An ounce of help is better than a pound of sympathy.

Sometimes the nicest thing you can do is make a meal for someone. I remember many years later a meal someone made me when one of my Nans died. it was the kindest thing. Another time I remember someone sending me a meal on a tray when I had been sick. It was wonderful! 

Those times when it's late, it's been a long hard day and someone has cooked you a meal it's a relief. It is the best! It doesn't have to be fancy. A wholesome meal just makes you feel better. 

Earlier this year one of the girls was really sick with a virus. It wiped her out. Complete little meals were run over to her place over and over. Having some one who does these things in a crisis is a big thing. You can see the relief in someone who needs a meal.

So many things can be made into individual portions. A big favourite of mine is to make things from cakes to pies to meat loaf all in a large muffin tray. You get neat individual sized portions. Great to freeze too.

A crock pot full of soup is another. You get so many portions and chicken soup is a great one if someone isn't well. The crock pot (slow cooker) is the most helpful thing. My secret is to make up a beef or chicken casserole and it will be so tender. Then use this as your filling to make a series of pies. Just use puff pastry and decorate them nicely and there you have ready to cook pies. They freeze perfectly and a golden pie can be a gift for a family (make a big one) or a single person. With these I always have a heap of meals in an emergency and never get caught out.

When I have lots of eggs I'll cook up a series of quiches for everyone. They are yum hot or cold and can go for lunches as well, for those I will make them in the muffin tray as they are just the right size. 

All these things I see made up and looking beautiful in our local gourmet store for $30 for a quiche and more for a decorated meat pie. Pfft we can do it for very little!