Wednesday, September 29, 2010

ManageCancer.org

We want to let you all know about an incredible resource that will be very beneficial to those who have cancer, or for someone who has a family member or friend has cancer. It's called ManageCancer.org.

Here's what the site says:
"ManageCancer.org is a service provided by Christina’s Garden, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to assist those battling cancer. Our free cancer resource website provides cancer patients and their loved ones with information and links to valuable resources to assist with finances, medication and doctor schedules, communication, support, assistance, education, travel, housing and more. We also provide suggestions on ways that loved ones can help. There are many resources available, however, they are sometimes difficult to find as we have found out through personal experience. We have worked very hard to provide the best resources and will continually add resources as our research progresses. We have also strived to create a site that is easy to follow and navigate, a site that will not overwhelm users."

The creator of ManageCancer.org knows first hand what it's like to have a loved one with cancer, and has experienced the trials of trying to find the right resources. His wife, Christina, passed away at age 31 from cancer on January 27, 2009 after a courageous 10 year battle. In May of 2009, he left his career as an attorney to start Christina's Garden, and now ManageCancer.org. What a wonderful way to honor and remember his beloved wife, and to provide much needed guidance for others facing cancer.

This looks like the perfect go to website for those courageously battling cancer, as well as for their friends and family. There are many resources out there for those with cancer, and ManageCancer.org has succeeded in putting them into one easy to use website. They've included Food Tidings on their list of resources, and we're grateful to be included as a resourece for helping others during the trials they face. Check out ManageCancer.org, and visit their facebook page.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Meal Idea Monday- Asian Noodle Salad

Jackie writes us via facebook about a meal she enjoys bringing to her friends and family.

"I like to bring Pioneer Woman's Asian Noodle Salad. Nice and healthy and crunchy! People tend to get a lot of casseroles so it seems to be a welcome change. :)
"

Thanks for the recipe idea, Jackie!

UPDATE: Ok, so it turns out there are more than one Asian Noodle Salads on The Pioneer Woman's website. This is the one that Jackie loves to bring- but I'm sure the other one is delicious too! :)

Monday, September 20, 2010

Meal Idea Monday- Macaroni and Cheese

Diana sent us a great recipe idea via facebook. She makes Macaroni and Cheese from The Pioneer Woman's website. Along with it, she brings green beans, salad and cheesecake (store bought). That meal sounds incredible. Thanks for sharing it with us, Diana!

Feel free to send in your tried and true recipes that you bring to your family and friends. Email us at lisa@foodtidings.com or write us on our facebook page. Enjoy your Monday!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Adding That Special "Something"

A few weeks ago, I blogged about our friend Julie at Come Have a Peace. She had some amazing ideas for how to add that extra "something" to make the dinner you bring that much more special. It got me thinking, what can I do to make the meal I bring super fun and special? So, the last meal I brought to our friends was my test run.

I used one of Julie's ideas- bringing fun plates and napkins. I decided on the color yellow because when I think of yellow, I think of sunshine, happiness, and cheer. And that's what I wanted our friends to feel when they were eating. I think that changes everything about bringing dinner- fun plates and napkins just really change the "feel" of the dinner.

Then I had found some really awesome things at Michael's on sale. It was a plastic popcorn bowl, matching napkins, and matching coasters.... movie night! So I got some candy, some microwave popcorn, and put it all together nicely. I added this "movie night" with the dinner I brought. I think it all turned out so great! I really enjoyed putting it all together, and I couldn't wait for our friends to receive it.

I hope this helps spark your creativity when thinking of what to bring your friend for dinner that much more special! I loved how Julie from Come Have a Peace said it- it helps to "take a meal from delivering help to delivering help AND happiness." So true!


Here are the fun yellow plates and napkins, wrapped with a beautiful red bow

Here's the "movie night" package I brought along with dinner...
This is what the popcorn bowl looked like from the front...
If you have any ideas, please share with us- you can leave a comment here or you can stop by and visit our facebook page. We'd love to hear from you!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Meal Idea Monday- Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Here's our recipe for today's Meal Idea Monday...

Laura from our facebook page gave us a great idea for BBQ pulled pork sandwiches in the slow cooker. These look really yummy!

Thanks for sharing, Laura!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Meal Idea Monday- Easy Potato Soup

Wow, it's Monday again- how do the weeks go by so fast?! :) Here's our recipe for Meal Idea Monday... it's from Cary. Enjoy!

I have been taking potato soup for years. This is an easy and delicious meal.
-Cary

Easy Potato Soup

4 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
2 oz blocks cream cheese-I usually do the 1/3 less fat.
1 small white onion chopped
30 oz package frozen cubed hash brown potatoes (plain)
1-2 packages cubed ham
1/2 tsp dill weed-I use the McCormick with the red top. You may have to play with this depending on what type you have.
1/4 tsp black pepper
French bread-topping
sour cream-topping
shredded cheese-topping
green onion chopped-topping

Heat water and broth to just boiling. Add cream cheese in chunks, pepper and dill weed. Heat until cream cheese is mixed. Add onion, potatoes, and ham. Cook for 30 min on med-low. Add toppings as desired and serve.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Getting Creative

We'd like to thank Julie at Come Have A Peace for writing a wonderful post on her blog about Foodtidings. She even had some very creative ideas for making the meal you bring even more special. She writes:

Start the trend where you live. Someone is sure to be expecting, starting to feel lousy, packing boxes, or having their kitchen remodeled ... or you could be next and benefit from your organized "Food Tidings" friends. Great things to add to a meal you deliver to a friend:
  • a package of fun napkins to make tired, ill, or new people feel better
  • a package of paper plates to spare friends some clean up
  • a card with the "menu" written on it
  • a package of coffee for a single pot
  • a box of tissues or tea, if you're reaching out to a friend with a cold
I LOVE those ideas! Thanks, Julie, for sharing your ideas and blogging about us!

I was inspired last night as I was at Michael's, looking in their $1 bins for fun things. They had these cute movie night themed napkins and a matching plastic popcorn bowl...wouldn't it be fun to bring a box of candy, a package of microwave popcorn, fun napkins, and a fun bowl for the popcorn? Put that altogether and you have given your friend a movie night along with dinner.

I hope some of these ideas are helpful to you, and make bringing meals to loved ones even more enjoyable. Get creative, and have fun with it! If you come up with any great ideas, please share them with us on our facebook page. We'd love to hear from you!