Cooking with my Clients

United States
July 10, 2007 6:49pm CST
Many of the clients I have are unable to prepare meals for themselves for various reasons. One client that I have been working with doesn't cook well at all. When I was cleaning out her fridge I noticed a big package of chicken thighs. She said she took them out to have a barbeque. I asked her what she would do with the remaining meat. Before she could reply I knew she was planning to toss them back into a bag and refreeze them. I explained that she should never refreeze uncooked meat. We took the thighs out of the fridge and I told her that we should make something with them before they went bad. I place 6 pieces aside for her to barbeque and for a stir fry. I placed the remaining thighs in a pan of water with some seasonings and cooked it until done. I advised her to remove the pan from the stove, let them cool and put them in the fridge for the next day. My time was limited so we planned out what we would make with the thighs on the following day. On Sunday, we made chicken pot pie using the Bisquick recipe. I saved the broth from the thighs and added onion, chicken boullion, and mixed vegetables. This was set to boil until the veggies were done. Once done we added some broken pieces of spaghetti. Chicken noodle soup! She had never made either of these and was delighted that I showed her how to do it. Now I am not sure if she will every try making them on her own, but at least she had the experience of making some new dishes that are healthier choices than the meals she had been preparing for herself.
4 people like this
17 responses
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
10 Jul 07
That is wonderful- Your job sounds like alot of fun! I love homemade soup-- and I love making dishes with chicken- I think it's great that you are showing these clients different ways to do things- Much healthier and safer also
@rsmith512 (1561)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I love making homemade soup also. It is very fun making the soup and is rewarding when you finally get to try it! My favorite thing to make at home is Chili. Well...I don't really make it, my mom does. And, it is the best Chili in the world. Yum! :D
2 people like this
@kareng (53436)
• United States
12 Jul 07
I bet your clients just love you! How could they not? You really take your time and help them in any way you can from the sounds of it. Bless you!
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
11 Jul 07
We have refrozen meat on occasion and it did not hurt them. Of course I tend to cook things frozen, in crockpot or in roasting pan in the oven. I am glad you showed her a couple of eash dishes. True that she might not ever do these on her own. OR she might request you do them again. lol Thanks for sharing this. A snapshot of one of your clients during a workday.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Jul 07
You Keep The Money - You Get Paid and The Money Is Yours
At one time I supervised people doing the job you do and I know that at times you have your hands full! I was never a "sit in my office" supervisor and in order to get away from my own supervisor, I did as many home visits as possible. I loved being in the homes with the clients and staff. We never failed to have a great time. (But I will admit we did some not so fun things together too, I totally understand the full scope of your job, need I say that I did a lot of "hair combing" with a very, very fine toothed comb along with the staff?). You are a treasure, Butterfly! Now, do I also need to remind you that when you get your paycheck, you are supposed to cash it and spend it on you! It is not your responsibility to buy cute little things that you think your clients would really love to have. (how did I know that?)~Donna
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Jul 07
I have made the same type meals from chicken. I find if to be the most versatile meat you can get and does not cost a lot of money.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 Jul 07
that was some quick thinking.that would have been awful if that bag had of went bad.
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
11 Jul 07
How long do you get to spend with each client? When I was helping my lady I spent the day with her. I would often cook meals ahead of time for her and just put them in the fridge. She would then just have to warm it up in the microwave. I hope your job continues to work out for you and that you continue to like it. You are doing a very important job for so many people.
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I am sure that she enjoyed the new ways of cooking she did with you. If it is hard for her to cook, she probably enjoyed the help you were giving also.
1 person likes this
@rsmith512 (1561)
• United States
11 Jul 07
That was really nice of you to show her all of that. I know if I didn't know how to cook for myself, I would like someone to show me how to do it...so I applaud you for helping her! :D I hope that she understood what to do, and now can apply it to when she wants to make sometime herself. It is always better to eat something healthier! :D
1 person likes this
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
11 Jul 07
Thats great that you take the time to teach your clients new things. I bet they really like having you around. You seem to actually care about them and that isn't always the case.
1 person likes this
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
11 Jul 07
I am getting to think that u and my mom more or less are doing the same for a living =) She also takes care of people that are not able to competely take care of themself, but still clear enough to live alone with supervision. Great idea to show her some new things to do with the food, i am sure that she appreciated it alot =)
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
11 Jul 07
What a great job you have. I can only imagine the joy and companionship these folks get from your visits! I remember as a part of my nurse's training, I had to make home visits and assess the nutritonal status of people. I recall vividly this one frail lady. I instantly could see that her nutritional status was not what it should be. I made an excuse to get into the kitchen and then opened her refridgerator. There was nothing in it except canned dog food! She was eating canned dog food secondary to low income!!! Of course I reported this and soon she was on public assistance. So very sad.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
11 Jul 07
Wow, I thought I was the only one who knew about not refreezing meat. I work in a group home and I pulled out some ribs, chicken and shrimp and each package said they were previously frozen. No one had any clue not to refreeze. ANd could not understand why I said they should not do that. How does one explain it to people when they already think that you are a know-it all. I don't know everything, but I am well educated and twice as old as most of the people I work with, they just have no experience in real life things.
1 person likes this
@maribea (2366)
• Italy
11 Jul 07
as I have already written to you I think that you are doing a great job...doing all these little big things is incredible valuable and I hope you can feel well and satisfied with your job. I am sure they will cover you with blessings and I hope you are being well paid, too!!!! I am sure that old lady was so happy to find somebody who could spend some time with her and helping her to take good care of herself..congratulations...well done my friend!! I wish you all the best
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
16 Jul 07
Goodness the poor Woman I thought everyone knew that you can not freeze Meat that had been frozen and defrosted, the poor Woman that was so good of you to show her all that and I bet she enjoyed every bit of it Hugs
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Jul 07
You sound very helpful. And you did show her how to prepare some meals from them. I can only imagine the clients you work with, either being elderly, or having handicaps either physical and mental. And like that lady there, never having learned from her own mother or grandmother how to cook a decent meal. OR having had to work when she was younger and never having the chance to take care of a home. I do have a wild imagination, so excuse me if I got it wrong. You know I was thinking, maybe she has to learn how to divide the meat or chicken when she first buys them.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
11 Jul 07
That was wonderful of you..You two had quite a day together..You never know, she might do this again sometime..
1 person likes this