Any ideas on soft foods for elderly mom to eat besides the usual mashed potatoes, applesauce, ice cream?

My friend has a four year old child with Cerebral Palsy, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) and Dystonia. The child has been tube fed since birth. My friend blends normal food, e.g. she blended a hamburger with pretzels for the child's fourth birthday. Sounds strange? Not so much. It works for them. And it helps prevent more aspiration pneumonias.

Contact food services with the local hospital, the local nursing home, a dentist's office, a nutritional expert, look up books in the library regarding soft foods, consult a school that teaches cooking ( chef's school), and ask for advice.  It doesn't have to always be blended.  Carefully chopped sometimes will work as well.  Ask a Speech therapist for advice as well.  They are into swallowing issues.

My dad eats the Frozen meal trays that are Salisbury steak with gravy, and boneless pork Riblets. I believe they are by OnCor, and they contain approx 6 patties in each. They’re super soft!
side dish - there’s a really great sweet potato and carrot mash, Leseur peas in a can are soft too. Breakfast croissants, egg bowls, and frozen fruit smoothies are a great treat!

Juicing may help your Mom get in all the nutrients in delicious ways. You can make smoothies and soups. You might want to read Cherie Chalbom's books.

Easy (so tasty) recipe for healthy ice creme:
5 EASY Vegan "Ice Cream" Recipes | Dairy Free Summer Desserts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-g8rBfqNUY

Hi, my mother liked creamed cauliflower, macaroni & cheese, & tiny pieces of hot dog. Although I did see her pulvarize a piece of cheese/pepp pizza: &(how she didn't choke on that I'll never know)

Healthy smoothies. Kefir & or almond milk if glucose intolerate, 1/2 banana, a cup or two of berries, two tablespoons nutritional yeast, a tbsp avocado oil, some stevia to sweeten to taste. Blend in blender, add a little ice.
especially during summer... blackberries and blueberries by the handful added to the smoothie give it beautiful color and an antioxidant boost. And, speaking of Boost... it's a fine and nutritional supplemental drink... they have a high calorie one as well as a glucose balanced one. Also, Activia is very good drink or greek yogurt for those very important gut bacteria. Think nutrition - balance the food groups, protein, carb & good fats plus vitamins/minerals and count the calories- Know how many calories should be consumed to maintain weight.

CountryGal55, thanks for your explanatory response.  As usual, I read more into the potential situation than existed.

I use to take pot pies, the cheaper ones, and add a little beef or chicken broth to them and put it in a blender after I already cooked the pot pie. It tasted so good, I found myself enjoying the taste! Y
Plus it's fairly healthy too ! Hope this helps you.