Going to visit friends that just had their first baby a couple weeks ago, what should we bring? I’m thinking fresh bread with some other things for a food basket… but that’s because I like making bread. Help!

Question

Kelsey · Answer

Stock the fridge: Our friends filled the fridge with ingredients (+ giftcards) for a week’s worth of meals - all pulled from NYT recipes they knew we loved & ate often. It was SO thoughtful. I craved healthy food, so having nourishing meals we didn’t have to plan was really helpful. Small scale version - grab the stuff for one or two recipes and include your homemade bread!

Megan Liles · Answer

One-Bowl Orange-Ricotta Pound Cake: I Always bring this to baby mamas. And homemade granola/a couple things of yogurt.

Megan Liles · Answer

Freezer Care Package (Dinner: A Love Story): Soups, curries, pasta sauces for the freezer. Muffins for the freezer (which I often ate cold at 3 am). And a salad box!

Shannon Case · Answer

Fruit!: Bonus points for cutting it up bc your friends will be too tired to do it themselves!

Also an array of beverages would be lovely - sparkling water, kombucha, coconut water, lemonade, tea… Hydration is key!

Noelle · Answer

Beef Stew (NYT gift link): Your girl is starved for glycine and collagen and all that stuff so bring her some beef stew. Ideally with some crusty bread and nice butter. If you use a good, jiggly bone broth as the base, your stew will become the richest, most nourishing meal. I don’t use flour, and I’m partial to parsnips instead of potatoes.

Ginny Branch · Answer

Breakfast Basket: One of the BEST things someone brought us was a box with bagels, cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, sliced red onion, fresh fruit, fresh juice… but it was enough to have multiple times and it was so luxurious I still tear up thinking about it. I was always ravenous in the mornings and it was the highlight of my day with a newborn!

Brigid · Answer

Literally any baked pasta: But make and freeze in a loaf pan so it easily reheats for a smaller group instead of a family of eight

Brigid · Answer

Dal Makhani Recipe (Restaurant Style): freeze with rice in individual containers to easily reheat.

Brigid · Answer

Smitten Kitchen Breakfast Burritos: I generally make and freeze breakfast burritos for friends with new babies. Easy to thaw and reheat, can eat with one hand while holding a baby, good any time of day.

JV · Answer

Jeni's Strawberry Buttermilk: Reminder that ice cream can be a lovely present, especially if you bury a vegan leather tote carryall in it—I need one of those too.

JV · Answer

Bring Their Coffee Orders: Obsessed with your idea to bring bread. If you can, I’d highly recommend asking them for their coffee orders before you arrive & picking up from a local coffee shop!