Good meal for new mom?

[Hopefulmama]

I would like to make a dinner or two for a good friend who has a toddler, and recently had a c-section. Something easy for me would be good since I too have little ones. Something wholesome, home-made, and not too spicy. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[lindseylucy]

crockpot style- this is easier than it looks and tastes yummy and is nourishing. i did the variation.

Ecuadorian Quinoa & Vegetable Soup
My friend gave me this recipe, and this week I made it in the crockpot with fresh roasted green chiles I picked up at Whole foods instead of green peppers. I also used fresh corn and patty pan squash and some seitan in it. - It's good with just about anything - just throw it all in the crockpot and there's no sauteeing!

Ingredients
½ cup raw quinoa (can get in bulk food section at Safeway, WIld Oats, Whole Foods)
2 tblspoons olive oil
2 cups chopped onion
1 tsp salt
1 cup diced potatoes
1 cup chopped red or green pepper
1 ½ cup chopped fresh or undrained canned tomatoes (14 ½ oz. can)
1 cup diced zucchini or yellow squash
1 tblspoon fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
½ tsp. ground black pepper
3 cups vegetable stock

*optional: scallions, cilantro, tortilla chips, Monterey jack cheese

Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh strainer under cold, running water. Set aside to drain. Warm the oil in a soup pot, add the onions and salt, cover and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the drained quinoa, potatoes, bell peppers, coriander, cumin, oregano, black pepper, stock and tomatoes. Cover and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Add zucchini or squash, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until all veggies are tender. Stir in lemon juice.

*Top with scallions, cilantro, tortilla chips and/or grated cheese, if desired.

[atpeace]

How about Rachel Ray's "Lasagna Stoup"? Looks easy, quick, and filling. You can add more veggies to make it more wholesome (someone left a comment that they added shredded zucchini). You get veggies, protein, and carbs in one pot!

I'm making it this week!

Here's the link:
http://www.rachaelraymag.com/Recipes.../Lasagna-Stoup

[Sweetiemommy]

I was just going to say, NOTHING lasagne related (that includes baked ziti). For some reason, everyone gives postpartum moms lasagne. I received a total of SEVEN offers for lasagne or ziti. I have this stuff in the freezer, I can't give it away. I appreciate the thought, but it gets to be cheese overload!

[onthemove]

greek shish kabobs
chicken pot pie
cottage pie
cranberry chicken with chow mein

[Marylizah]

As a mama with a preschooler who just had a c-section and has been cooking dinner since I came home from the hospital, anything. I would be grateful for canned soup and sandwiches-- anything I didn't have to prepare myself. Whatever you prepare will be appreciated.

[columbusmomma]

Several different soups that she could eat now or freeze later?
Potpie
Burritos, eat now or freeze for later?
An assortment of breads,muffins,scones

[atpeace]

Hahaha, Sweetiemommy! I have been craving lasagne for the past few days, and that recipe sounds so easy! I didn't even realize that it's such a popular post-partum gift...oops

[atpeace]

My absolute favourite meal post-partum was chili (maybe because I had a late autumn baby?). So easy to make, freeze, and cook, and all you need for the side are some crusty rolls (toasted in the toaster oven for 2 minutes with butter). Heavenly!

You can even make it without meat. Beans and lots of veggies are so healthy, and it doesn't have to be spicy at all. I make a huge pot, freeze it flat in Ziploc bags 2-3 servings at a time, and keep a stash in my freezer for super-busy nights.

That's my non-lasagne related contribution

[BetsyS]

I like to take chicken pot pie or chicken and wild rice casserole.

[Lisoula]

I don't have the actual recipe, but my favorite thing a friend brought me after my first baby was a chicken/rice/broccoli/cheese casserole. It was homey and delicious, and she brought it with a simple green salad and I thought it was to die for.

I'm sure she would appreciate anything, though. It's so nice not to have to worry about cooking when you're newly postpartum. You're a good friend for thinking of her!

[MammaG]

My absolute favourite pp meal this time around was thick bone-marrow broth soup. Mum and I made and froze the bone marrow broth before I had the baby and then Mum made soup with lots of veggies in it with the broth after Peregrine was born. It was yummy and felt so nourishing...it felt like it was making me strong!

I added in fenugreek seeds to the bone broth to help my milk come in and it also tastes nice...sort of an earthy and slightly sweet taste.

[texaspeach]

anyone have any suggestions for a vegetarian mama? DH's coworker just had a baby and I'd like to drop some food by - baby was txfrd to the nicu for breathing problems

I'd make that quinoa soup but I don't have a way to get it to them. I've got PP brain and am drawing a blank on ideas

[redorchid]

I think including something with greens or beans or some other source of iron is good. When I was postpartum, one of my favorite things someone brought was a huge fruit salad along with a meal. It lasted a few days and was great to give to my older kids for snacks.