Food tidings

Ok, let’s be honest shall we? Sometimes we get a Food Tidings invitation and we want to help the family but, we DON’T.WANT.TO.COOK.A.MEAL! 

This doesn’t just happen to me, does it? Anyone? Well, today I am going to let you in on a tip. The meal you bring does not have to be homemade. There, I said it. Is a homemade meal yummy? Of course! But, the main reason you are providing a meal is to take pressure off a family or someone you care about in their time of need. Usually, the reason for the Food Tiding schedule is taking up their time and emotions, so you’re just trying to help them not worry about a simple thing like what to eat. It doesn’t matter where the food actually comes from or who exactly made it. If it’s edible, it counts and will be appreciated. I think that’s something we can all agree on.

At Food Tidings, we simplify it for our schedule Participants by offering the option to “Send a Meal“, straight from the schedule page, that is made by a gourmet chef’s kitchen. For those of us that have those days when we just don’t want to cook, they are waiting and willing to do it for us. Check out the made-for-you-meal options in our Shoppe, anytime. Not only are their meals extremely “edible”, but they are very tasty, get high reviews and they ship nationwide via FedEx. 

Trust us, these are NOT your average frozen ‘TV dinners’ and offer a great alternative to ‘fast food’ when you want to provide a real home-style meal. The meals offered in our Shoppe are freshly made with the best ingredients, flash frozen to seal in flavor and shipped in a cooler with dry ice to make the trip to your Recipient. The Recipient will be able to use the meal the day it arrives, or it can be refrigerated or frozen to use at their future convenience. It is great quality, will represent you well and very thoughtful.

Whether you’re local and not up for cooking this time or you live far away and are not able to drop off a meal – the “Send a Meal” option will make it easy to participate and still let the Food Tiding family know you are thinking of them. So, next time that email shows up and the desire to serve is high but you’re motivation to cook is low, order them a tasty meal and still send your love! They’ll appreciate it all the same.

Leanne Schinella

Food Tidings Blog Contributor

After being the recipient and participant in many meal schedules, my husband and I co-founded Food Tidings in 2007. We have 8 children, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 9 chickens, 1 hedgehog and 2 bunnies (yes, we are THAT fun) 🙂 When I’m not on wife or mom duty, I love photography and capturing family moments, for other families and my own, to treasure.

I wanted to share a recipe for a quick, easy, and delicious meal that my family and I have really been enjoying lately. It gets two thumbs up from all four of our kids; and let me tell you, that can be challenging. It’s “Mississippi Pot Roast”, a recipe adapted from simplyhappyfoodie.com. Made in the Instant Pot, it literally fell apart when I opened the lid (which is a good thing for roasts, in my book!), and it took quite a bit of willpower to wait to eat it until dinner time! The amazing smell seemed to lure each of the kids to the kitchen, and I had to tell them we’re “closed” until dinner so it wasn’t gone before then. HA!

This would definitely be an awesome meal to bring to a friend or family member who is going through a transitional time in their life: had a baby, sick, going through treatment for cancer, recovering from surgery, just moved, has a chronic illness, a caregiver for a family member who is sick, or those who are mourning the loss of a loved one. We suggest taking it in some kind of container that you don’t mind getting back or something that is disposable.

INSTANT POT MISSISSIPPI ROAST

Ingredients:

• 5 pound beef chuck roast cut in 2 to 3 pieces to fit inside Instant Pot
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup pepperoncini juice
• 8-10 pepperoncinis, whole
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 packet ranch seasoning
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil or something of the like
• 8 tablespoons unsalted or salted butter

Directions:

1. Turn the pressure cooker on, press “Sauté”, and wait 2 minutes for the pot to heat up. Add the avocado oil and beef and cook until browned, about 3 to 5 minutes per side, flipping once. (Note: You may need to cook the beef in batches so the pot isn’t overcrowded.)
2. Take beef out and place on plate, insert Instant Pot trivet. Pour in beef broth and pepperoncini juice. Then place beef back into Instant Pot, add salt, pepper and ranch seasoning packet. Cut the butter into chunks and place the butter on top of the seared beef. Then, place the pepperoncinis on top, as well.
3. Turn the pot on Manual, High Pressure for 90 minutes and then let the pressure naturally release release. Once it’s released fully, open the lid and enjoy the amazing smell that comes from the pot, but don’t put your face too close or you’ll get a steam facial you didn’t bargain for. 🙂 The meat should shred quite nicely. ENJOY!

Lisa Shepherd

Food Tidings Blog Contributor

Hello to our amazing Food Tidings community! My husband and I co-founded Food Tidings in 2007. It’s been amazing to watch it grow the way it has, and be such a wonderful tool for SO many people all over the world!

Wow. What a gameday win! You’ll be the talk of the town if you do this for your super bowl party. While it looks like it’ll take you days to construct, it’s actually pretty doable in a short time since drinks make up most of the structure.

Know someone that’ll be staying in for the Super Bowl? Think how a mini-stadium…or well, maybe a gift basket of snacks might pump up their game. There’s always a good time for a Food Tiding!

Let us know if you attempt the stadium or a simple gift. Post your pics on our Food Tidings FB page, we’d love to see them and be inspired!

Here’s the blueprint on how to make it!

Here’s how’s it’s done:

Thanks AllCreated.com and DELISH!

Anyone else think that sometimes the hardest part about dinner is planning what to make? Whether it’s for your family or a Food Tiding you’re dropping off for a neighbor, it can feel overwhelming.  Dinner themes may be the ticket. Pick a theme for each night of the week and relieve some of the pressure by narrowing it down. Even if the meal is for another family, they’ll love that you’ve “included” them with your family theme and appreciate the food and gesture. So go for it, two meals for the planning of one.

An added bonus…our kids are creatures of habit, so they love the predicability and I love that they don’t ask me, “What’s for dinner” a million times. Win-win.

Here are some ideas to start your brainstorming, have fun with it. Let us know what your favorites are on Facebook with #FoodTidings!

(via https://momtomomnutrition.com/food-and-recipes/themed-dinner-ideas/)