Busy week ahead along with some cold nights (what else is new) so this week's meal plan includes lots of easy and fast meals, soups and one-pot dinners. As I often try to do, I asked the boys to each pick one dish to be included in the week's menu. So it comes to no surprise pasta and meatballs and fish tacos made it on the meal plan. Recipe links below:

Monday: Pasta & Meatballs picked by the little one. For a picky eater, he hasn't found a meatball he doesn't like. For me, I'm especially found of Great Grandma Turano's Meatballs from Dinner: A Love Story.

Tuesday: Portuguese Kale + Potato Soup can be made quickly with very just a few humble ingredients. Plus it tastes that much better the next day.

Wednesday: Barefoot Contessa Jambalaya because I will have leftover sausage from Tuesday plus I love one-pot dinners.

Thursday: Fish Tacos, Rice & Beans plus Avocado and Mango Salsa from ChopChop. My oldest requested this knowing it is our "vacation" dish, but hopes it will make him think of summer!

Friday: Beef & Broccoli was a unanimous request from both my boys. I often have to double the recipe because they can not get enough of this stuff.

Have a great week!

Whether it's hand-cut donuts from the local bakery to the 10th PB&J sandwich with flecks of sand from the beach, everything tastes better on vacation. It could be the boost in vitamin D, the extra afternoon nap, or having ditched your watch on day one of vacation. There is one dish that the whole family goes bonkers for - on or off vacation. Fish Tacos.

It certainly helps when you can stop by the local fish market around the corner and pick out fresh fish caught that morning. I've also made these with frozen Mahi Mahi from Trader Joe's and they taste great too. My boys love fish tacos as it gives them a chance to top it with their choice of toppings. My favorite toppings are ChopChop's Purple Cabbage Slaw and Avocado and Mango Salsa. The flavors are bright and fresh, a perfect complement to sun and surf-filled days. Or a perfect way to transport you to the carefree days of summer. And who wouldn't love that?

Click here for ChopChop's recipes for Fish Tacos, Purple Cabbage Slaw and Avocado and Mango Salsa. And I highly recommend Corn and Wheat Tortillas from Trader Joe's. They are the perfect size for soft tacos and do not fall apart like corn tortillas often do. Plus they are delicious.