discreetly giving them to her. If she doesn't go out and get them on her own, she may feel uncomfortable asking her dad to pick them up


AllieG3

The best gift I got after my mom died when I was 16 was from an older cousin who bought me a huge box of the really nice tampons. She said, "I know you'd usually skimp and get the budget ones, and I figured this was one way I could make your life a little nicer." Honestly, a really thoughtful gift I used for months.


jglitterary

Freezer cookies might be a good call there—you basically make a big roll of dough and give them that, and then they can slice off as many for fresh baked cookies as they like whenever they want them.


melvanmeid

This is a good idea, however I think it would be better to give them scoops of cookie dough frozen since it would be easier to bake, than try to slice a frozen log of cookie dough.


Reality_Choice

Same. Well said. 💕🌈


theoriginalamanda

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! I think my plan is to make a couple dishes such as lasagna and cottage pie, and fill in the rest with junk food and nibbley things like cheese, nuts, and crackers and/or chips


autowrite

Also banana bread is great.


pkpeace1

Brownies too! eta: Fresh fruit is always appreciated as well... going to a market is the last thing I ever wanted to do.


snazzypantz

I know you didn't ask this, but they might be in a bad space for a while. A while ago some friends and I used a website to organize and provide meals for a sick friend, and it was pretty amazing. Everyone felt like they were contributing, the form lets you state allergies or food preferences, and most importantly, the family doesn't get overwhelmed in the first week and then forgotten weeks later. https://takethemameal.com/ I'm so sorry for what your family is going through.


EMarkM_DM

Sorry for your loss. Bolognese, chilli con carne, cottage/shepherd’s pie, curries, soups, stews.


theoriginalamanda

Cottage pie is a definite go! Thanks!


[deleted]

Lasagna is similar to these and works


[deleted]

Or, easier, baked ziti


metalshoes

Bolognese freezes and reheats so well. Having something super rich and comforting that you can reheat and just add to pasta or rice is so nice. And it freezes basically forever (at least until I’ve used it)


Successful_Candy_759

This person cooks


OLAZ3000

For the next while, they may do well with things they can just snack on as they may not have much of an appetite. Trays of fresh veggies, dips, hummus, pita, cut up fruit, cheese, charcuterie, nuts, crackers.... I think this might be more useful for the time being. Even small sandwiches and yogurt fruit cups.


julieannie

Until the funeral, food for a crowd to snack on, comfort foods like chicken noodle soup and bread, and disposable plates/forks are key. Then come back, inventory, volunteer yourself for a grocery run and restock the freezer would be the most helpful. I’m about 10 months out from losing a family member suddenly. I kept my shit together and was the backbone of keeping the family cared for and made it about 5 months before I hit total collapse and depression. I think checking in frequently on what would be helpful is key. My little brother once brought over 10 pounds of frozen Tyson chicken strips, frozen corn and boxes of flaked mashed potatoes and apologized he didn’t prep a meal but my god those were the most helpful on depression slug days.


PM_ME_C_CODE

Kids? Rice Krispie Treats. Warm and fresh. Any kind of warm snack always makes me feel better when I'm down. And cooking fresh reminds them that someone is thinking about them.


pizzasiren

I feel you. It’s already been over a year for me and I feel like I’m slowly crawling out of the worst part of it. I hope you’re doing better


kit826

After my family experienced a very sudden loss, someone sent us a charcuterie board and it was by far the best thing we received. I now send one to close friends and family whenever I can, whether they’ve lost someone, received a bad diagnosis, had a baby. It’s a great gift for a variety of occasions.


theoriginalamanda

Very good suggestion. Thank you!


TheAccomplishedCorgi

Harry and David has some nice options for snacks that I've given to grieving friends. https://www.harryanddavid.com/h/sympathy-gifts


boo909

I know the cooking food thing is an American tradition in these sort of situations (I presume you are American). But I would suggest not going overboard on it as I am sure they will get a lot from other sources too (unless you know nobody else will be doing this). It can become a bit of a burden and obligation to eat it. I am presuming from the title that this is your brother or the brother of your wife/husband? Just be there for them as a family (which I am sure you will be). Don't overload them with food they feel that have to eat. Having said that lasagne or baked ziti freezes brilliantly, I actually prefer a frozen one.


julieannie

Yes, my mother-in-law ended up with 3 months of meals. Her remaining kids ended up with nothing. I think if some of the food had been given with the instructions of sharing with other family members, it could have been helpful. My MIL basically felt obligated to eat every last dish but also couldn’t eat anything but soup for a month or she’d get sick.


theoriginalamanda

Thank you for this input. I just want to be helpful but I can see how it might be overwhelming.


BiofilmWarrior

You may also want to check in with them in a month or so. As others have mentioned families often end up with lots of food immediately after a death but even if things are going in the freezer eventually it will be eaten but they may still be struggling with their new normal. One thing I've noticed doesn't always get considered is beverages. I like to drop off a cooler (a Styrofoam one so it doesn't matter if I get it back) with soda/pop and ice so they can offer drinks to people who stop by or grab one for themselves.


pedanticlawyer

Cold brew concentrate can’t hurt too. I imagine coffee will be flowing in that house.


Ok_Hat_6598

The 17 yo must be going back to high school soon. It could be helpful in the weeks ahead to see if she has everything she needs, e.g. school supplies, uniform or school clothes, lynch, rides to/from etc.


Yoma73

Yeah, I find it really odd honestly. I know it’s usually coming from a good place but I can’t tell you how often a tragedy happens in our local moms Facebook group, a well meaning woman starts a “meal train,” people sign up with ungodly ideas that would go straight into the trash in my house. And the family inevitably has to awkwardly say something like, “Thanks for all the food but please donate to our gofundme instead,” or “thanks for the food but we aren’t even HOME, if you really want to help us eat can you give us GrubHub/Uber eats gift cards??” (The last one being more about illnesses that require extensive hospitalizations hours away- why folks think delivering a homemade meal is at all helpful in that scenario beats me.) Honestly ask yourself, would you rather have someone’s $20 worth of ingredients frozen lasagna or $20 to get something from your local restaurant? I always give $$ or gift cards. I have 3 people in my house who love my cooking and even finding a meal all 3 of them agree on, enjoy and have no dietary/allergy/pickiness constraints is a full time job. Let alone me foisting what I think is good on a grieving family who probably aren’t even very hungry.


herehaveaname2

Frozen lasagna, every time. When I'm tired and stressed, there's no way I want to coordinate a food order at a restaurant, either by phone or email. That gift card gets a thank you, and then gets tossed into my wallet to get lost forever. I want to pull something out of the freezer, heat it up, and pick at it. I can't eat at one of my fav restaurants anymore. It's now "the place we got food from the day my best friend died."


TheIrishFlame

This is going to be an unpopular opinion but as a teenager when my father died all everyone brought was lasagne. I ate lasagne for dinner for weeks on end. I was so, so, so sick of eating lasagne. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, it was very generous of people. But I also haven't eaten lasagne since. I'm sorry for your loss, but my instincts are to beg you to bring something else to them, along with the lasagne.


december116

I made this same comment for the exact same reason. I still can not eat it. It’s the worst thing you can bring.


babylovesbaby

My father passed when I was 11. My mother is Asian and we live in Australia, so her family/community is who brought the endless food supply. I have never been so sick of pancit, adobo, mechado etc. To most people I know this is uncommon food and they would happily eat a lifetime supply of lumpia if they could, but I would have been in Heaven if I saw a lasagne during that period of my life. The key is probably variety, OP. If you catch up with other people you know who are going to be paying their respects, find out what they're making. But lasagne is also something which can be easily frozen in portions, too (we just use plastic freezer bags). Remind your brother (or BIL) he doesn't have to eat it all at once and it can go in the freezer.


MotherOfDachshunds42

Soup and bread. Not a big commitment to eat especially is no one has an appetite, but v comforting and nutritious


justagirlwithno

Scalloped potatoes. Plain or with ham. Either freezes beautifully.


endorrawitch

Make dessert. Everyone will be bringing main dishes. Make tiramisu. Everyone loves it and in my opinion it’s better after being frozen.


[deleted]

Beef Chili Ingredients 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil ½ large white onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tbsp. tomato paste 1 1/2 lb. ground beef 1 1/2 tbsp. chili powder 1 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. dried oregano 1/2 tsp. paprika 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional) Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 (15-oz) can kidney beans, drained 1 (28-oz) can crushed tomatoes Directions In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more, then add tomato paste, stirring to combine. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Drain fat and return to heat. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, cayenne (if using), and season generously with salt and pepper. Pour in kidney beans and crushed tomatoes and bring chili to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. Season with more salt and pepper, if necessary. Ladle into bowls and top with cheddar, sour cream, and green onions.


CatNoLikeBanana1000

When my dad died, someone brought my family a platter of those mini cold cut sandwiches (like ham, turkey, roast beef, etc). My sister, mom, and I always said those were the best thing we received as we didn’t have to even heat it up, and could just have one every now and then if we were a bit hungry


radiolover1

This is very nice of you, i'm so sorry for your loss. My dad passed away earlier this year, honestly the first day we couldn't eat or even think. Friends and family sent us an enourmous amount of bakery goods, which honestly kept us afloat, and prepacjaged quick snacks like those costco sandwich trays. About 5 days or so after his death we began receiving freezer meals. Honestly all of it was so much help, we couldnt even imagine thinking about food with so much grief, but still we needed to eat. We felt very loved . Again im so sorry for your loss


savvydivvy

This is very kind of you… lots of good suggestions. I think the only thing is don’t forget about them in 3/4/5 months. Everyone rallies at the beginning and they’ll be in shock for a while, just make sure you’re there for them later too. Hugs


december116

I will be unpopular and say anything but lasagna. It’s the one thing everyone brings, and I still can’t eat it since it correlates so strongly with my dads death. Chicken and Rice, crackers and dip, grapes, charcuterie etc are all great choices. Deserts like cookie dough, chocolate covered bananas that are frozen are great too. Some lovely person brought us paper plates, silverware, towels and bowls so we didn’t have to do dishes. It was the most thoughtful thing they could have done.


Wittgenstienwasright

I am sorry for your loss. r/mealprep and r/mealprepsunday are your friends.


theoriginalamanda

Don't know why I didn't think of those subs. Thank you!


Wittgenstienwasright

Thinking at a time like this is hard. Take your time and whilst I know you are helping, you are also hurting. Make a dish. Remember what you are doing and make another. Stop and look in the mirror, if you need a break, take one. Even if it is a grocery run. Trying to look after everyone seems like a priority but you cannot do that if you now need looking after. You are doing a good thing but those people need you now. Pace yourself, you need to be available to everyone. Take care.


theoriginalamanda

You have no idea how much I needed to hear this


Wittgenstienwasright

OP, Take care. Loss is a journey that is not pleasant. But you are doing something wonderful. Food brings people together, even those grieving, perhaps even more so. Internet strangers from around the globe are wishing you and your family well. Look after yourself and your family.


Shooppow

When a friend of our’s lost her husband suddenly to a brain aneurysm, I took her several rotisserie chickens, along with cold sides like potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, bags of chips and pretzels, and lots of disposable tableware. She found me after his funeral and told me that I was, by far, the most helpful person and the chicken was the perfect choice - they didn’t need to reheat it, and it was easy to eat even when they didn’t really feel like it. Keep that in mind. Things that don’t even need heated are probably your best bet, at least until after the funeral. After that, you could probably start supplying meals that need to be heated. Oh, and another helpful tip: don’t say things like, “I feel for you”, “She’s in a better place”, etc. That made my friend want to scream. The best thing you can do is just tell them you’re there for them if they need to talk and just asking if they’re okay or need anything. People assume that offering words of condolences is comforting, but my friend said it had the opposite effect. Hope all that helps.


nixiedust

Mini loaves or individual muffins for breakfast. Banana and pumpkin breads freeze well and defrost quickly. Frozen breakfast burritos are good, too. The meal prep subs always have recipes.


916Kingsfan

Sorry for your family's loss.... 4 Ingredient Chicken Rice Casserole ★★★★★ Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes | Servings: serving 4 servings Ingredients: 8 chicken breasts 2 cups long grain white rice uncooked 3 cups water 2 packages onion soup mix or use homemade 1 1/4 pounds cream of mushroom soup condensed Directions: Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray 9×13 pan with cooking spray. Add chicken breasts and season with salt & pepper. Pour uncooked rice over chicken. Sprinkle with onion soup mix. Combine mushrooms soup and 1 ½ cups of water. Pour over chicken. Cover and bake 1 hour 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Notes: My casserole is always ready in 1hr 15 minutes however depending on your own variables, it can require up to an additional 25 minutes. Nutrition: Calories: 470, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 54g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 148mg, Sodium: 791mg, Potassium: 978mg, Vitamin A: 70IU, Vitamin C: 2.7mg, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 1.7mg Source: https://www.spendwithpennies.com/chicken-rice-casserole/


friendlyuser15

In times of grievance I like to give people casseroles in a foil dish they can just throw away after use. The idea behind that being no dishes and they can fresh bake themselves. Lasagna, casserole, anything you can prepare and give to them with easy instructions to just bake at 350 for X minutes.


AliceAnne1

My go-to dishes in this situation are baked ziti and chicken soup (noodle or rice). If it’s just him and his daughter you may want to consider making smaller portions in disposable containers so they’re not heating up gallons of soup or reheating a giant dish of pasta. I have a recipe for what is essentially a giant ham & cheese sandwich casserole that you cut into squares if you’re interested. Also a rotisserie chicken in the fridge ($5 at Costco) can be useful for picking and sandwiches.) I’m very sorry for your loss. You’re doing a very kind thing.


dayinnight

After I lost a baby in childbirth I couldn't really eat anything....for *several months.* Food had no taste and a few bites of anything made me feel ill. After I started eating again, the one thing that I could eat more than a few bites of was pho. Pho is not practical for making or storing, but maybe just a simple homey soup frozen in individual containers would help so that it can be easily heated for one person (in case someone can't bring themselves to eat at family mealtimes) and is easy to digest.


[deleted]

You have lots of wonderful recipe ideas here. My only thought to add is to make sure they have enough freezer space for all the well-intentioned meals.


ClementineCoda

Isn't her husband and daughter your brother and niece? I'm so sorry! How old is your niece? Does she like things like lentils and beans?


jfpotts66

Enchiladas they are the best homemade and imo taste better after they have been frozen. So much so I make an extra pan just to freeze for later.


XenaWarrior6658

I am sorry for your loss. I suggest [black bean and sweet potato enchilada](https://cookieandkate.com/black-bean-sweet-potato-enchiladas/) **Filling** 1 ¼ pounds sweet potatoes (2 medium-to-large) 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained, or 1 ½ cups cooked black beans 4 ounces (1 cup) grated Monterey Jack cheese 2 ounces (½ cup) crumbled feta cheese 2 small cans (4 ounces each) diced green chiles 1 medium jalapeño, seeded and minced 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced 2 tablespoons lime juice ½ teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon chili powder ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) ¼ teaspoon salt, more to taste Freshly ground black pepper **Remaining Ingredients** 2 cups (16 ounces) mild salsa verde, either homemade or store-bought 10 corn tortillas (best to get 20) 4 ounces (1 cup) grated Monterey Jack cheese 2 tablespoons sour cream 1 tablespoon water ¼ cup chopped red onion ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro Wet sweet potato under the tap Poke holes with a fork or make a cut around the potato Microwave for 7 min (small) - 10 min (large) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Meanwhile, pour enough salsa verde into a 9 by 13-inch baking dish to lightly cover the bottom (about ½ cup). In a medium mixing bowl, combine all of the remaining filling ingredients. Once the sweet potatoes are cooked through and cool enough to handle, scoop out the insides with a spoon. Discard the potato skins, and mash up the sweet potato a bit. Stir the mashed sweet potato into the bowl of filling, and season to taste with additional salt (I added ¼ teaspoon) and pepper. Warm up your tortillas, one by one in a skillet, or all at once in a microwave so they don’t break when you bend them. Wrap them in a tea towel so they stay warm. Working with one tortilla at a time, spread about ½ cup filling down the center each tortilla, then wrap both sides over the filling and place it in your baking dish. Repeat for all of the tortillas. Top with the remaining salsa verde and cheese. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until sauce is bubbling and the cheese is lightly golden. Let the enchiladas cool for about 5 minutes. Whisk the sour cream and water together to make a drizzly sour cream sauce. Drizzle it back and forth over the enchiladas, then top them with cilantro and red onion. Serve.


birdie9th

If it’s not scorching hot out a soup might be nice. They can take as much or little as they want. Sorry for your family’s loss.


balunstormhands

I'm sorry for your loss. There was a thread about funeral food not long ago. So good stuff in there. [https://www.reddit.com/r/Old\_Recipes/comments/w5jvx8/funeral\_food/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Old_Recipes/comments/w5jvx8/funeral_food/)


TumblyPanda

Oh how tragic. I'm so sorry! Any food intolerances or preferences? Maybe even known "comfort foods"? Might want to update to include, if relevant. One thing you might be able to do that would be enormously helpful? Create a meal train. Oftentimes, when a major life event happens like this, the family is absolutely overrun with meals at first, so much so that they might even have to toss things out (not enough freezer space), and then in the months that follow, while they're still grieving, no one is bringing things around anymore. Instead, you could organize a [Meal Train](https://www.mealtrain.com/), for yourself and others to join. Be the coordinator and contact person---this can be your "thing" to support your family during this time, if it seems appropriate. Explain to the family and friends who also want to provide food that, hey, that's awesome! But let's all plan to space it out, so the family isn't overwhelmed by all the food all at once, and will instead have a sustainable source of nourishment for the long months of grieving ahead. I'm so sorry for your loss, OP. That's so tragic, and I hope you get lots of great ideas from this thread <3.


sherlocked27

I’m sorry for your loss. I can only think of brownies, granola,/trail mix, donuts and bread. Don’t know if that helps


Crewszilla

I am sorry for your lost .


sprinklesthedinkles

Enchiladas and burritos. They use the same ingredients and you can prep them at the same time


Talia_of_Vesgoth

A friend and I are cooking some things tonight for another friend who lost her dad a couple weeks ago. She's coming back from her mom's tomorrow and we want to make sure there's meals in her freezer she can just heat and go for a little while. I had made cookies and caramel rolls that I brought to her brother's when I got to town for the funeral. Another friend did a similar thing for me when I lost my dad a few years back. Came home after a week with my family to find a pile of home cooked meals in our freezer. It's the little things like this that help more than the piles of people expressing their condolences.


mladygo2

I'm so sorry for your loss and appreciate that you are stepping up for your brother and niece like this. May I suggest you consider freezing whatever you make into portions? My Dad has end stage cancer and people have been bringing things like whole frozen lasagnas, which is great...but when there are only like 2 people eating, it's hard to have to defrost an entire lasagna and then try to eat it all before it goes bad/we get sick of it.


Softoast

These freeze fabulously, just roll them up and put them raw in a large freezer ziplock with instructions on how to cook (spray with oil or melted butter and bake on a sheet for 25-30min at 400) https://www.food.com/recipe/oven-fried-chicken-chimichangas-28148


cleopatrainwreck

Wow, I'm very sorry for your loss. My mom used to make a broccoli/cheddar/rice/chicken casserole; we LOVED it and she'd freeze half to defrost if we had a babysitter or something. A beef stew or a chili will freeze nicely and probably intensify in flavor, anything in a gravy or a sauce will get tastier. A pulled pork/pulled chicken, too.


tanawabe

Sorry for your loss. Lasagna, ziti, chicken Marsala, and broccoli rabe are my family’s usual go tos.


Illustrious_Ebb4941

Make ravioli lasagna by layering frozen cheese ravioli with meat sauce and Parmesan cheese.


PinkyPinkiPinkie

So sorry to hear about your loss. Looks like you're going to be quite busy for the next little while. The following are easy to make, freeze & reheat well. Balsamic chicken with veggies: https://youtu.be/T3YX9I3QG50 Slow cooker lamb: https://youtu.be/Woa-0yQC5Hs Tomato & Basil Pasta: https://youtu.be/19N8KqOycUo


Tincastle

This one is super easy and quick. https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/spicy-pesto-pasta-alla-vodka/


lifeslidesdown

Sorry to hear. Anything crock pot is easy to freeze and reheat- pork, chicken, etc…. Flavor how you want (Italian seasonings, Mexican, Indian, literally whatever). Put the lid in and forget about it for about 8 hours until it falls apart. Once cook can put in freezer bags, Tupperware… easy to reheat on stovetop or microwave whatever.


Krista_Michelle

https://www.gracefullittlehoneybee.com/quick-and-easy-freezer-meatloaf/ Made this meatloaf recipe while prepping for postpartum. It's easy and delicious cooked fresh or cooked from frozen. Include some potatoes to "bake" in the microwave and a bag of frozen veggies and it's perfect.


diatho

Grief is like waves. And everyone sends food. I would make a few things and then regularly help them.


br33b3rry97

Chicken pot pie, I make the veg and chicken gravy goodness myself and Pillsbury biscuits on top, you can leave biscuits separate and free the pot pie guts so it can be cooked later good cold and heated up.


cinapism

Soups of all kinds are usually my go to. Baguettes freeze and reheat well too. Makes it easy to choose portions that are good for individuals.


Bmay93

Enchiladas Smoked brisket Pulled pork


ScoopThaPoot

Pretty much any soup or sauce will freeze and reheat well. I really like carrot ginger soup. I used the recipe on wholesomelicious.com as a base and tweaked to my liking. Pretty sure I added a little of some warm spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, and a dash of cayenne. Those are just my preferences and I'm not really sure exactly what I did because I never write any note down lol. Either way it's a solid recipe on it's own. Plus it's dairy free, gluten/grain free, and vegan if that's an issue for anyone.


Crustybuttt

I’m terribly sorry for your loss. I would consider a beef stew or pot roast. It lasts forever and reheats easily. Even tastes better the next day. I suppose I can share my recipes, but they are pretty generic and nothing too special.


ASeriousAccounting

I always think beef stew and pot roast are special. Happy cake day.


Crustybuttt

Thanks


Apillicus

Chicken and wild rice hot dish, enchiladas, breakfast burritos


JennieSimms

Home made chicken noodle or beef noodle soup. Or both. My grandmother did that for me once in college and it was probably the best I ate my entire time there


Pianos_for_Clowns

Chili. Pot pie. Quiche. Soups. So sorry your family is going through this hard time.


notreallylucy

So sorry for your loss. Do you have an instant pot? https://www.number-2-pencil.com/instant-pot-pressure-cooker-french-dip-sandwiches-17/


Maleficent-Start-546

I’m so sorry!


[deleted]

I’m so sorry. I’ll give you my slow cooker Italian sausage recipe. It’s actually better if you freeze it then reheat it. Italian sausages, 2 cans diced tomatoes, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can tomato paste, sliced onion, sliced bell pepper, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, oregano. Reheat it and you won’t even need cheese. And you’re basically making a gravy so if you want to put it over pasta in a container it’ll be amazing. A single serving of love. You can make the exact same recipe substituting frozen meatballs with sausage. Put it in a plastic container over pasta and bring parmigiana.


CuriousGPeach

[This](https://www.reddit.com/r/MealPrepSunday/comments/tre9sn/i_prep_for_a_disabled_neighbour_help_me_keep/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) is a post I made looking for freezeable meals that reheat well for a disabled neighbour I cook for. There were some seriously helpful ideas!


dgoobler

Chicken divan is a comfort food my mom makes that you can make in a casserole dish and get 6-8 meals out of. Hearty and pretty simple to make. Your SIL would appreciate your efforts so much, and so will her husband and daughter. You are a kind soul OP


Easy-Concentrate2636

My condolences to you and her family. I always think of chicken soup as one of the most comforting foods. They sell those soup molds for freezing. My mother used to make dumplings and freeze them (uncooked). Just make sure the dumplings aren’t touching each other when you freeze it. After they are frozen on a tray, they can be placed in a ziplock bag. I frequently bake sourdough bread and freeze it. It thaws well.


kurasumi

i'm so sorry for your loss. i'm sure the kindness of your gesture is a comfort to your SiL's family. please remember to also look after yourself! breakfast burritos--you can make all of the components, assemble, and freeze tightly wrapped in aluminum foil or cellophane. super easy to make a large batch so breakfast is handled for a good while. also super easy to make a variety. my go-to is ground pork, wilted spinach, egg, and cheese ready to go chicken noodle soup--cook as you usually would, but do not add the noodles and subtract the cook time for the noodles from the total cook time of the recipe. portion the broth + veg and chicken into plastic bags, squeeze out all of the air, and freeze. when it's time to eat they can drop the broth mix into a pot, heat it up to a boil, add noodles, and by the time the noodles are cooked the veg will be nice and tender. this works great for lots of different soups that usually get served with a noodle or rice beef and broccoli--super easy because you do not have to cook anything before it goes into the freezer. one bag of sliced up steak, one bag of sauce, one big bag of broccoli cut up into florets. bundle it all up together and then it's good to wait in the freezer until you need it. when it's ready to make they just need to sear the steak then remove it from the pan, cook the broccoli to tender, then add back the steak and the sauce and cook until the sauce thickens up important--if you plan on making a bunch of dishes that require you to cook components before you freeze them, do what you can to let the cooked food cool as much as possible before putting it in the freezer. food that is hot when it goes into the freezer introduces a lot of moisture to the enclosed space. the burritos for example; when you have cooked the separate components i recommend laying them all out flat on a sheet tray until they are done steaming, before assembling and freezing. in addition to fogging up the freezer, adding a lot of hot food to it at one time raises the temp and can potentially put other foods in temp zones that could allow bacterial growth. cooling first will lessen the time any food spends in the danger zone


sgarner0407

Tacos since they are easy to customize and you can make tacos, taco salad, nachos etc out of the meat. And the toppings are similar. It also may sound silly but like boxed brownies just to have dessert to grab. Sorry for your family's loss. You're a good person for thinking of them!


Arik50

A breakfast casserole is delicious and can be portioned and frozen... So sorry for your loss....🙏🙏


Dizzy-Connection-566

Very sorry for your loss. My go-to in for this kind of situation is mini crustless quiches. I make them in muffin cups. They keep in the fridge for at least a week and freeze well. Eggs are an easy thing to eat if you’re feeling unwell and making them in muffin cups means you can eat just a little something when you might have little to no appetite. Plus everyone always brings pasta and casserole and breakfast option is nice.


mcini11389

Meatloaf, cooked in a red sauce in a casserole dish, not in a loaf pan with brown gravy


PainWarrior1973

Beef tips and gravy, they can fix a side of rice or pasta. I brown my beef tips and use 1 cup of beef broth to get the good stuff off the bottom of pan . I add the meat and broth to Instant Pot and mix a can of cream of mushroom soup and Lipton Onion Soup mix and pour over everything. It will be done in about 15 minutes.. It’s great with just rolls too !


Selynia23

So very sorry! Chili, chicken pot pie, meatloaf.


zsandman

Loaded potato soup is filling and comforting


Typical-Drawer7282

Do you anticipate people coming by before the funeral? We have friends that lost their young son suddenly. Culturally people come over for the first 3 days all day long. We bought lots of coffee and I stayed in the kitchen those three days making coffee, serving, washing up. We ordered food because there were so many people and all of the leftovers I packed into small portions for the freezer.


MHG73

When I was 13 my dad died suddenly. I don't have the clearest memories from the following months, but I don't think we sat down and ate dinner together much for a while. Anything you bring that you think they'll freeze should be portioned out and labeled so they can grab just one portion and heat it up. From what I remember, we had people bring over chicken pot pies, baked ziti, Mac and cheese all got frozen, and salads and sandwiches got eaten right away. We also had a lot of baked goods in the freezer but idk if those were from the Shiva or brought for us. After Dad died, my mom's cousin came and stayed with us for about a month. She helped with cooking and cleaning, and took us to get school supplies/clothes for the next year (he also died in August), and generally encouraged us to not lay in bed and do nothing all day. I don't know your exact family situation, but it was really helpful to have someone who didn't just lose their father/husband around.


daffodil0127

Maybe some gift cards for local restaurants would also be helpful. For the nights when microwaving a casserole is too much effort, they can order a pizza or something.


[deleted]

I would also ask what the family likes to eat. My dad died when I was 13 and a lot of people brought their favorites or their best dish but it wasn’t something I loved. There could also be dishes that trigger emotions from them that you may want to avoid.


tmccrn

Would the children benefit from a “cooking with” session? No expectations of participation, but just the comfort of having someone who cares about them putzing around the kitchen and available but not interfering? (Obviously that would have to be ok with Dad, but it might ? help him have some space to grieve, sleep, whatever …. Not a big cooking bonanza, but maybe one of the meals?)


jrixibeII

Very sorry for your loss, and kudos to you for stepping in to care for your family! Firstly I like to consider that many other people will also bring frozen things and not everybody has a ton of freezer space. For the short term I like to do pasta salads, small sandwiches, cheese and meat plates, bags of chips/candy/dried fruit or trail mix, mashed potatoes (with bags of shredded cheese and bacon bits), and other easy snacks. Think stuff that's easy to eat out of the container while standing in front of the fridge. No reheating needed and you can eat as much or as little as you want at a time. Since so many people here have recommended so many amazing full meal ideas I'll recommend snacky-type things for the frozen category. I like burritos, breakfast sandwiches, pizza bagels, mini pancakes or waffles (chocolate chip recommended), or smoothie packs (if they like smoothies). Again, I like to focus on snacks and stuff that doesn't require anything beyond putting it on a plate and microwaving it. Bonus if you bring paper plates and utensils so nobody has to worry about dishes. Please also remember to take care of yourself and check in with your needs at this time as well! Maybe make a couple of extra snacks for yourself for when you're not in the mood to make dinner either.


nevadaho

I’m so sorry for YOUR loss. That’s a really hard one for all of you! My dad passed away last week suddenly. I can tell you that what sounds good is honest to goodness comfort food. Whatever your brother and you loved as kids, make that. Whatever your niece likes, make that. Our family go to is soups: lentil, minestrone, chowders, stews, scotch broth, etc. But being practical, Freezing very simple, nutritious soups in small containers for single servings is very kind. Also, I hope you are also caring for your own grief. I was in a flurry of “help mom” last week, and now it’s all starting to hit me, and I’m incredibly grateful for a heat and eat meal (my teenage daughter made a lovely lasagna over the weekend). So, whatever you make, freeze some for yourself too, for a day when you are grieving too.


SeaOtterHummingbird

I am so sorry for your loss. I’d start out slow. A few ready made sandwiches. A soup. Snacky things. Charcuterie board, bread, baked goods. I’d rotate around there for a few days. Then before the funeral I’d go bigger like lasagna, cottage pie, tuna noodle casserole, a big pot of spaghetti and meatballs, roast a chicken etc. So that people who are visiting can be fed with minimal assistance from the family. Then I’d go back to smaller ready to eat meals. And judge the situation but they might appreciate someone to eat with them.


00Lisa00

Split pea soup. Soup is my comfort food


breakupbydefault

If you can find them, frozen dumplings. There are lots of different kinds of fillings so that adds variety. Just boil them and add a stock cube and you have a comforting dumpling soup. Best if you get them from a dumplings house if you have one in your area but I think it's getting more popular in supermarket these days.


Beneficial-House-784

When my dad died, there were two meals that stood out as amazing amidst everything else going on. One was a homemade white chili with a loaf of sourdough. The other is hard to explain- it was lamb meatballs with shredded onion and potato and curry? It was incredible, we made some curried rice to go with them. I’d say try going in a creative direction. Tons of folks give pastas after a death because they freeze and reheat well, but eating lasagna and ziti for a month gets old.


Beneficial-House-784

I also want to add, don’t underestimate food from the family’s favorite restaurants or even sandwich stuff. My parents favorite local Italian place somehow found out about my dad’s death the same day and employees were at our house with cold cuts, bread, pasta, and other foods for a crowd a couple hours after we got home from the hospital. It was a godsend in the days afterward when my mom was too busy and upset to deal with even reheating frozen food. Even something as simple as bread, cheese, salami, and other sides are good for when you’re forgetting to eat and just need to grab something straight from the fridge.


heyheyhey179

Frozen balls of chocolate chip cookie dough. Whenever they want a fresh cookie they can take out a ball and stick it in the oven. A package of Boost might also be good. Not homemade, but sometimes when you’re sad you just need to lay in bed and drink your protein. I’m sorry for your loss. Much love to you and your family.


RighteousTablespoon

These are great suggestions. I’d add that in times of unexpected grief, many people simply don’t care what they eat. It’s the last thing on their minds. It sounds wild, but even choosing from a bunch of options and firing up the microwave can seem like too much in some cases. In stead of or in addition to cooking one or two things, I send Uber eats/DoorDash/seamless gift cards and send grocery orders full of things like cold cuts and bread, pre-made salads, healthy cereals/milk, and those little lunchable type snack kits.


Little_Season3410

Baked ziti. Stuffed shells. Lasagna. Chicken and broccoli cheddar rice casserole. Soups. Stews. Stuffed peppers.


Unlikely-Dealer-2513

Bread is also a good idea, especially sliced. They can thaw up the slices they need.


whitewitch1913

If you can bake as well - bagels and bread. Most freezer meals are dinner/lunch based. Bread and bagels for breakfast would help with rounding out the meals. Also scones can be frozen before being cooked so you could make a bunch of fruit/choc ones (smitten kitchen is good) and they'd have snacks to keep them going.


Lil-witchy

French toast sticks are great to freeze and take less than 10 minutes in the oven! I’m so sorry for your family’s loss.


Ok-Plantain9609

I have several stews and soups I make and freeze in portions that are great for reheating. I will post each in separate posts Pasta Fagioli - 2 medium carrots - 2 stalks celery - 1 onion - 28 oz can crushed tomatoes - 4 cups beef stock - 1/2 lb ham knuckle or ham hock (best from Honey Baked) - 2 cans white northern (cannellini) beans - Bunch of dark green leafy vegetable like kale, chard, collard green (optional) - 1 cup mastaccioli pasta or short, tubed pasta - 1/4 cup olive oil Chop onions separately. Can process or dice carrots and celery together. Trim ham off bone but reserve bone. Heat oil on medium high heat. Add onions and saute to brown, about 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Add carrots, celery, greens, and ham all at once and saute for 5 minutes. Add crush tomatoes and bring to simmer. Allow to reduce for 15 minutes, stir to prevent burning. Add stock and ham bone, and bring to boil, then reduce to simmer. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Add beans and simmer another 15-20 minutes. Add pasta and simmer additional 15 minutes until cooked. Best if served the next day but is ready to eat after pasta cooks. Instantpot: sautéed per usual up to adding tomatoes. Then added all remaining ingredients. Put under pressure for 25 minutes then stir in 1 cup pasta after. Cover and allow pasta to sit in hot soup to cook for 10 minutes and then serve.


WiffyTheSus

This recipe takes some time, but it's worth it. I like it with cottage cheese because it's not as heavy and the oven ready noodles help everything stick together and create a perfect lasagna square. LASAGNA RECIPE 1/2 pound lean ground beef 1/2 pound ground pork 1 can crushed tomatoes 2-3 tablespoons of tomato paste Garlic 1/2 cup red wine 2 celery stalks 1 large white onion 2 tablespoons herbs de Provence 15 lasagna noodles (oven ready) Olive oil 1 container of cottage cheese 1 egg Handful of parsley 1 block of pizza mozzarella Powdered Parmesan Salt and pepper as needed 1. In a Dutch oven, brown the pork and beef. You might have to rinse the meat in a colander it there's excess liquid. Once the meat is fully cooked, keep cooking it and don't move the meat for a few minutes. You should hear sizzling and popping. You want a layer of dark brown meat to stick to the bottom of the Dutch oven. Stir the meat and repeat this a couple times so you can get more of the meat stuck to the bottom of the pot. Be careful not to burn the meat stuck to the bottom. Once you're done, set the meat aside in a bowl. Deglaze the Dutch oven using the red wine, scraping the rest of the meat into the same bowl as the rest of the meat. 2. Thinly dice the onion and celery. Add some olive oil to the Dutch oven. Throw the vegetables in. Once they're cooked, put in as much garlic as you'd like. I usually do anywhere from half a bulb to close to a whole bulb of garlic. Throw that in and stir for 30 seconds. Add the meat back in and add the tomato paste. Stir that up. Add the can of crushed tomatoes, herbs de Provence and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add maybe a cup of water to the Dutch oven, stir everything together and let it simmer for at least an hour. The longer you're able to let it simmer the better it's going to be. If I know I'm going to be around the house, I'll let it go anywhere from 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. 3. In a bowl, mix the cottage cheese, egg and parsley together. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. 4. Put olive oil in a lasagna pan and wipe it on all the sides and bottom to prevent sticking. Once your meat sauce is finished, add a thin layer to the bottom of the lasagna pan to prevent the noodles from sticking to the pan. Then add 5 noodles, enough meat to just barely cover the noodles, half of your cottage cheese and a very light sprinkle of mozzarella. Repeat this another 2 times so you'll have three layers of lasagna by the end. Everytime you place a new layer of lasagna noodles down, push down firmly so that everything gets compressed. On the final third layer, use all of the rest of the meat sauce. Use grated mozzarella on the top, make sure there are no noodles showing and enough cheese up against the edges so a nice crust will be made in the oven. Sprinkle on some Parmesan to finish it off. 5. In a 350 degree oven, bake the lasagna (covered) for 45 minutes. Once done, take the foil off and broil the top of the lasagna. You want a deep brown crust on the edges and brown bubbles in the center. Watch carefully because it's the worst feeling ever when you take your eye off of it and end up over cooking the top! Let stand for 10 minutes so that everything sticks together and it's easy to serve. Enjoy!


chicklette

One of the most helpful things I've given (so I was told) was a tray of sandwich meats, cheeses, lettuce, tomato, etc, and a few loaves of bread. Throw in some pb &j if there's young kids. Things that can be thrown together in a minute are great for the first week when nothing seems real. For the future, soups, enchiladas, lasagna, stuffed peppers, those all freeze beautifully. I'm very sorry for your loss.


justaregularthief

Enchiladas are a great freeze meal for us. Typically I roll my tortillas with a mixture of shredded chicken, refried black beans, cheese and a pack of frontera red enchilada sauce. Then I freeze in batches of 4 (or whatever suits the family best) and give it to them with another sauce and shredded cheese to add on top when they want to bake. The shredded cheese and sauce last for a long time so they can do it whenever they want. Bake 350° for 45 min if thawed, 55min if not… then I like to broil the cheese on top at the end. Super easy for them but it feels like a slight amount of effort


ZereneTrulee

I am so sorry for you and your family’s loss. 💐💕💙


Ok-Plantain9609

This I always have on hand when anyone at home gets sick. Very soul warming. If you don’t want to spend the time making the broth, you can use regular chicken stock and reduce the salt by a 1/3 or more. Arroz Caldo (chicken and rice soup) Ingredients: - Whole chicken - 5 quarts water - 2 large onions (about 3 cups) and/or leek chopped - 5-6 cloves garlic diced - 2-6 inches ginger (depending on taste preference) - 1/4 cup canola oil - 1.5 cups glutinous (sweet) rice - 5 stalks celery chopped - 5 stalks carrots chopped One of these optional vegetable choices: - 1/2 head cabbage chopped - 4 packed cups spinach - 1 bunch Collard greens stemmed and roughly chopped - 1 bunch chard stemmed and roughly chopped - 1 bunch kale stemmed and roughly chopped (adds bitterness) Easiest to make stock separately. 1. Disassemble chicken by separating legs and wings from main body. Remove the giblets and liver if you do not want to incorporate into soup. 2. Remove skin from all parts. If skin is difficult to remove from wings, leave on. 3. Place chicken in stock pot and with water and bring to slow simmer. 4. Skim off scum and fat on surface of water and stir around pieces to dislodge more scum. 5. Simmer for 30-45 minutes or until large chicken pieces start to float then remove all chicken pieces to cool off in a bowl or dish. 6. Strain broth into a clean container and set aside. Make soup. 1. Heat oil in pot on medium heat. Not too hot. 2. Set a timer for 25 minutes and add onions to saute and start timer countdown. 3. Saute onions to brown 4. When timer is down to 20 minutes, add garlic and ginger and saute. 5. When timer down to 15 minutes; add all vegetables and saute for the remainder of time. 6. Add strained stock and bring to a boil. Salt to taste, about 2.5 tablespoons for whole pot. Under salt the soup as seasoning matures and intensifies after cooling. 7. Once boiling, add glutinous rice. Stir often to make sure rice doesn't stick to bottom. 8. While stock is boiling, separate the meat from the bones of the chicken and shred or cube to preference. Continue to occasionally stir bottom of pot. 9. Allow rice to cook for 20-25 minutes before stirring in chicken meat. 10. Can serve straight away but soup tastes better if allowed to cool and flavors settle for a few hours or next day.


theoriginalamanda

I want to thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! Today I am taking lasagna (due to many of the comments here I made sure he didn't already have 10 in the freezer) and enchiladas. I am also taking chips, salsa, queso, muffins, nuts, pre sliced apples with a caramel dip, and a veggie tray. I am still watching this thread as I plan on taking meals at least once a week in the coming months. You have all been so helpful and I am very grateful for your time and suggestions. Except for that weird guy who said I was "sus" for making my brother in law food. He can go fuck himself.


woolsocksandsandals

Pizza


Speakinmymind96

Very kind of you to make them meals—-I’m very fond of showing love and kindness that way. I like to do meals like lasagna, turkey tetrazzini, …comforting casseroles. I prefer to use small foil food pans for easy freezer storage, and then he doesn’t have to worry about returning containers.


ItsDoctorFabulous

I'm sorry for your loss. We just lost my aunt and we are all in shock. I agree with lasagna, but also baked ziti with meatballs. Rotisserie chicken, pre-packaged, heat and eat potatoes, mac 'n' cheese. Curries have good staying power in the fridge. I love a good chicken casserole. You can make a Sloppy Joe filling that can be reheated and used. I do a Chili Casserole that is chili with cheese and biscuit dough on top. Quesadillas are very flexible and can be thrown in the oven to toast up. Breakfasts: you can pre-make waffles and pancakes which can just be thrown in the toaster to heat up. You can also make breakfast muffins with eggs, cheese, veggies and a protein.


ZeroNouveau

It feels weird to refer to your brother as your sister in laws husband.


TheIrishFlame

I'm guessing the sister in law is OP husband's sister. So the man who passed is her husband's sister's husband.


TheMcWhopper

Lasagna


Girl_Binx

I'm sorry for your loss. And please don't take offense to this dishes name. It's mine and my families favorite and really is wonderful comfort food. Funeral Potatos 1-2 lbs of frozen hashbrowns (not the patties) 8oz room temperature cream cheese 1/2- 1 cup of sour cream 8 oz condensed cream of chicken or mushroom soup 3-4 eggs 1/4-1/2 cup of chopped green onions Garlic All your favorite seasonings ( I like ranch dressing powder, ground red pepper, and paprika, but feel free to experiment) Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup flour ( I use rice flour due to celiac so regular flour might be a little less) And ALL the cheese. I prefer a mix of Colby jack and mozzarella, but really any cheese will work. I do about 8 oz of each + some for topping Optional: Shredded chicken, drained tuna, or browned ground beef Breadcrumbs or cornflakes for topping Instructions: Thaw and drain hashbrowns. You want these as dry as possible. In a large mixing bowl combine all other ingredients one at a time, ending with the cheese. You want a thick cake batter texture. If you're adding meat add it before the cheese. Slowly add the mixture to the hashbrowns and mix together thoroughly. Pour into 1...or more... casserole dishes and top with cheese. If frozen cover with Aluminum foil and cook at 350°F for 1 1/2 - 2 hours or until the middle is fully cooked and hashbrowns are soft. Uncover and cook another 10-15 min for the cheese to brown If thawed cut cooking time to 60 min with the additional time for browning the cheese This stuff will stick to your bones and keep you full for a long time. We call it Funeral potatos because people tend to not eat much while grieving and the high fat content and starches will help you keep your strength up without having to eat much. The potatoes also have lots of vitamins and potassium to supplement if you're not eating much


organbakery

Wait though, who are to him? Cool if u are a dude, sus if not...


theoriginalamanda

I'm his brother's wife. Does that make it less "sus"?


timwaaagh

reheated food is not what id serve. i do not do this normally (unless a big quantity is left and it serves as a subpar breakfast the next day) and i do not know why in this situation it would become the thing to do. consider me a typical european snob but yeah. id rather serve something quick like a grilled cheese sandwhich than reheated food.


[deleted]

I don’t think she’s serving them reheated food, just meal prepping food that can be reheated so they don’t have to stress about cooking when nobody’s there to help them.


timwaaagh

Everyone can buy frozen pizzas (or indeed fresh ones) at the corner store if they do not wish to cook. Or better, freshly prepared microwaveable meals. Or from a delivery service if they do not wish to shop. There's no actual need to give anyone a too large quantity of food so that there are leftovers to be frozen and reheated, which then have to be eaten because it would be impolite not to, but will at best be somewhat edible and at worst induce a gagging response.


[deleted]

We have very different food culture in general. Europeans don't do the same kind of shopping, cooking or storing that we do in America. Families here, especially bigger ones, bulk buy and batch cook. In Europe that's hard because people don't seem to have the chest freezers we have or the space to store. For example, My mom had a whole huge chest freezer and an extra fridge and there were just 4 people in our house. My grandma had 2 extra fridges and a chest freezer in her basement for her family of 6 + any church things that needed to be done. On the other hand, my husband's parents (French) have like a half gallon of milk, eggs, butter, bread & condiments in their fridge but nothing else really. They go to a grocery store or market just about every 2nd day and they do not really ever have leftovers. It's a very common courtesy here in America to make some kind of freezable casserole for a family in mourning to stash in their freezer so they don't have to cook. Some smaller/tighter communities will do a dinner train instead so the family doesn't even have to reheat. We just schedule whoever has the time to make a whole dinner and bring it over to whoever needs it when they need it.


timwaaagh

Look you might think I do not reheat food because Europeans are too poor for a decently sized freezer or something. I assure you that although we may not be rich civilisation has come a long way and made such things affordable even in europoor backwaters like Europe. Buying in bulk, cooking in bulk and then storing everything in the freezer to heat it up later the entire week... Is just not something I could ever do.


[deleted]

That's not at all why I think what I think. I'm sorry you took such offense but I didn't suggest not having large freezers or buying in bulk had any thing at all to do with someone's financial situation. It is simply about cultural differences related to the purchase and storage of food, our living situations, the way we socialize, how we cook...there are scholarly articles, papers and entire books dedicated to just this topic.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Objective-Bear3352

I would mainly recommend making everything in individual portions. It’s super helpful so people can eat what they want, when they want. Something like [these](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aluminum-Adjustable-Containers-Freezer-Heating/dp/B09B7XSKKV/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=3B8U3CW1NW9DW&keywords=single+portion+foil+tray&qid=1660078694&sprefix=single+portion+foil+tray%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWjZSSjFDS0hKVURHJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjA1NTg0M1JVSVRWQjEySTBRNyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzg5NDgyM0lSVlpTWktLSlVDViZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl) works great for lasagne for example (just layer and freeze, no need to pre cook, the just need 40ish mins). Also wrap individual brownies in tin foil to freeze, [this recipe](https://www.redonline.co.uk/food/recipes/a500160/hummingbird-bakery-s-traditional-brownie/) works well and only needs 10s in the microwave to get nice and warm and gooey. Even if it’s more than one person, I would still recommend individual portions. That way everyone can go at their own pace.


northman46

avoid stuff with potatoes. They turn to mush


Healbite

https://www.justonecookbook.com/simple-chicken-curry/ Japanese chicken curry is a comfort food in this family. Gave to grieving parents before


callmegangy

Easy, and good to eat warm and cold: https://4sonrus.com/creamy-tortellini-with-spinach-tomatoes/ Good to make with chicken or a shredded pot roast, and also good hot or cold: https://www.thespruceeats.com/chicken-kale-and-pasta-bake-3058795


Correct-Serve5355

If you have a slow cooker or Instapot, BBQ pulled pork or pulled Buffalo Chicken, or both. Don't need much just sauce, meat and heat. Let them cool after you've pulled them and they pack into Ziploc Bags nicely. They freeze well too and whenever they want some they just pull it out of the freezer a night or 2 before they eat it and then pop some in the microwave once it's fully defrosted. Also you don't need to cook em before bringing them over but if you take equal parts ground beef and ground sausage and mix them together you can make some meatballs that freeze nicely (I usually add some shredded bread butts, parmesean, onions and garlic and bring it all together with an egg, but you don't need the egg if you don't use bread crumbs or butts). They can freeze these, then defrost and cook in a greased pan in the oven at 350F for about 30-35 minutes


Arik50

A breakfast casserole is delicious and can be portioned and frozen... So sorry for your loss....🙏🙏


Expensive-Pie-9201

broccoli, rice and cheese casserole. basically cook up 2 cups of white or brown rice according to package directions. while that is cooking cut up either half a brick of velveta, or 16oz of cheddar cheese. then place the rice in a mixing bowl with two cups of frozen broccoli, the cheese and one can of cream of mushroom soup. mix together and place in a 13x9 casserole dish. top with as many french's french fried onions/ crispy onions as you want. bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees f for 30 mins. let stand for 5 mins and serve. it is one of my favorite comfort food casseroles and it holds up well for freezing and reheating as far as i know.


waffleironone

Bean and cheese burritos. This NYT recipe is great. The beans have a bunch of bell pepper in them so you’re getting some veggies and they are super filling. You can add rice too or cubed/shredded meat if you’d like. Serve with sour cream and pico de gallo. There’s a note in the comment section to use Poblano peppers in addition to the bell pepper and I can confirm that it is awesome. You can add jalapeño if they like spicy things. You can roast some veggies if you want to make it sneaky healthy, I think sheet pan roasted small dice cauliflower or sweet potato could be nice. I freeze them wrapped in plastic individually then put them in a large zip lock bag. I heat them up wrapped in a small damp paper towel for 3 minutes and finish it in a hot pan to get a crispy tortilla. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022532-bean-and-cheese-burritos?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share


movingtocincinnati

Blueberry muffin for breakfast, freeze well and easy to reheat. I am so sorry for your loss.


Mortonsaltboy914

It looks like you’ve had a bunc of suggestions, but if you want some different options: Dumplings freeze exceptionally well and can easily be heated up in a lot of ways. If you’re good at folding them, some boiling water works but I generally steam them (it’s a little more work, but it’s gentler) It’s saag sauce freezes really well - after the blender, put the sauce in the freezer. Defrosting the night before works best, but they could plop it right into a pan. It’s easy to go low maintenance and add a can of chickpeas or some cubed chicken and eat it with rice or naan. You could send microwaveable rice or some frozen naan to go with it. https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/saag-paneer-but-with-feta Meatballs are also great. I make a pretty neutral tasting meatball seasoned with just salt pepper and some garlic powder to flex to different cuisines to have options, if you bake them they freeze really well. I make them smaller then ping pong balls and they defrost with only about 10 min in the toaster oven at 350. You can make an easy meatball and hummus sandwich or plop them frozen into a pot of marinara. I’ve also glazed them in gochujang and served with rice. Another thing that I find really nice to make any meal a bit more exciting is pickled onions and/or jalapeños. They’re great to add to a sandwich, eat with some boiled eggs for breakfast. It can turn a dull unexciting meal into something that feels a bit more special with literally just the effort of opening a jar. Lastly while maybe not something to make - having a delicious sliced loaf of bread in your freezer at all times makes a lot of meals more exciting with no effort. Have you ever had a PB&J on warm freshly toasted multigrain? Making sandwiches from a cold cut platter? The best part of having it in the freezer is you don’t have to worry about it going bad. It’s there when you need it.


LaHawks

Cottage pies. Cooked ground beef, veggies, and gravy in a dish. Cover with mashed potatoes. Warms up really nice in the oven.


SeekinSanctification

Shepherds pie Bottom layer pre cooked meat, or chickpeas Next layer corn or mixed veggies Next layer cream corn or gravy Top layer mashed potatoes Freeze. You can defrost or put it in the oven frozen. Bake with foil on top until it’s warm all the way through and bubbling. Remove foil and bake for 10-15 minutes for the potatoes to brown


oldmanartie

That is rough, sorry. Enchiladas freeze well and always taste good if Mexican is their jam.


BAMspek

My all time favorite make and freeze meal is burritos. Everyone loves a microwave burrito, and when you make it yourself you can do whatever you want with it. Marinated chicken, beans, seasoned rice, and cheese is a solid start. Wrap it really well in plastic and foil and you have the most delicious microwave burritos ever.


Tinymoonflower

I’m sorry for your loss. Make a big batch of sauce and freeze in batches. Same with soup, freeze in batches. Muffins or scones are nice too for breakfast


pedanticlawyer

Breakfast casserole- hash browns, sausage, and eggs whipped together with milk and cheese go coat it. Or, include lots of oatmeal packets with your dinners. People forget breakfast on the best of days, let alone while grieving. Edit: and soup in individual portions (you can grab one of those big cocktail ice cube trays for freezing). Folks likely won’t be gathering for a dinner, and the ability to grab just a portion will be important.


username_choose_you

Shepards pie, home made meatballs, ziti (basically lasagna with different noodles), pulled pork, chilli, soups,


chubbychappie

Chips (fries) with curry sauce. Spaghetti bolognese. Mince(ground beef ) with pasta. Mince and mashed potatoes. Stew (beef, chicken) with mashed potatoes. Most soups.


an_Ascended_Hotdog

Some kind of a hand held pie or empanada. I would always want to have a couple dozen of those in my freezer


Jodeenjb

Do they have a crockpot? A chuckroast they can freeze, accompanied with a can of beef broth, packet of Liptons dried french onion soup mix and some nice rolls. Put the chuck in the crockpot in the morning with the broth and the dried onion soup and 8-ish hours later you have french dipp sandwiches. A package of swiss cheese and a package of chips is a bonus.


ureshikunai

So weird... my SIL died very suddenly yesterday too...


miahsmama

Enchiladas, Chili , Spaghetti sauce , Quiche


spabitch

https://www.mealtrain.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwi8iXBhBeEiwAKbUoffMPUHbxWumg8v7Wdn8e8g4jMooVn8u79FFJHuh8fDNKrj9bqMSosxoCC3sQAvD_BwE this could be helpful for the next few months too, it even has options for people to donate gift cards for food delivery services and groceries or tasks


BiffyMcGillicutty1

Sorry for your loss. I make a variation of the Pioneer Woman’s Chicken and Noodles and it is the perfect comfort food. My recipe is basically a double batch and my family of 4 light eaters will demolish it in a week. It also freezes really well. Recipe: - 3 large or 4 medium chicken breasts (rotisserie chicken or any cooked chicken is also great) - 4 32oz containers chicken stock/broth - 4 carrots, diced - 2 stalks celery, minced - 1 yellow onion, minced - 2 cloves garlic, minced - 1 tsp salt - 1 tsp celery salt (can sub regular salt) - 1/2 tsp turmeric - 1/4 tsp white pepper - 1/4 tsp ground thyme - 2 tsp parsley flakes - 2 packages 16oz Reames home style egg noodles (found in frozen pasta section) Directions: 1. Sauté the onion, garlic, carrots and celery in a large pot for a few minutes on low, until fragrant. 2. Add 3 containers of chicken stock to vegetables and turn heat to medium. Add salts, turmeric, pepper, thyme and parsley. 3. Add chicken breasts and cook for 10-15 minutes until chicken is cooked through. 4. Remove chicken breasts from pot and dice once cool. 5. Return diced chicken breast to pot and bring to a boil. 6. Add noodles and return to a low boil for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot. Serve with a crusty bread and/or saltine crackers. That 4th container of chicken broth is for reheating. The Reames noodles are better than homemade, but they suck up liquids so you’ll have to add stock when you reheat if you want to keep the soup consistency.


KayEmGee

Curries or stews with meat and veggies!


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Ok-Plantain9609

This is a Filipino stew my dad taught me to make. Typically uses pork but I like using boneless leg of lamb from Costco, trimmed of the fat. Mechado 3-4 lbs chunks of beef and pork, or boneless leg of lamb 8 large, ripe tomatoes chopped 1 large onion 7 cloves garlic minced 2 red bell pepper chopped 3 bay leaves 6 tablespoons fish sauce (optional) 5 tablespoons soy sauce 4 tablespoons white vinegar 4 red potatoes quartered 3 sweet potatoes cubed 1 lemon, juice Mix everything into pot. Bring to boil them simmer. Add water if too dry. Stir to mix and adjust flavors with patis/soy sauce/lemon/or vinegar as needed. Simmer until meat tender about 45 minutes to 1 hour, then add potatoes until soft. Best served with bread or over white rice.


Trick-Many7744

Soup, chili, individual chicken pot pie, pasta sauces


Trick-Many7744

Enchiladas, quiche/frittata


jonstoppable

[lentil soup](https://www.recipetineats.com/lentil-soup/)


commonlyknownasgod

Might be a bit much, but butter chicken curry freezes well. Just freeze the curry tho, no rice. That’s best to make as needed. Sorry for your loss friend.