Monday, October 10, 2011

And The Winner Is...

~Tammy Q~
(I will package these bottles up and send them your way! Congratulations!)



On another subject, today I want to talk about a ministry that is dear to my heart...Meal Ministry!  Today I had the wonderful privilege of providing a meal to a new mommy and her family to celebrate the arrival of their baby girl. 

Meal Ministry is one of the easiest areas to serve in as a family and can be such a HUGE blessing to the recipient!  Creating a meal to deliver is a perfect opportunity to train your children to be thinking of others and what needs they may have that your family can fulfill. We have been on the receiving end on many occasions as we have welcomed new blessings into our home.  We also have been on the delivering end as we have celebrated new babies, provided relief during times of sickness, and comfort during times of loss.  This is actually one area that shouldn't take much extra time out of your current family schedule - if you are making a meal for yourself, make bigger portions, package them up, write a sweet note, and deliver it with a smile!  No need to stay long, most recipients are needing their time to rest and recuperate so a few minutes of encouraging conversation, and you're back on the road again!

Don't think you're a great cook?  Pick one simple meal and practice until you are ready to bless a family with it! (I'll post a quick and easy one below!)

Here is a list of my favorites:

BBQ Pork Ribs
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Salmon in Foil Packets
Chicken Noodle Soup w/ Crunchy Bread
Mama Cook's Pizza {this one is actually the meal that earned me the name Mama Cook}
and the one we delivered tonight...

Mama Cooks Meatball Subs! 

I had intended to take a picture of all of the subs before they were eaten, but alas, when I remembered this was all there was left!  Needless to say, this is a favorite in my house and I usually receive rave reviews! 

So, here is the recipe:
Mama Cook's Meatball Subs

Meatballs - I use Costco's premade ones
Diced Onions
Tomato Sauce
Mozzarella Cheese - grated
{Maybe a bit of Parmesan - if you have it on hand}
Sandwich Rolls

Throw the frozen meatballs and diced onions in a pot. Cover with tomato sauce. Bring to boil then reduce to simmer. Let cook approximately 20 minutes or until cooked through. 

To Assemble: Sprinkle some grated mozzarella on each bun and broil for 1 minute.  {Putting the cheese in first prevents the buns from falling apart.}  Add 4-5 meatballs with sauce per roll.  Sprinkle some more cheese on top.  Broil a second time - 1 to 2 minutes, and they are done! 

Package all items separately, throw into a bag with assembly instructions, add a side salad and perhaps a dessert, and your meal is complete!  Simple, right?

Depending on the circumstances, you may also want to include breakfast or snack items...

Get creative, have your kiddos draw pictures or make puzzles for kiddos in the recipients home to color or solve.  Add some flowers from your garden.  Share a book your family loves...this one is especially great for those families with new babies so the older kiddos have some time to sit next to mom and enjoy being read to while she is feeding the baby.

What other ideas or recipes do you have to share?  I'd love to hear them!


Thanks again for stopping by!  Be Refreshed!


4 comments:

  1. I have a friend who says that God wants willing hands, with or without talent. I'm getting better, but I don't like to cook and I'm not very good at it. But a few years ago, for some strange reason, I thought I should join our church's meal ministry. My offering: tacos! All I had to do was brown the meat with some seasoning and cut up lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, grate some cheese, and buy the rest of the condiments. I think it's funny that I'm involved in that ministry, and part of my prayer as I deliver meals is still "please, please, please let it taste good!"

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  2. Thanks for sharing this Lora! We have been blessed by having you bring us those delicious Meatball Subs, and I'm so excited to have the recipe to be able to use to bless others some time as well. Love your blog!

    Kari Termont
    Bemidji, Minnesota

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  3. Lynne...tacos are one of my favorite meals when I'm on the receiving end! Perfect!

    Kari...I'm always happy to share! I pray that you will find it as simple as I have! Missing your sweet family!

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  4. The best meal I ever received also included breakfast and lunch for the next day. It was simple; pancakes with little jars of jam and syrup, and sandwich items. I had received that meal on a Friday night, shortly after the birth of my first child, and I remember sitting on the couch contemplating how I was going to muster the energy to stagger about the kitchen twice the next day, preparing my husband and I food. When this meal was delivered by sweet Jill Chi, I felt SOOO BLESSED!!!

    Another idea that was a cute addition was putting a "menu" in with the box of food. It was decorative, and if you wanted to provide the recipe for your main dish, there would be a great opportunity!

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