If you know any new moms or soon-to-be new moms, I have a super creative idea for you! It’s always a nice gesture to put some wow into a new mom’s life since they have so little time to cook and sleep. Because after all, a baby is a beautiful package of love who needs a lot of attending to. :)
Recently, a good friend of mine had her first baby and I was asked to prepare a meal for her and her husband. It’s called the “meal train”. (If you’d like to do this for your family and friends Just Ask me how) I jumped on that meal train with a grandiose leap and presented a creative and delicious dinner for two. Well, it could’ve fed a family of five, but leftovers are always grand!
Below is a play-by-play of what I did and some helpful hints for preparing a dinner for a new mama and papa with a presentation that will knock the baby’s socks off!
First, try to come up with a menu theme. I chose Italian, as the new mum is Italian. Bingo! I grilled marinated chicken and laid it on top of freshly made spaghettoni al pesto. My pesto recipe is from Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa Parties! cookbook. I used the best olive oil and Parmesan cheese for this recipe. I also presented the pesto meal in a gorgeous ceramic dish for that extra, “Oh mio!”
Then the real fun began. On a few trays, I presented various food items such as a fresh sourdough baguette with a bottle of olive oil for their dipping pleasure. Mama tip: Do not assume that a new mom has ingredients in her pantry to complement the meal. She might have her baby room all set to go but the pantry could be a different story. So, if you make a salad, include a bottle of dressing or make some homemade for the new parents. And if you add an avocado for some extra protein – don’t slice it; just wrap it up whole so it stays fresh. The key is to make the meal easy.
Along with the main dish, I also added my special chocolate banana bread baked in a cute festive ceramic baking pan that I gave to them as a gift. I wrapped the banana bread in parchment paper first and then tied a big bow around it. Herbal tea is always a nice addition to the banana bread so I also wrapped up 5-6 tea sachets tied together with some ribbon. There’s a “Her Tea” that is great for, yes, Her! As for an additional sweet, don’t forget the chocolates! They make great snacks any time of day for mom.
And to complete the meal, I included beverages. To go along with the Italian theme, I included Italian soda and a bottle of Pelligrino. And of course a bottle of Veuve! I know it’s not Italian, but C’est La Veuve! Making sure the new parents had everything they needed to truly enjoy the drinks, I added in some green, white and red paper straws for a whimsical look and some cute cocktail napkins.
To finish the meal train presentation extravaganza, I added an adorable small plant to the tray and a little handwritten note with the menu items and wishing them well.
I know this seems like a lot of work, but it’s totally worth it for the new parents. I can help you prepare and plan all of this for your family and friends – even if they’re not new parents! Just Ask!
Delicioso!
