Monday, September 15, 2008

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!

8 comments:

  1. Sounds so yummy! Gotta keep this recipe handy for a crisp fall day! BTW, I agree- I care about the bathroom more than food for some odd reason- but food is important!!!

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  2. I agree, 100%. Food is the best gift...I also love that soup, Sarah made it for us when we lived in Salisbury, before kids:) When we take food gifts to others, I also try to do different meals. I like to do muffins, or a pancake mix. Breakfast can be a rough start sometimes, too! Here is the pancake recipe...our favorite.
    OATMEAL PANCAKE MIX
    mix: 4 cups old fashioned oats
    2 cups all-purpose flour
    2 cups whole wheat flour
    1 cup packed brown sugar
    1 cup instant dry nonfat milk
    3 Tablespoons baking powder
    2 Tablespoons cinnamon
    5 teaspoons salt
    1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
    Mix these ingredients together, I use my hands to make sure the brown sugar is mixed in well. Store in a gallon sized freezer bag or airtight container.
    Yield: 10 cups of pancake mix.
    To make pancakes:
    2 eggs
    1/3 cup oil (I use applesauce)
    2 cups of pancake mix
    1 cup water
    Beat eggs in a large bowl. Gradually beat in oil or applesauce. Alternately add mix and water to mixture. Blend well. Preheat and oil griddle. Pour 1/3 cup batter per pancake. Cook until bubbles form around edges, flip and cook until done. Yield: about 10 pancakes
    I always double to put pancakes in freezer. And I always make sure we have this on hand in the pantry. I hope you try it and like it:)

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  3. Sounds great. I am printing out this recipe to keep on hand!

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  4. I would totally agree on the needs changing as the number of babies increases.... this time we are having a girl. I feel like I might as well be starting from scratch! Even though its our third child, I wonder, do Ihave everything a young little girl will need?

    Nope! Never will! ha. just kidding.

    God bless-
    Amanda

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  5. It's so strange that you posted this recipe. I just came across a copy that was shoved into a recipe binder the other day and have been trying to remember where I got it from. I'm planning on making a couple batches of almost complete soup to freeze for when our baby arrives. I'm thinking everything but the potatoes, milk, flour, & cream cheese. Then I'll just thaw in the fridge overnight, add a can of diced potatoes, the milk/flour, & cream cheese as I reheat on the stove. I'm hoping it works because I love soup on crisp fall days.

    I'll have to try that pancake mix, too.

    www.a-heart4home.blogspot.com

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  6. This looks great! I'm stoppin gover from incourage tonight:)

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  7. Looks great and yummy!
    I love traditional chicken soup and never try cream cheese with it.
    Maybe I should have a try.

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