Why I Never Give Gifts to New Moms

Before I had my daughter, I couldn’t pass up a cute onesie, or heaven forbid a themed outfit, without grabbing it for a new mom. I wanted to get over to that person’s house, get in my baby snuggles, and shower them with cute baby gifts. I didn’t fully grasp the extent of exhaustion and work that went into caring for a newborn. It’s just baby snuggling all day right?!

It wasn’t until I went through the process myself that I realized what I truly appreciated. Sure, the onesies and outfits were still adorable and loved. But, what did I appreciate the most? Food. You didn’t have to come over and prepare us dinner or clean for us or do our laundry. But, bring us some food that I could grab and warm up during a middle-of-the-night feeding … you were my life saver.

So, what do I bring for new moms now? You got it. Food. I bring a few of my easy to reheat recipes that can be either eaten as a full meal or a late night snack. Another crucial item? Grab an inexpensive disposable pan to drop it off in. What is the last thing a new mom needs to worry about? Cleaning dishes and returning them to their proper owners.

Here are some of my favorite recipes to take to new moms:

Baked Ravioli

1 Bag Ravioli

1 Jar Marinara Sauce

2 Cups Mozzarella Cheese

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread 3/4 jar of marinara over bottom of dish. Place half bag of ravioli over marinara in single layer, then sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat last step once more for second layer. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10-15 minutes until bubbly.

Tater Tot Casserole

16 oz Sour Cream

1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 (1 oz) Package Ranch Dressing Mix

1 (30 oz) Bag Real Bacon Pieces

2 lb Bag Frozen Tater Tots

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together sour cream, soup, ranch mix, bacon and cheese. Fold in frozen tater tots. Place mixture into baking dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly.

Cheeseburger Casserole

1 lb Rotini Noodles

1 lb Ground Beef

1 tsp Diced Garlic

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce

1/4 Cup Diced Onion

1/3 Cup Ketchup

2 tbsp Yellow Mustard

2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 28 oz Can Diced Tomatoes

Boil noodles and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Add garlic, salt, pepper, worcestershire sauce, onion, ketchup, and mustard. Place drained noodles in baking dish. Mix in tomatoes, ground beef, and 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese. Please remaining cheese on top of mixture. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese has fully melted.

At the end of the day, if you still want to take a gift to a new mom, take a gift. She will appreciate it, I’m sure. I still did. But, this mom. This mom will shower you with gifts that will sustain your appetite long after our visit has ended.

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