The Most Practical Baby Gift

When you have your first baby, you need a lot. You need the car seat, the clothes, the Boppy, the blankets, etc. But then number 2 or 3 or 4 comes along and you have different needs. I think anyone who has more than one child can agree with me on this one! One of the best gifts a new mom can receive is the gift of a meal! For some reason, I'm the only one who cares that the bathroom doesn't get cleaned, but everyone cares if there is no dinner on the table! I've been blessed to be able to provide this gift for several friends over the seven years I've been married. And in turn, I've been blessed with some of the most delicious meals from friends and family after I've brought home each of my children.

Food that you haven't had to cook yourself tastes so good when you are nursing and tired and overwhelmed with new responsibilities. I've never been brought a meal I didn't like, but I will have to say, one meal holds the prize in my eyes! After Maddie was born, my brother, Ryan, and his then-fiancee (now wife!), Sarah, came to visit. They brought with them a big pot of Cream Cheese Chicken Soup. I have the most delicious memories of that meal! Below is the recipe:


Cream Cheese Chicken Soup

1 small onion

1 T butter

3 c. chicken broth

3 medium carrots, sliced

2 medium potatoes, cubed

2 c. cubed chicken

2 T parsley

s/p to taste

1/4 c. flour or 2 T cornstarch

1 c. milk

8-oz. cream cheese

Saute onion and butter. Add broth, carrots, and potatoes. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered. Simmer until veggies are tender. Add chicken, s/p, and parsley and heat through. Combine flour and milk until smooth. Add and bring to boil. Cook and stir until thick. Add cream cheese. Stir until smooth.

**They also brought a round loaf of bread from the Walmart bakery. Brian LOVED it (and he is not a bread person). We are sorry we didn't note the variety (sourdough? buttermilk?) because we have searched and sampled for four years and have yet to taste that same bread!