533574 Sat Jun 28 13:46:29 -0700 2008 21 31 Home Cooking 0 3822326 My father in law is in a nursing home. There isn't a lot that I can do to help him as he does his rehabilitation except to cook appetizers for him to eat with the meals that he is served. So far, I have made won tons, potstickers, siu mai, and har gow. I'm looking for more ideas so that it doesn't become monotonous. Please send me your ideas. TIA! Sat Jun 28 13:46:31 -0700 2008 12307 dimsumgirl 1 3822386 I think the Greeks have a corner on finger food - it's all good. How 'bout dolmades, tiropites, tzatziki, or spanakopites? Perhaps some miniature corn muffins? Dates with goat cheese stuffing? Miniature creme puffs filled with a butter creme or other filling? Savory fillings also work great in these little morsels. Sat Jun 28 14:12:49 -0700 2008 3822326 203621 todao 2 3826163 They only got it after the Turks! There's plenty of dolmeh, boureki, cacik and spinach pie east of the Bosporus! I enjoy making small "tartlets" using puff pastry and filling with various savory flavors such as custard, sauteed mushrooms and cheese, etouffee, blue cheese and steak, mini wellingtons, etc. Other ideas: kibbeh (bulghur, pinenut and lamb balls), fishballs with XO sauce, shish kebabs, fritters (corn, pumpkin, sweet potato, mung bean, etc.), falafel, satay, corned beef siopao, boureki, stuffed olives, za'atar "pizzas," samosas, yogurt cheese, sliders, fried mac-n-cheese, pigs-in-a-blanket, etc. Mon Jun 30 08:26:14 -0700 2008 3822386 68363 JungMann 1 3822943 You're making Asian foods, so I'm not sure these suggestions will be helpful. Are you supplementing his meals because he doesn't like them? If you think he'd like a few snacks during the day after PT, there are lots of shelf-stable things. Individual containers of pudding, applesauce, Jell-O with fruit. Make a trail mix with things he likes and bag up in serving sizes. Peanut butter and cheese crackers come in small serving packs too. There's a Chex mix in a bag that my neighbor loved when she was in rehab after chemo when nothing tasted good to her. Mini rice cakes in lots of flavors, low salt pretzels, those new individually wrapped prunes. Then, of course, you'll need drinks. Juice boxes, bottles of ice tea or home-made tea in containers, even flavored or plain water. Fluids are always good. I don't know how often you visit, but if you can keep him supplied with ice or a mini cooler with freezer packs, that would keep a few drinks at least cool for a day. Then you can certainly bring him home-made delicacies to show him you want to fuss over him. Make sure he can open things and has disposable spoons and napkins and wet wipes to clean his hands. It's often hard to get help, but if he asks the PT person who brings him back to his room after a session to open a bottle or a bag of something, they will gladly do that, and then he can take his time to eat and/or drink it. Sat Jun 28 19:12:04 -0700 2008 3822326 84890 nemo 1 3823010 todao and nemo, thanks for the great ideas. Yes, I am an asian cook in an asian rut. I love the idea of creme puffs filled with a vaiety of goodies and chex mixes and drinks. I don't visit all that often but my husband goes everyday. My father in law does physical therapy twice a day for an hour each time. It is probably exhausting and Nemo, you are right, it would be great to have a treat after his therapy sessions. Thanks to both of you for your great ideas. They are really appreciated. These are easy for starting points. Sat Jun 28 19:54:45 -0700 2008 3822326 12307 dimsumgirl 2 3823038 I always love the Greek ideas. Other small "treats" can be meatballs, salad caprese skewers, mini quiches [use those neat little phyllo cups from the freezer section], single servings of mac and cheese, frozen bananas dipped in chocolate are just a few thoughts. As someone who is also worrying about someone in a rehab place, the foods of childhood seem to be the ones that make those post-PT snacks enjoyable. [Mini chicken pot pie is the favorite this week.] Sat Jun 28 20:08:19 -0700 2008 3823010 59258 smtucker 3 3823051 Meatballs! Of course, what a great idea that never occured to me. Thanks! Mini quiches are also a wonderful possibiility. smtucker, best wishes for your loved one in rehab as well. I appreciate your ideas and will work them into the food scheme along with the terrific suggestions from todao and nemo. Sat Jun 28 20:12:31 -0700 2008 3823038 12307 dimsumgirl 4 3823305 The cream puffs are a great idea, I fill mine with tuna salad, pimento cheese, or a shrimp salad. How about artichokes, blanched asparagus wrapped with proscuitto, marinated asparagus, cerviche, or fruit kabobs. Sat Jun 28 23:08:14 -0700 2008 3823051 10921 Janet 2 3823361 for a little sugary post PT pick me up, how about mini rice krispy treats or mini mock hostess cupcakes. or mini cookies or brownie bites. for apps, mini bites of prosciutto wrapped melon, deviled eggs, candied or spiced nuts, mini filled tacos (like the ones they have frozen at TJ's)... going w/ smtucker's great theme, spanokopita and manitopita are both great apps. for some reason the older generations are big fans of bread and butter - send a good loaf of sourdough or sweet pumpkernickel and some good irish butter... Sun Jun 29 01:03:53 -0700 2008 3823010 15572 Emme 1 3823651 This one is a big hit around here: http://www.mealsmatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/12270 Sun Jun 29 07:53:59 -0700 2008 3822326 14012 DetectDave 1 3823875 This recipe might also help with your needs: Ribbon Meat Skewers Ingredients 1 1/2 pound flank, sirloin, New York strip, or your favorite steak cut (also works well with pork loin or shoulder, or boneless, skinless chicken thighs) salt pepper bamboo or wooden skewers Marinade: 1/2 cup soy sauce 1/2 small onion 1/4 fresh lemon 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon sugar or brown sugar 1 tablespoon pure roasted sesame oil 4 cloves fresh garlic, peeled 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled 1 teaspoon fine ground red chili pepper Dipping Sauce: 1 whole green onion 1/4 cup soy sauce 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon oyster sauce 3 cloves fresh garlic, peeled 1/2 inch fresh ginger, peeled 1 teaspoon pure roasted sesame seed oil Preparation Soak wooden or bamboo skewers for one hour before use. Mix Marinade Cut onion and ginger into small pieces. and put into blender. Remove rind from lemon. Add garlic, lemon, onion, and ginger to blender with just enough water to blend into a pourable paste. Pour paste into a medium mixing bowl and add all other marinade ingredients. Mix well and let stand for fifteen minutes. Prepare the Meat Freeze meat until just firm. Trim excess fat and slice into long thin (about 1/8 inch) strips. Very lightly salt each strip and let stand for ten minutes. Thread meat onto skewers in a zig zag manner. Place skewers in a large shallow container and pour marinade over the meat, turning the skewers until meat is coated. Cover and refrigerate for one hour, turning skewers every 15 minutes. Mix the Sauce Put garlic, ginger, and soy sauce into a blender and blend to smooth liquid. Fine chop the green onion. Place all ingredients in a medium bowl, mix well, and refrigerate until use. Cooking Preheat grill or broiler to high heat. Grill or broil until well browned (about two minutes per side or less). Serve with steamed white rice, dipping sauce, and kimchi. Sun Jun 29 09:46:53 -0700 2008 3822326 93805 hannaone 2 3824327 YUM!!! That sounds awesome. Thanks for the specific preparation details. I think father in law will jump out of his wheelchair for these. I'm sure my DH and daughters would go nuts for these too. Sun Jun 29 13:50:15 -0700 2008 3823875 12307 dimsumgirl 1 3823935 I've been doing a similar thing - all the best to you and father-in-law! I discovered that coconut water (available in shelf-stable juice paks, or quarts "vitacoco") is natural gatorade -- electrolytes without extra sugar or fats. My relative is on a severely restricted diet and the cocowater is allowed. It tastes better cold - pretty mild, like faintly flavored water. There's also fruit flavored ones. Coco-mango, etc. Or you could bring a young Thai coconut, and avoid the juice pak. I also found seasonal fresh fruit to be a non-existent in the rehab place, and so a seriously welcome thing to bring homemade fruit salad incontrast to the canned stuff served daily in rehab. Just one flavorful strawberry made a big difference. As I'm sure one juicy piece of dimsum does! Sun Jun 29 10:24:12 -0700 2008 3822326 11989 pitu 2 3825706 pitu, thanks for pointing out that there isn't fresh fruit served in these places. It hadn't occurred to me but I love fresh fruit. I will make a point of adding fresh fruit as a garnish and as an additional treat to whatever I make next time. I think it will add color and flavor. Great idea! Mon Jun 30 05:53:55 -0700 2008 3823935 12307 dimsumgirl 3 3826613 I was going to suggest this when I was in a place like this I wanted something fresh. Mon Jun 30 10:32:31 -0700 2008 3825706 11854 LaLa 4 3856054 It has been over 100 degrees here in Northern California this week. The watermelon chunks and the pineapple slices were the most welcome treats to my father in law and his tablemates! Wonderful suggestion. Thanks! Thu Jul 10 08:51:08 -0700 2008 3826613 12307 dimsumgirl 1 3825517 first off, i just wanted to say that when my grandfather was ill, and i brought him food from the outside world, it just made his day. it is so lovely of you to think of him in this way. my grandfather was brought up on jewish brooklyn food, so i went to EAT in nyc and bought things like mini black and white cookies or gourmet mini pastrami sandwiches. it is important, i think, to cater to the tastes your father in law has always had all his life--a kind of way to reconnect with himself and what he has liked since his youth. it seems he likes asian food, and my specialty is french, so i suppose i'm just here for support, but i recently tried french flavors in asian preparations, and they came out quite well if you'd like to give them a shot! brie and avocado spring rolls, crispy cassis duck, and french onion soup dumplings: http://frenchrevolutionfood.blogspot.com/2008/06/chinatown.html also, why not simple crudites? french green beans, cucumbers, carrots, and cherry tomatoes with a bit of prepared pesto blended together with creme fraiche...good to chat over. Mon Jun 30 01:33:07 -0700 2008 3822326 204102 KerryLynn 2 3825704 KerryLynn: Oh my goodness, brie and avocado spring rolls! I'm not sure if he would go for those, but I am having a party later this week and those woud be a hit. Thanks for the simple crudite ideas. Those sound great as well. I appreciate your supportive words. We grilled a flank steak last night and at the last minute, I thinly sliced a third of it for my husband to take to his dad. We sent the other third (unsliced) home for his mom to eat. Mon Jun 30 05:52:28 -0700 2008 3825517 12307 dimsumgirl 1 3827386 I love California roll, but have never made it myself. I saw this on FitTv yesterday, and I am going to make it ~~ doesn't look difficult. No Cheat California Rolls You save: 270 calories, 9 g fat, 624 mg sodium Ingredients 4 slightly packed cups freshly cooked sushi rice (also known as "cal-rose" rice; it's short grain white rice—you need about 1-1/2 cups rice and 2 cup water) 1-1/2 pounds imitation crab meat 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons rice vinegar 4 8 x 7-1/2 inch sheets Nori (seaweed) 4 1/4-inch thick slices seeded cucumber or avocado(optional) Prepared wasabi (optional) Sushi unagi sauce (optional) Soy sauce (optional) Sushi mat Allow cooked rice to cool to room temperature and transfer it to a medium bowl. Meanwhile, in a food processor fitted with a chopping blade, process the crab until it is very finely chopped and starts to stick together. Transfer it to a medium bowl and stir in the mayonnaise. In a small bowl, stir the sugar and salt into the vinegar until it is dissolved. Hold a wooden spoon over the bowl of rice and pour vinegar so that it runs down the spoon and is evenly distributed over the rice. Then stir the mixture. The rice should be sticky. Next, place a sushi mat on a work surface so that the wooden sticks that comprise it, run horizontally. Place one sheet of Nori on the sushi mat. Run your hands under cool water then scatter about 1/4 of the rice (about 1 cup) evenly over the Nori. Then press the rice in a thin even layer firmly over the Nori so it is completely covered. (Remoisten your hands slightly if the rice starts to stick to them). Then spread 1/4 of the crab mixture (about a heaping 3/4 cup) over about 1/2 of the rice starting from the edge closest to you. Lay the strips of cucumber or avocado lengthwise on the strip of rice next to the crab. Pick up the end of the rolling mat and nori closest to you and roll it tightly to the rice on the far side then continue to roll it so that the exposed rice wraps around the stuffed roll. Transfer the roll to a cutting board. Run a very sharp knife with a thin, straight blade under cold water. Shake off any excess water then slice the roll into 12 equal slices. Repeat the procedure 3 more times, using the remaining nori, rice, crab and cucumber or avocado. Makes 4 rolls; 8 6-piece servings. Each 6 piece serving has: 234 calories, 14 g protein, 39 g carbohydrates, 2 g fat, trace saturated fat, 42 mg cholesterol, trace g fiber, 114 mg sodium Traditional California Roll (6 pieces) has: 504 calories, 14 g protein, 87 g carbohydrates, 11 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, cholesterol not available, 2 g fiber, 738 mg sodium Devin Says: You'll be the hit of any party if you bring a platter of California rolls—they're inexpensive, yet impressive and very easy after you practice a few times. Do not use leftover rice for sushi. It should always be made fresh and cooled, ideally for a couple of hours. Save money by seeking out an Asian specialty market in your area. Not only will you find tons of unique prepared sauces and foods, key Asian ingredients like sushi rice, wasabi, nori and even Saki tend to be much less expensive when purchased there. Mon Jun 30 13:51:19 -0700 2008 3822326 109905 laliz 2 3827447 How about small pieces of melon wrapped in prosciutto? Or breadsticks wrapped in prosciutto (I'd be a little careful with the breadsticks because older people sometimes get dehydrated easily.) You can bring him frozen grapes, which make a nice treat, and should keep during your trip. How about those small mozzerella balls with some sun-dried tomatoes on a toothpick? Would he like marshmallows? Mon Jun 30 14:05:42 -0700 2008 3827386 83766 brendastarlet 2 3850940 Great ideas for this week while it is hot, hot, hot here in Northern California and we have lots of fires and smoke in the air. Thanks for your ideas. I have jotted them down for my rotation. Tue Jul 08 20:44:43 -0700 2008 3827386 12307 dimsumgirl 2 3856043 Laliz, no kidding about finding ingredients at greatly reduced prices! I just got a great buy on sesame seeds. I found a 2 pound bag of wasabit for under $8.00! I usually pay about $3.00 for an ounce of the stuff! Thu Jul 10 08:49:23 -0700 2008 3827386 12307 dimsumgirl