More Compassionate Service

Aunt Robyn sent this idea for a compassionate service meal:

The thing I like to take for compassionate service dinners if the family has small children is tin-foil dinners cooked in the oven If you put them in a paper bag with newspaper all around them they keep warm a long time. It¢s great for kids who don¢t like their food mixed up together.

Thanks Robyn!!

Swedish meatballs

I halfed the meatball recipe and made the sauce as is.

Swedish meatballs

Meatballs:
3 lb. ground beef
2 sm. cans evaporated milk (5 oz each)
2 c. oats
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 eggs
1 c. finely chopped onion
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. salt

Sauce:
2 c. ketchup
2 sm cans tomato sauce
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
3 tsp. liquid smoke (I did it without this and they were still good)

Combine all ingredients and form into balls. Place in baking dish and cover with sauce. Cover dish with foil and bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes. Remove foil for last 5 minutes of baking.

Fun Appetizers

Here's a fun appetizer ideas for your end-of-summer parties:

Apple Berry Salsa w/ Cinnamon Chips

Chips:
4 (7-in) flour tortillas
1 tbsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Salsa:
2 med. Granny Smith appples
1 c. strawberries, sliced
1 kiwi, peeled and chopped
1 small orange
2 tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 tbsp. Apple jerky (not sure what it is, but will find out)

Makes 16 servings (3 c. salsa and 32 chips)

Compassionate Service

I'm curious to know what others make when they are given a compassionate service assignment to take a meal in to a family. Please post or email me some ideas of what you've taken before and I'll post them here along with my own ideas.

Crock Pot Chicken

This is my all-time favorite chicken and rice recipe. It's moist. It's loaded with flavor. Best of all, it has the added appeal of a fix-it and forget-it meal! Now, one thing about my cooking, if I don't have something on hand I try to substitute with something I do have, thus saving me time, energy and sanity of last minute trips to the store. This recipe is a classic example of me changing the recipe (I know you are laughing to yourself, Jeff). It calls for cream cheese but I sometimes substitute sour cream. I also sometimes substitute the Italian dressing powder for ranch, and cream of mushroom for cream of chicken. Anyway you do this dish, it turns out delicious. Add some fresh, hot rolls and a side of steamed veggies with a little butter and fresh lemon squeezed on top and you have a meal fit for a king!

CROCK POT CHICKEN

2 T. margarine
6 chicken breasts
1/2 c. water
1 pkg. Italian dressing (powder)
1 can cream of mushroom
8 oz cream cheese

Melt butter. Add chicken and pour water on top. Cook 6 hours. Take chicken out. Place in soup, dressing mix, and cream cheese.* Mix until melted. Cut up chicken and add back into pot. Heat 30 minutes and serve over rice.

*It is important that you wait until the last 30 minutes to add the cream cheese (or sour cream if you opt for that). If you try and cook it all together, it will start to curdle and have a funny consistency.

Soft Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are so much work, but they are a must-have with kids. It's something fun to do with them and seems to hold their attention. Even my 3 year old did better than I thought he would. Here's my recipe (I usually half it and it makes plenty for my family.)

SOFT SUGAR COOKIES

1 c. shortening
1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
3 T. vanilla
1/2 c. milk
1 T. soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp baking powder
7 c. flour

Cream together shortening, sugar, and butter. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients and add 1 cup at a time to sugar mixture. Add milk as needed. Roll out on floured surface. Cut out with cookie cutters. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes or until light and fluffy. Cool, frost and decorate.

Summer Foods

Summer is about half way over and there are still lots of BBQs and picnics and potlucks. This is one of favorite salads of all time. It's so simple. I make it year round, especially in the late winter when I'm longing for warmer temps. (I sometimes substitute the lemon juice for lime and the add a little cilantro. It makes a great dressing for taco salads!)

Strawberry Spinach Salad

1-10 oz. pkg fresh spinach
2 c. sliced strawberries (fresh, but frozen works too if you sweeten it)

3 T. lemon juice
1/4 c. sugar
6 T. vegetable oil

Place lemon juice and sugar in a blender. With blender running, add oil in a slow, steady stream; process until slightly thickened. Just before serving, combine spinach and strawberries in a large salad bowl and drizzle with dressing. Serves 6-8