At a loss for Christmas/Chanukah gift for this family.

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

Dh's best friend and his wife have 3 kids, ages 1 (boy), 3 (girl) & 5 (boy). They have been incredibly helpful to my family this past few months, bringing food and other things, and dh's friend is helping my mom with a legal matter for free at the moment as well.

 

I want to give them something nice for the holidays, but I really can't think of anything. The kids have tons of toys, books, clothes, etc. I talked with dh about buying them a membership to the zoo or a museum, but they already have memberships to everything in the greater metropolitan area. I've offered to babysit and stuff in the past so that the couple can go away, but they never take me up on it, because the other family just watches the kids.

 

So, any ideas that I'm not thinking of?

[plansrme]

Freezer meals should always be welcome if you are a good cook. There are bound to be evenings over the next month or so that no one has time to prepare dinner. Include sides and a dessert, or whatever would make it special. Someone did this for me a couple of years ago--just showed up with a casserole to stick in the freezer, and I loved it.

 

Terri

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

All good ideas. Any freezer meals that aren't carb heavy? They are trying to eat low carb.

[plansrme]

All good ideas. Any freezer meals that aren't carb heavy? They are trying to eat low carb.

 

 

Hmm, marinated flank steak, which I do all the time--freeze with the marinade in a Ziploc bag; chili (do the beans count as carbs?); stir fry ingredients (the marinated meat, frozen veggies, sauce); soups; meatballs. I freeze soup kits to make a cheese and veggie chowder--I peel and chop the veggies and the ham, and then all I have to do is boil the veggies, make the white sauce and add the cheese (grated cheese could also be frozen).

 

Terri

[AK_Mom4]

All good ideas. Any freezer meals that aren't carb heavy? They are trying to eat low carb.

 

 

Meatloaf or large baked meatballs (think muffin-size)

Stuffed chicken breasts or stuffed pork chops - I like mine stuffed with crab and cheese, but there are lots of low-carb filling choices out there.

Herbed Baked Chicken or Lemon Baked Chicken

 

A nice savory soup or stew? Pulled Chicken?

 

Gosh.... I think I'm getting hungry now!

[Trilliums]

Bird feeder with a guide book on local birds.

 

Constant entertainment.