This summer when my mom had hip surgery, I flew out to New Jersey to help her settle back into her home. A highly organized and fiercely independent widow, she made it clear that there wasn't much for me to help her with.
To be honest, I went more for my own sake than hers. I wanted to provide some comfort, her favorite food, conversation and company. So I cooked for us through the week and stocked her freezer with meals that she could microwave or heat quickly in the oven on her own.
Though once a gregarious host and adventurous cook, she now prefers plainer fare. So I kept to familiar dishes that didn't require much effort and allowed us time to chat as I puttered. We'd watch the birds at the feeder or listen to a piece of music. With just the two of us, the meals provided plenty of tasty leftovers that became soup, curry, stew and pasta dishes that I wrapped into single portions to freeze. Pot roast was turned into beef-barley soup; meatloaf became lasagna; roast chicken and potatoes became chicken pot pie. By the time I left, she was walking on her own and the larder was stocked. Hard as it was to return to Minneapolis, I felt I left a little of myself in the meals I'd made and stored.
Tips for the cook
This winter a friend called to say she was heading out to see her parents and wanted to stock their freezer so her dad wouldn't have to drive through bad weather. Here's what I suggested she do:
• Don't be too ambitious. It's no good sacrificing time you might have together sipping tea and watching birds to slaving over the stove. Keep it simple, be calm, don't fuss.
• Package up balanced meals. Put protein, starch and vegetable in single-serving containers available in grocery stores.
• Don't feel you have to do everything yourself. Splurge on restaurant takeout soups or stews that can be divvied up into single-sized containers and frozen for backup.
