Savoring Time With Loved Ones: Recipes To Bring Family or Friends in Senior Living

Every family has a treasure trove of memories, including countless meals that have brought loved ones together. For some, this may mean a particular recipe that has been passed down for generations, while others may just value the time spent at the dining room table. Regardless of where you land with your traditions, one thing that holds true for most anyone is that food brings people together and provides comfort no matter the circumstances.

While residents are served an array of dining options at ISL communities, sometimes nothing beats a dish prepared by someone you love. One dish that never fails in both taste and ease is Creamy Chicken Enchiladas. Here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients:

1 cup sour cream
1 28-ounce can green enchilada sauce
2 4-ounce cans green chilies, diced
3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
12 corn tortillas
1 cup chicken broth
Cilantro

Instructions:

Mix green sauce with chilies and sour cream.

Smooth one spoonful of the sauce mixture around the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch pan.

Simmer the chicken broth in a skillet, and before placing each tortilla in the 9-by-13 pan, use tongs to pass the tortilla through the broth for just a few seconds. If you leave the tortillas in the broth for too long, they’ll fall apart, so just dip each one in for a few seconds to soften it before putting it in the enchilada pan.

Layer four tortillas over the first layer of sauce.

After tortillas, add half the chicken, then one-third of the sauce, then one-third of the cheese.

Repeat so there are two full layers.

Finish with a layer of four more tortillas, the remaining third of the sauce, and the remaining third of the cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees until warmed through and the cheese is melted, about 30 to 35 minutes.

Let sit at least 15 minutes before cutting. Top with chopped cilantro.

SERVES: 6

Just in case Chicken Enchiladas aren’t a preferred meal, here are 20 additional easy recipes you can share with your loved one.

While distance and time may now separate you, a homecooked meal like this will let your loved one feel your care and appreciation. Whether it’s enchiladas, a decades-old pasta recipe or a family-favorite cake, sharing delicious food will go a long way for your senior friends and family.