A friend in need and a friend with speed......

Recently a call went out for food for a family with three generations to cater for. I was happy to help on so many levels as these were near and dear friends.

My Thermo did the job and left the kitchen remarkably tidy in the process with little washing up. Previously "emergency" food meant a casserole delivered to the door of  a sick friend to heat and eat that night or the next. This request was more like a Masterchef Challenge:

• cover  the needs of three  generations
• transport to a freezer 100 km away
• be able to be transported from a flat to the hospital- hot and on foot.
• something to be heated up when necessary at Ronald McDonald House

Basically a family, dead on their feet, needed flexible options while they were caring for their hospitalised child at the worst of times.

Savoury Impossible Pie

So Thermo produced a Savoury Impossible Pie which can be cut and reheated on demand. Next it turned out  a monster load of Spaghetti Bolognaise  and a big bowl of Tuna Mornay. All in under 2 hours. I did think at the time I could have had all three cooking at once with two thermos but just having the second bowl helped to speed up production. I did cheat and cook the rice and pasta the old fashioned way so I could go to the Gym.

Pre- Thermo I wouldn't have been so confident or organised.

Tuna Mornay

Next day, I made a double batch of shortbread biscuits, a 10 second coconut cake and two tubs of brightly coloured playdough in under an hour before the call came from Superkylz to please bring my Thermo with me when I drop off Miss Ariah. (Sorry Yvonne -we ate the cake before it got there.)

Superkylz arrived home from work with her big box of food and  proceeded to turn out more meals at fast speed ready to travel to Sydney the next morning. Armed with the extra bowl and Varoma capacity of two Thermos she churned out Curried sausages, mashed potato, Potato and Leek Soup, a quiche and Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni.

Pre- Thermo she wouldn't have been so confident or organised.

Organisation is the key so here are my tips for cooking for a crisis:

• make up quantities of chopped onion and grated cheese first and put aside.
• have a supply of stackable foil containers with lids.  They are available at supermarkets and discount shops in multiple sizes in packs of 4 with covers.  Alternatively takeaway containers are available and useful to serve up single serves of  dinner and rice etc. Disposable and less washing up is a key here.
• try and include vegetables for a well rounded meal  eg corn, peas, carrots etc
• label the food with ingredients, cooking instructions etc
• beg borrow or buy a second Thermo if necessary.Superkylz will sell you one!
• make sure your own freezer and fridge has enough space to freeze/store the meals once cooked.

A final tip - don't send biscuits or cakes with nuts to the Childrens' Hospital. I guess that includes food that might need heating up in communal kitchens.
Take a little extra cake and biscuits for others and always leave some for the nurses!! I've heard they like a treat or two.



Give Generously. The Gold Telethon  is on this Monday- support a good cause - the Sydney Childrens' Hospital is doing good things for patients and family alike.    Keep up your brave fight little Jack.xxxxx