The holidays are around the corner, and everyone is feeling a bit stressed and rushed with all of the hustle and bustle that comes along with this season. Towards that end, I have a week full of feel-good comfort food for you. Enjoy

Monday: Not Quite Lasagna – This is a favorite of mine that gives you all the flavor of lasagna, without all the work. Simply cook up your favorite shaped noodle (I like mafalda). Heat up the same sauce you would fix for lasagna. I like to use a marinara sauce with a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage. Mix the sauce with the noodles. Stir in ricotta or cottage cheese (whichever you prefer), and several large handfuls of grated mozzarella….So good, and so easy!

Tuesday: Mac and Cheese Pie – A nice alternative to regular mac and cheese. You can go with a fancier version found here: Tillamook Macaroni and Cheese Pie or go with an easier version found here: Easy Mac and Cheese Pie

Wednesday: Hamburger Tater-Tot Casserole – Definitely a favorite of mine, and I’m not too proud to admit it! My mom used to make this with a layer of onion rings on the bottom, then the hamburger/soup/broccoli/cheese/mixture on top, with a layer of tater tots up on top. I omit the onion rings (I have a non-onion eater in the house.) I mix the tots, ground beef, cream soup, a touch of sour cream or milk, grated cheese, and frozen veggies all together and bake! Okay…now I’m hungry…

Thursday: Cheesy Potatoes with Ham – You know those delicious cheesy, creamy hashbrowns a lot of people like to make? They show up frequently at brunches, potlucks, etc…We love these as a side dish so much, that I wanted to turn them into a meal. To do this, I simply add several cups of either chopped cooked ham, or chopped cooked pork. Either way is excellent!

Friday: Beefy Beans and Cornbread Bake : Hearty and delicious for a cold night!

Saturday: Paula Deen’s Broccoli Casserole – This is awesome..I just add in some diced chicken breast, and sometimes substitue sour cream for the mayo, since I HATE mayo. I’m sure her way is delicious though.

Sunday: I don’t think it gets any easier than Chow Mein Noodle Chicken

Happy meal planning ladies!