Dinner Swap Ideas - Meals for Families of 4
I have started a dinner swap with three other women. I would love some ideas for meals that can be assembled and then baked off later, fully cooked meals that reheat well, and items that will hold up in the fridge for 1-3 days. Ideally, not all casseroles. Thank you thank you!
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You can do family style with Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, etc
Make almost any protein (except eggs as they don't last well in the fridge for a hot dish) in a braise. Technically, a braise is a cooking method with liquid and we tend to think of broth, wine or water.
But the term can also stretch to any meat dish cooked in and served with its liquid, whether thin or thick.
And add, as a separate dish when you deliver, some appropriate carbohydrate: mashed potatoes, grilled polenta, cooked rice, good bread (tacos tortillas naan pita).
Two carbs that need special care. If you are sending biscuits, either make homemade and freezer them, for your swap-partners to store for a few days and then bake. Or give a canister of those ready-made refrigerated ones, again to bake on the day of serving. If you are sending pasta, send it dry and they can cook it in a few minutes (Asian) or about 12 minutes (Italian).
Main dish ideas - chicken cacciatore, chicken coq au vin, brisket with red wine, feijoada (Brazilian pork bean stew), Persian lamb stew, chile con carne.
One revision - a quiche or another pie with eggs and vegetables will hold well in the fridge and can be served cold, room temp or re-heated.
Nancy