We took the Christmas stuff down this weekend, so now the living room looks wide open and a little less cozy. We’re going to address that — I’m not sure “fix” is the appropriate word — by putting a TV in the living room this week. We have a TV downstairs and one in our bedroom, and I haven’t really missed having one in the main living area. Rockford has, though, so we’re going to give it a try. The basement is pretty chilly this time of year, and I’m looking forward to not shivering while we watch movies.

I think I’m on the forward edge of a migraine — the text on my screen is leaving shadows of itself everywhere — so I’m not even going to try to come up with a connection between moving the television and making a meal plan. But I will say that it feels like this is the first week in years that I’ve actually made a menu plan, so that feels like an accomplishment. (Update! It was the forward edge of a cold. Blargh.)

Sunday: Beef stroganoff

Sometimes I get a hankerin’ for beef & noodles. This was one of those times. I found a 4.5-star recipe for beef stroganoff at AllRecipes.com, but nearly every review for it had a change or two to suggest. My finished project only vaguely resembled recipe as it was published. (Another update! I spent the whole day in bed, and Rockford and the kids went to Subway after they discovered that the beef was too tough to chew. I left it on low in the CrockPot overnight, the beef became acceptably tender, and we ate it for lunch today.)

Monday: Football party

Some friends are having a national-championship-watching party, too which I’ll be bringing Crimson Tide Woopie Pies. I’m not sure what’s on the menu, but I’ve heard rumors that it might be corned beef.

Tuesday: Chicken Taco Soup

Poppy has an American Heritage Girls meeting at the same time as Pete’s first basketball practice tomorrow evening, which makes it a great day to haul out the slow cooker and make some soup.

Wednesday: Chicken in Mustard-Cream Sauce

I think I originally saw this on Pinterest, and then I ran into it again while browsing the Everyday Food section of Martha Stewart’s website. So I thought I’d try it. Don’t let me down, Martha.

Thursday: Fish sticks and mac ‘n’ cheese

Usually Wednesday night is kids’ choice night, but Rockford is in charge of dinner prep on Thursday and he requested something simple. Can you guess whose week it was to choose the kids’ night meal this week?

Friday: Pizza

We’ve ordered Pizza Hut for the last few pizza nights, because Poppy had a surplus of BookIt coupons to use. She used the last one last week, though, so I might actually make a pizza this week. (Or I might not.)