Meal Plan Mondays #29

I'm back with another Meal Plan Monday! This week I'm focusing on food to warm you up and some comfort food that can be easily made during the week.

Since Mardi Gras is also coming up I'm adding a few dishes to help you celebrate that as well! Included in that will be two delicious Mardi Gras desserts.

I don't know about where you live but the last two months have been just crazy weather wise. It will be freezing (I'm talking single digits) for two or three days and then it'll be in the 50's for the next few days. I never know how to dress or what to cook.

Instead of my normal set in stone menu plan I've been making a menu plan with a few cold weather dishes and a few for warmer days and just putting them on my menu in no order. I make sure that I have all of the ingredients and then check on the weather the day before to know what to take out of the freezer to thaw.

This works great for this time of year since I never know if it'll be snowing and cold or warm enough to go outside and grill our meal. By having all the ingredients in the house I have a choice and can move things around as needed.

For entrees I'm sharing a quick and easy taco recipe, some tasty fish tacos perfect for Lent, and an easy orange chicken stir fry where you can switch up the veggies. Then I have a tasty Shrimp Etouffee which would be great for Fat Tuesday. I'm finishing up the entrees with my tangy and spicy Conga Lime Pork dish.

Next up are side dishes. I'm including my Jalapeno Popper Chicken Chili in this one because it's great as a starter, a side, or even as an entree. It's also going to be in a cookbook later on this year! I'm also sharing my recipe for homemade broccoli tots which you can make and freeze and Cajun Red Beans and Rice which is another Mardi Gras Favorite.

Desserts include easy to make King Cake Bites and a super fun Mardi Gras Monkey Bread that can double as breakfast or dessert. Rounding out desserts are my Vanilla Chai Spiced Cupcakes with Orange Frosting. These spicy and tart cupcakes are perfect for winter.

On the bonus recipe menu this week are Beignets. These are great for breakfast or as a snack on Fat Tuesday! Then we've got an Easy Sourdough Naan which can be served with our soup recipes, as a side, or you can even make pizzas with it! Finally we have Broccoli Cheddar Soup because winter calls for soup.

So get your grocery list ready and let's get menu planning for the week!