menu plan monday : 4.22.13

it hit me late last week that i really need to start cleaning out the freezers – yes, plural : kitchen, small deep freezer and garage beverage fridge – to prepare for moving day.  my dear husband was so kind to point out on saturday that the moving truck will be here in exactly two months.  fun!  so these recipes are an attempt to start using everything that we have in the freezer and pantry.  of course, that doesn’t mean i still won’t be stocking up on ice cream…

here’s what we’ll be eating this week :

meatless monday : zucchini, black bean and rice skillet.  a pinterest find.  can’t wait to clean up the mess this makes under carson’s high chair – yes, that’s sarcasm you’re reading.  he loves beans and rice so i have no doubt it’ll be a disaster.

i’ve selected monday as a night of the week for our family to eat a meatless meal as it tends to be more budget friendly as well as a friendlier option for the environment. my meat and potato eating husband tends to go along with this idea because i also make him a yummy dessert in addition to his meatless meal. what can i say, i’m nice like that.

tuesday : homestyle chicken and noodles.  i have noodles in the freezer that need to be used and this instantly came to mind.  enjoyed it so much the first time we had it.  the definition of comfort food.

wednesday : slow cooker beef and tomato stew.  we’ve had this a couple of times now and really enjoy it.  super comfort food.  i think it’s still supposed to snow again mid-week – spring?  where art thou? – so stew it is!

thursday : chicken nachos.  andy’s selection for the week and an easy one to throw together.  for the record, i enjoy this best as a quesadilla filling.  the girls side with daddy as they enjoy the treat of having chips for dinner.

friday : fried brown rice with green beans and balsamic vinegar.  from whole grains for a new generation.  i’m sneaking in another meatless meal this week – shhh!  andy didn’t get to try this the last time but the rest of us enjoyed it.  super easy to make as i do the prep work while the kids finish lunch so that everything is ready to stir fry come dinner time.

new recipe reviews

grilled cumin-lime zucchini quesadillas.  i used this more as a guide instead of following the actual recipe.  subbed roasted eggplant for zucchini – revised recipe coming soon!

crockpot sesame honey chicken.  so many people raved about this one that i wanted to join them.  super easy to throw together in the crockpot while the kids were eating lunch but i wasn’t overwhelmed by the flavor.  will keep around as a quick meal idea though.