menu plan monday : 1.17.11.

happy 10 month birthday to my sweet baby girl today!

we’re celebrating christmas this coming weekend with andy’s family so it’s a packed menu this week.  and of course, i can’t resist adding a couple of new recipes to the menu as well. 

meatless monday : mushroom + black bean tortilla casserole.  [new recipe] from the january | february issue of everyday food.  the girls and i love black beans and andy at least tolerates them.  he might not be so keen on the mushrooms when he sees this on the menu board but he can always pick them out, right?

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 : autumn sausage casserole.  i’ve had a package a brats from trader joe’s in my freezer for a month or two and i’d like the space back.  so this is what they’re going in.  the ingredients should be baby friendly enough for L and everyone else enjoys this dish so it’ll be an easy day on the dinner front!

wednesday : peperoncini beef sandwiches. yes, we had these last week.  and yes, we’re having them again this week.  my husband was quite smitten with this one.  and i’ll even admit, they were awesome.  and truly can you get any easier than putting two things in a crockpot and letting it cook all day?  i don’t think so.

thursday : cashew-pesto pasta.  [new recipe] don’t tell andy, but it’s another meatless meal!  from the february issue of everyday food.  yes, i think all magazines i subscribe to are food related.  aunt cuckoo is flying in thursday night so we’ll be keeping a plate warm for her!

friday : pizza.  nana and papi arrive friday night just in time for pizza.  i love how pizza signals the beginning to our weekend.  it doesn’t seem like friday if we don’t have pizza!

saturday : corn chowder.  it’s supposed to be the coldest it has been all winter this week.  perfect weather for chowder.  and a perfect dish to follow a day of christmas-ing.