Feed Your Family & Someone Else's: Creative 2-for-1 Dinners

While providing a meal to someone in need can be truly rewarding, choosing a dish that’s universally appealing and also travels and reheats well can feel a bit daunting. It can also feel overwhelming if you’re responsible for preparing your own family’s dinner at the same time. By relying on a handful of sure-fire recipes, some handy gadgets and food industry tricks, preparing a meal to share can be fulfilling (and filling) for everyone involved.

Double Your Pleasure

Start by choosing recipes that are loved by everyone that also double easily. In colder months, a hearty soup, stew or chili is an ideal choice. Pastas can be great too, but beware: if the family in need has been receiving meals from others, it’s likely their fridge is already overflowing with lasagna and baked ziti. I like to offer something unexpected, like a taco bar or a roast chicken dinner. Both can be surprisingly easy to prepare and transport with the right equipment.

Be the Taco Truck

Everybody loves tacos. They’re the perfect crowd-pleaser when you pick the right protein. Pork carnitas is my go-to choice for a large batch situation. Starting with an inexpensive pork shoulder roast, it’s easy to prepare enough to feed 8 to 10 hungry adults. The key to making perfect carnitas is to braise low and slow, then let the meat fry in its own fat to create those distinctively flavorful, crispy bits that set really great carnitas apart.

I’ve found my Fagor 3-In-1 Multi-Cooker is the ideal appliance for creating perfect carnitas. Better than a standard slow cooker, a multi-cooker has a slow cooking function, a pressure cooking function and even a rice cooker setting. Plus, the Fagor unit offers a “Brown” function that’s ideal for creating crispy carnitas. Simply add all the ingredients to the cooking pot and braise for about 4 hours using the “High” slow cooker function. Then, remove the lid from the multi-cooker and switch to “Brown” until the moisture evaporates and the meat begins to brown, leaving behind flavorful, fork-tender carnitas with perfect, crispiness in every bite. Round out the meal with some cilantro-lime rice, a pile of tortillas and a variety of gourmet toppings such as shredded cabbage, chopped onions and cilantro, diced avocado and a can of seasoned black beans.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

My other favorite unexpected dish to share is a whole roast chicken. By roasting two at a time, both families will have plenty left over for sandwiches. Most roasting pans can easily accommodate two 4 to 5 pound chickens. Using a Cuisipro Dual Roaster, you can roast two chickens vertically in the oven or on the grill (this is also a great item for summer cookouts). To round out the meal, add a side of mashed potatoes and some roasted baby carrots. Or, go lighter, by offering a Caesar salad and a crusty baguette. Both families will be delighted.

Pack Like a Pro

When it comes time to deliver the meal, plan ahead for easy transport and a perfect presentation. Look for containers in appropriate sizes that lock for a tight seal. Bonus points for carry handles. When packing up the toppings for my taco bar, I love the individual sections in the 4-PC Fruit and Veggie-Tainer from Snapware. I love that my recipients can set up their taco bar by simply removing the lid. Snapware also has a 29-Cup Container with Handle that’s ideally suited to carrying a whole roast chicken. For seamless transport from your kitchen to theirs, think like a caterer and pack everything in a hard-sided cooler or large plastic storage tub (even a large laundry basket will do). Use a bath towel to separate hot foods from cold for extra insulation and to keep everything at the appropriate temperature.