Did you ever think that a big meal could save you money in the kitchen? Well, it's true. A large meal, such as a turkey or ham dinner allows you to stretch your dollar by giving you enough food for several days. Not to mention that these large meals can also save you time. This week, let's discuss tips for preparing meals that will save you money and time. As always, you'll also find a couple delicious recipes.

Obviously, a large meal shouldn't be prepared on a work day. There simply isn't enough time to devote to preparing such a large meal. The perfect day is Sunday. Not only do you get to enjoy a large family style meal, but the leftovers can be used throughout the beginning of the week to prepare quick meals.

Let's get on to the recipes. First, let's start with a recipe that transforms leftover turkey into a delicious and quick lunch.

Turkey Bacon Sandwiches
Serves 4

4 hoagie rolls
Butter
8 slices of bacon, cooked and drained
1 pound of leftover turkey breast
Romaine lettuce, chopped
Tomatoes, sliced
Mayonnaise
8 slices of sharp cheddar cheese

1. Spray a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat buttered hoagie rolls over medium heat until golden brown.
2. Top the hoagie rolls with bacon, turkey, vegetables, mayonnaise, and cheese slices.
3. Serve with potato chips or French fries.

If a ham dinner is more your style, why not try this delicious recipe?

Bacon Infused Green Beans with Red Potatoes
Serves 4

2 pound of fresh green beans, strung and broke into 1 inch pieces
8 small red potatoes
½ cup water
1 pound bacon, cooked and grease reserved

1. Boil the green beans for 5 minutes, drain, and transfer to a warm 5 quart slow cooker.
2. Add the potatoes and stir.
3. Add water.
4. Pour half the bacon grease over the beans and potatoes and stir.
5. Cook on low heat for 8 to 10 hours.
6. Reheat bacon and crumble over the top.
7. Serve with reheated ham and dinner rolls.

In years past, families have gone out for dinner or even to the movies on family night. Due to the economy, nights like these happen less and less often. That doesn't mean families have to give up family night. In fact, there are many different ways to spend time together that cost very little money. That's exactly what this blog is all about. Each week, we'll discuss different ways to bring back family night. This week, we begin with pizza night.

Have you ever really considered the cost of going out for pizza? Many hadn't until the economy began to slump. For a family of four to enjoy appetizers, salad, pizza, drinks and dessert the cost is over $60. When times are tough, this night out is simply not doable. That doesn't mean your family has to go their separate ways. You can still enjoy family pizza night. Best of all, the cost is much more affordable.

Here's a quick list of what you'll need:

1 large bag of salad mix $4
1 bottle of salad dressing $3
1 large box of frozen appetizers $6
2 pack of pre-made pizza crusts $4
1 jar of pizza sauce $2
1 large bag of mozzarella cheese $4
1 stick of pepperoni $3
2 liters of soda $4
1 cake from the bakery $5

Total $35

You can cut the cost even more by preparing your own pizza crust and serving tea or another drink that can be prepared at home.

Gathering the family at home for family night not only saves money, but it allows the family more time to bond. Instead of being packed into a crowded restaurant, you can enjoy each other's company in the comfort of your own home.

Once you discover how big of a hit pizza night can be, you may want to invest in a pizza stone and peel. This way, you get the best crust possible. One last secret is to ask your favorite pizzeria if you can buy dough from their shop. Most pizzerias will sell their dough at a small price, allowing you to enjoy your favorite pizza at home without emptying your wallet.

Spring has sprung and what better way to celebrate than with a delicious meal? A meal containing fresh ingredients with loads of flavor is just what you need to tackle all that spring cleaning. More importantly, the meal needs to be quick to prepare, while still being healthy. Never fear, I have just the recipe to satisfy your cravings and your needs. Plus, there's even a tasty dessert recipe included.

Chicken or Beef Stir Fry
Serves 4

Olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound of chicken or beef stir fry meat
8 ounces of sugar snap peas
1 large green pepper, cut into strips
1 large red pepper, cut into strips
1 large onion, cut into strips
4 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

1. Heat the olive oil and garlic in a wok or large skillet. Be sure to keep the garlic moving though or it could burn.
2. Toss in the meat and cook until almost cooked through. It shouldn't take more than 5 to 10 minutes because the meat is thinly sliced.
3. Add the vegetables and cook until desired texture is achieved and the meat is cooked through. The vegetables should be crisp and not mushy to retain most of their nutrients.
4. Add soy sauce and toss to coat.
5. Serve with brown rice.

Mandarin Dessert Salad
Serves 8 to 10

8 ounce container of fat-free whipped topping, thawed
14 ounce can of fat-free sweetened condensed milk
2 (15 ounce) cans of mandarin orange segments, packed in water
8 ounces of slivered almonds

1. Fold together the whipped topping and sweetened condensed milk.
2. Drain the mandarin oranges and fold into the whipped topping and sweetened condensed milk.
3. Fold in the almond and refrigerator at least 2 hours.

With a little bit of prep time, and some fresh ingredients, you can prepare a meal that's healthy and satisfying. Best of all, you'll even have time to prepare dessert. What more could you ask for, besides a maid to do all that spring cleaning?

There's no denying that times are tough. Families are not only looking for quick and healthy meals to fix, but they're also looking for ways to stretch their dollar. One of the most expensive ingredients you'll buy each week is meat. For those families that want to still serve meat, but maybe stretch it a bit further, they need to look no further than mushrooms. Mushrooms taste meaty and make the perfect addition to several recipes.

Chicken Cutlet and Portobello Sandwiches
Serves 4

4 chicken cutlets, 2 ounces each
4 Portobello mushroom caps, gills removed
Olive oil
Sea salt, to taste
Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
4 slices of pepper jack or provolone cheese
4 Kaiser rolls

1. Season the chicken cutlets and Portobello sandwiches with salt and pepper and sauté in olive oil in two separate skillets.
2. Before removing the mushrooms from the skillet, top with cheese and cover the skillet until the cheese melts.
3. Place the chicken and mushrooms on Kaiser rolls along with your favorite toppings.
4. Serve with baked potato chips or fries.

Saucy Cube Steak with Mushrooms
Serves 4

4 cube steaks, 2 ounces each
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 large onion, chopped
Olive oil
Sea salt
1 (10 ounce) jar of mushroom or beef gravy
Fresh ground pepper, to taste

1. In a large skillet, cook the cube steak over medium-high heat until well done.
2. In a second large skillet, sauté the mushrooms and onion in olive oil until the mushrooms are softened and the onions are translucent. Season with salt.
3. Combine the vegetables with the steak, add the gravy and pepper and heat through.
4. Serve with brown rice and a small side salad.

These recipes allow you to satisfy your family's craving for meat, but they're also kind to your wallet. The simple truth is you don't have to give up meat. You simply need to look for ways to stretch the meat. Stay tuned for more money saving recipes.

Sandwiches are always a quick fix meal, but the average sandwich can get boring. Wouldn't it be nice to prepare something different from time to time? This week we'll look at recipes for quick to fix sandwiches that are a bit different from the everyday sandwich.

Cheesy Chicken Flatbread Sandwiches
Serves 4

4 pieces of flatbread
12 ounces of refrigerated chicken strips, any flavor
4 ounces of shredded cheese, any flavor
4 tablespoons of fat-free ranch dressing

1. Layer each piece of flatbread with 3 ounces of chicken, 1 ounce of cheese and 1 tablespoon of ranch dressing.
2. Microwave for one minute or until the cheese melts.
3. Fold the sandwiches in half and serve with fruit and baked potato chips.

Tip: Turkey can be substituted and additional toppings can be added to make the sandwich your own.

Peanut Butter and Banana Wraps
Serves 4

4 whole wheat tortillas
½ cup of natural peanut butter
4 bananas, sliced
4 tablespoons of honey
2 cups of granola
½ cup of mini dark chocolate chips

1. Spread the tortillas with peanut butter and top with sliced banana, honey, granola and chocolate chips.
2. Roll into a wrap and enjoy.

Tip: These can be wrapped in aluminum foil and heated on the grill for a healthy camping treat.

Fruit and Cream Cheese Breakfast Sandwich
Serves 4

8 pieces of raisin bread
4 ounces of fat-free flavored cream cheese (strawberry is preferred)
1 large apple, sliced
¼ pound of strawberries, sliced
1 banana, sliced

1. Spread the slices of bread with cream cheese and top with fruit.

Tip: Any fruit can be used and toasted nuts can be added for additional flavor and protein.

Sandwiches don't have to be boring. There are so many different ways to reinvent this everyday meal. Try different types of bread, add fruit, consider different types of spreads and create something new. Better yet, get your kids involved. If you have trouble getting them to eat, letting them create their own meals is a great place to start.

You've probably heard the rumors; people whispering about beef being unhealthy. Is it true? It depends. If you like Ribeye or New York strip steaks, you do need to cut back. On the other hand, if you enjoy the lean, beefy flavor of 93-percent lean ground beef, you're in luck. Not only is this option low in fat and calories, but it can be used in so many different recipes. All of which your family will simply love.

Italian Style Salisbury Steaks
Serves 4

1 pound of 93-percent lean ground beef
1 cup Italian style bread crumbs
2 egg whites, beaten
½ cup finely chopped onion
½ cup finely chopped bell pepper
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
4 cups of pasta sauce

1. Combine the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg whites, onion, bell pepper and garlic in a large bowl.
2. Pat the ground beef out into 4 patties and cook in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. Once the patties are cooked through, top with pasta sauce and heat through.
4. Serve with a side salad and garlic bread.

Tip: The onion and bell pepper are added to keep the meat moist. You can add any vegetables you like, which means this is a great way to sneak nutritious vegetables into your meal.

Philly Cheese Burgers
Serves 4

1 pound of 93-percent ground beef
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Sea salt, to taste
2 large onions, sliced
8 ounces of mushrooms, sliced
Olive oil
4 slices of provolone cheese
4 whole wheat hamburger bu

1. Shape the ground beef into patties and season with pepper and salt.
2. Cook the patties in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. In the meantime, pour enough olive oil into the bottom of a medium skillet. Add the onions and mushrooms and sauté until cooked through.
4. Place a quarter of the onion and mushroom mixture on each patty, add a slice of cheese, cover and cook until the cheese melts.
5. Serve on whole wheat hamburger buns with baked French fries.

Remember the Sunday dinners your mother always made? Unfortunately, parents rarely have time to put a skillet meal on the table, let alone a beef roast. Is it possible to make some of the dishes your mother made, while running around like a chicken with its head cut off? Sure. You just need to learn a few new tricks.

Your mother probably spent hours preparing the perfect beef roast. If you had all day to cook, would you honestly be cooking? After all, you spend hours running your children from one practice to another. Still, that doesn't mean you can't prepare a delicious beef roast.

Easy Slow Cooked Beef Roast
Serves 4

• 2 pound sirloin beef roast
• 1 pound of baby carrots
• 2 large onions, quartered
• 1 pound of red potatoes, quartered
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• Fresh ground pepper, to taste
• Sea salt, to taste

1. Combine the carrots, onions, potatoes, garlic, salt, and pepper in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Place the beef roast on top of the vegetables, fat side up. Add Worcestershire sauce and additional salt and pepper.
3. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
4. Serve with whole wheat rolls and a simple side salad.

Who can forget those belly popping desserts you mother always made on Sunday? You were already stuffed from her wonderful beef roast. But hey, you could always undo the top button of your pants right? Instead of turning your children into chubby little Oompa Loompas, why not prepare a dessert that's low on calories and high in taste?

Berries and "Cream" Parfaits
Serves 4

• 2 cups of sliced strawberries
• 2 tablespoons of sugar substitute (a brand that tastes like real sugar)
• ¼ of an angel food cake
• 1 cup of blackberries
• 1 cup of raspberries

To make the fat-free whipped topping:

1. Macerate the strawberries by adding sugar substitute and allowing them to sit until a syrup forms.
2. Layer the angel food cake, berries, and whipped topping in 4 tall parfait glasses and serve.