How to Make a Feel Better, Get Better, I Care About You Box
I have come up with something that I am really happy with; a “Feel Better, Get Better, I Care About You” Box. It’s a gift that is homemade and comes from the heart.
We all know someone who is going through something. Today, I am sharing a gift to give when you want someone to know that you care and that you are thinking of them.
I don’t know about you, but I become a little bit paralyzed when something happens to someone I care about. The big things, like a cancer diagnosis. A sick child, a loved one, or a parent. Covid. And the smaller but still difficult things, a job loss. A divorce. A betrayal.
I don’t know what the right thing to say or do is. I don’t want to be intrusive, but I want them to know I care about them and want them to get better I don’t want to do too much, or too little. What I have learned over the years, and I must say, I learned it the hard way, is that doing something, anything is better than doing nothing.
A Feel Better, Get Better Gift Box
I have come up with something that I am really happy with; a Feel Better, Get Better, I Care About You Box. It all started with a card I found. I loved the sentiment written on it, but the card was not very attractive, so I started writing the sentiment inside of pretty cards and sending or delivering them.
I also add a little note to let them know that I love and care about them, no need for a response. If they are not up for a call or visit, this takes the pressure off of them and relieves them of the obligatory thank-you note.
For friends nearby, I tuck the card into a box with a large container of my homemade, rustic chicken noodle soup, a stack of biscuits to dip into the soup, and an even larger stack of oatmeal raisin cookies. Good food, easily reheated feeds not only the body but the soul.
For friends far away, I found an amazing service called Spoonful of Comfort that sends care packages. You can order soup, biscuits, and cookies to be delivered with a personalized card. They have multiple soup options, chicken noodle (my favorite to send, nothing says get better, feel better more than chicken noodle soup), tomato basil, creamy corn, and potato chowder, harvest vegetable, poblano chicken chowder, and chicken and wild rice. They also offer gluten-free and vegan options.
There is something for everyone! They offer multiple different packages, a college care package, a new parent care package and a get better care package. This is my go-to for family and friends that live far away.
The card reads:
Things I don’t know:
Why bad things happen to good people
All you’re feeling right now
Exactly the right words to say
Things I do know:
You are cared about more than you realize
You will get through this
I am here for you, no matter what
For me, the sentiment on this card exactly sums up what I am feeling and the feeling that I am trying to convey.
If you would like to download the card to use, click the download below.
You can also add a cozy blanket and super squishy soft socks or a digital thermometer into the box.
As Maya Angelou says: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.
So why not give them a handmade get better gift?
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What to Include in the Care Package
You can decide what is best to include in your get better care package. For this box, I included Homemade Rustic Chicken Soup, Gluten-Free Dairy Biscuits, and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.
I recycled the box from an old Amazon shipping box and then I wrapped it in butcher paper.
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Next, I gathered some flowers from the yard and grabbed some twine, and wax paper for the box. Once the biscuits and cookies were done, I wrapped them in wax paper and tied the ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Be sure to include items that are easily managed and don’t take much attention. Soup is a great item because it is easily reheated. Use recipes that include well-known ingredients and that are not overly spicy. Be aware of dietary restrictions so that you deliver food that they can eat. The key is their comfort, not the gift of the package. Bread and cookies are always good to include. Who doesn’t love a cookie or bread as they are grab-and-go. Do not include anything that has complicated heating/cooking instructions. The food should be easy and comforting.
I loved making this recipe for Rustic Chicken Soup. It was delicious.
Rustic Chicken Noodle Soup
This rustic chicken soup is healthy, full of flavor and perfect as a get healthy gift.
Ingredients
- ¼ stick regular or plant based butter
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 4 celery ribs, chopped
- 12 cups chicken broth
- 2 large potatoes, chopped
- 4 medium carrots, chopped
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 package of pre-cooked, shredded rotisserie chicken breast
- 8 oz cooked gluten free fettuccine noodles
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh italian parsley
- Optional: Additional salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Melt butter in stock pot. Add chopped onion, garlic and celery and cook until soft. Add broth, potatoes, carrots, and oregano, cook through at a low boil. Once potatoes and carrots are softened, add the shredded chicken and cooked noodles. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste. Pour into container for delivery or serve! Add Italian parsley for garnish.
I also made the recipe for these Gluten-Free Biscuits.
Gluten Free Biscuits
The gluten Free Biscuits are thick and delicious.
Ingredients
- 3 cups Gluten Free (Better Batter/1 for 1) flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 stick butter (cold)
- 1-¼ cup coconut milk (full fat)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425. Prepare baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking sheet.
Stir together the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar in a bowl or food processor with paddle attachment. Add cold butter 1 tablespoon at a time until worked through and the texture is crumbly. Once all butter is combined, add the milk slowly until cohesive.
Place dough onto a work surface that is lightly floured. Pat the dough into a rectangle roughly 3/4 ‘ thick. Cut the dough into thirds and stack the three pieces of dough. Roll lightly with a rolling pin until ¾” thickness. Repeat cutting and stacking the dough. Cut the dough into circles with a cookie cutter or glass jar. Place the biscuits bottom side up (the bottom is smoother) and place on prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops of the biscuits with coconut milk ad bake for 20-26 minutes.
You can use all-purpose flour, unsalted butter and whole milk, I just made mine gluten-free.
Oatmeal Raisin cookies are a great remedy and a wonderful feel-good treat. These are easy to make and very tasty. You could also make Sugar Cookies.
Gluten Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
The oatmeal raisin cookies are very soft and so good!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (I used plant based butter)
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (I used organic coconut pal, sugar)
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1-½ cups gluten-free Flour (I used Better Batter)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1-½ tsp ground cinnamon (for dough)
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon for raisins
- 1 cup of water for raisins
Instructions
Before you start the dough, place the 1 cup of water in a small sauce pan. Add the 1 tsp of cinnamon to the water, stir until mixed (it will seem like it is floating on the top of the water) and then turn on heat. Add 1 cup of raisins and bring to boil. The raisins will plump as they cook. Once the water is boiling, turn off heat and let cool. Once cooled, drain the raisins from the cinnamon water. The raisins will have absorbed a good amount of the cinnamon water and will be very fat and plump!
Use either a hand mixer or if using a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment. Cream softened butter and sugars until smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk the dry ingredients (except oats) together (flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt). When dry ingredients are combined, add to wet ingredients. Mix on low until combined together. Slowly add the oats and finally raisins. The dough will be very sticky and heavy. Chill the dough for ½ to 1 hour (this prevents spreading while baking).
While dough is chilling, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper to keep the cookies from sticking to the cookie sheets.
Once dough is chilled, use an ice cream scoop to scoop the dough and then roll into balls approximately golf ball size. Dough is really sticky, I recommend wearing gloves for this part. Place balls onto parchment paper or silicone mats about 2 inches apart from each other (cookies will spread).
Bake for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned. The centers will be soft (this means they are perfectly done!). Remove from oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack. Cookies will crumble if you try to move them while they are hot right out of the oven. Once the cookies have cooled on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, move them to the wire rack.
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Love this idea, Did you use the 64 oz or 1 gallon Mason jar for the soup?
This will be perfect!!! Thank you so much for this… I seem to remember this idea from last year but this recipe is different? It will be loved I know!
Appreciated much!
Sharon
I just sent a Spoonful of Comfort box to a friend who lives 1000 miles away and has stage 4 lung cancer. It’s such an amazing service. Like you I bring comfort food to friends close by and unfortunately I’ve been delivering a lot of care packages lately. I’ll have to give your recipes a try.
Just love reading 100 year old home, as just had a replacement knee operation, so it cheers me up reading
Everything you do, you really are an i inspiration to us all.
Thank you for such a good site, just love it. Thank you again. Regards Linda
Oh my gosh Linda, speedy recovery to you! I am so happy you have my blog to keep you entertained!
Beautiful home and a beautiful Heart ❤️. When our Cancer finds out someone in our town has been diagnosed we deliver them a care package. It’s nice to bring a smile to their face😊
Thank you Connie. So happy that you are armed with a thoughtful care package!
YOU ARE SUCH A SWEET GIRL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO!!!
Oh Leslie, the care package is such a good thing to do for friends, family and neighbors in any kind of crisis or illness. I appreciate all of your instructions. I love “My one hundred year old home.” You insert such good thoughts and knowledge into each post.
I am so happy that you enjoyed this post Brenda and I so appreciate your kind and thoughtful comments.
I absolutely love this idea. Every single detail is perfect, especially the gluten free/dairy free recipes. I’m definitely going to have to do this. Blessings to you.
Thanks so much Renae!
Oh Leslie! You have no idea how timely this post is! I just learned a good friend of mine lost her husband to COVID… yesterday! Now I know how I can possibly comfort her…Thank You!!!
Oh I’m so sorry for you and your friend’s loss. Hope this helps.
It’s like you read my mind. I get paralyzed when I hear of a friend in certain need and don’t know what is, the right thing to do. So this care package is the perfect solution. Thank you!
I totally get it, thanks Robyn!
Wonderful idea and wonderful name for the box. For a friend I have already sent a “chicken soup box” to, this has given me a great follow-up idea. . . ..now I can send a fuzzy sox, cookies, jam and bread, magazine box. Chicken soup is always, always welcome. When recovery is long as it often is for the “C” illness, you sometimes need a second box. Lovely idea you are giving us. We all feel a bit better if only we do something. (P.S. We have a family oatmeal raisin cookie recipe and I have heard about the plumping of the raisin like in your recipe.)
Thanks Donna!
this looks beautiful! I often make care packages but deign the right way to present all the items is tough- this looks so pretty. The final touch and your recipes sound so good!
Thanks so much Carolyn! Glad you like it
This is such a genuinely beautiful and loving idea. It is so easy to see the beauty and love you put in all your work and posts! Thanks for sharing your practice of caring.
sounds like SPOONFUL OF COMFORT site
I would love to see more ideas, especially if you want to ship or mail something to a friend. Also, my friend has pancreatic cancer, and will not get better, so would like to hear what to say other than “get well”.
This is your absolute best post ever! It is do-able for anyone, brings much joy and kindness into tough situations and is can be customized. Thank you for sharing. There are so many needs right now it seems.
Thank you so much Laurel.
You are absolutely awesome! I love knowing I will have an email from you every day.
That is so kind!
So very lovely! Do you just fly around like an angel, never touching earth? A wonderful gift for a needful friend. I love your blog posts. Many thanks, my friend!
Oh my you are too kind. I am happy to help in anyway I can.
What a beautiful concept and so lovingly put together! I am saving your post and the recipes for the future ❤️
You are such a considerate human. Stay as sweet as you are.
Thank you my friend. You too!
Oh…can you take a look at the soup recipe and update how much oregano?
Oh my gosh, I am so sorry I left out the measurement. It is 1 tsp dried oregano. I updated the recipe in the post also. Thank you for the heads up Rhonda!