Depending on where you live, you've probably experienced a major change in the weather. The nights and even the days have become much cooler and fall is in full swing. What better way to spend a cool fall evening than to spend the evening cuddling in front of a fire with your sweetie? This weekend, skip the restaurants and save money in your kitchen by spending a night at home.

First of all, I suggest starting the meal off with a hearty soup. For example, you may choose to serve a pureed butternut squash or pumpkin soup, both of which can be purchased at your local grocery store, but taste much better when homemade. Not to mention they're less expensive when made at home. If you and your sweetie don't care for soup, a hearty appetizer can also be prepared. For example, you could make mushrooms stuffed with Italian sausage and cubes of fresh mozzarella.

Next, you'll want a hearty meal. One of the most popular meals to serve in the fall is turkey and dressing. Believe it or not, this hearty meal can be prepared in less than an hour. The key is to choose a boneless turkey breast. Also, shake things up from the average turkey dinner by choosing a different seasoning blend and new side dishes.

What would a fall dinner be without dessert? There are a variety of wonderful desserts to choose from. You could prepare a classic pumpkin pie or an apple cobbler. Or you could choose to change things up with this recipe.

Cranberry Apple Pie
Serves 6

2 pre-made pie crusts
4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
2 cups of fresh cranberries
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons butter

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and line a pie pan with one of the pie crusts.
2. Mix the apples, cranberries, sugar and cinnamon together, pour into the pie crust, and dot with butter.
3. Top the fruit with the second pie crust, crimp the edges, and slit the top crust.
4. Place the pie pan on a cookie sheet and cover the edges of the crust with aluminum foil.
5. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly, removing the foil in the last 15 minutes of baking.

Do you never have time to fix breakfast at home? If this is the case you probably turn to fast food restaurants to get your morning meal, but have you considered how much this costs? At $5 per day, Monday-Friday, that's $25 a week or $1,300 per year! That's quite an expense. What if you could enjoy breakfast at home and cut the costs, while still enjoying a quick meal? This week, let's discuss kicking the fast food habit and fixing a quick breakfast at home.

If you enjoy pancakes, French toast, or even waffles, you can easily enjoy them at home, while saving money. You can purchase these items already frozen at the grocery store, but if you want to spend pennies per serving, make them yourself and then freeze them. Then all you have to do is pop them in the microwave or toaster and you've got a quick meal.

If you need something that you can take with you in the car, it's also quite easy to make breakfast sandwiches at home. All you have to do is bake a batch of biscuits the night before and the next day heat up pre-cooked sausage patties, top with cheese, and place on the biscuit. Of course, if you want something healthy, you can also prepare a fruit salad the night before. The leftover fruit salad could be layered with yogurt and granola to create a gourmet parfait later in the week.

This week, why not try a quick breakfast sandwich made from this recipe?

Minute Steak, Sautéed Onions, and Cheese Sandwiches
Serves 4

2 minute steaks, cut in half
1 onion, finely chopped
Olive oil
4 slices of American cheese
4 croissants

1. Cook the minute steak and onions in olive oil over medium-high heat until cooked through.
2. Top each croissant with steak, onions, and a slice of cheese.
3. Wrap in wax paper and enjoy at work or on the go.

A quick meal doesn't have to be expensive. As with most meals, you can always save money by preparing them in your own kitchen.

Little kids can be quite picky eaters. They also seem to be drawn to those expensive TV dinners created just for them. The fact that these TV dinners can cost a small fortune isn't the only reason to stay away from these quick fix meals. A quick look at the nutrition label shows that they are loaded with calories, fat, and sodium. The key is to trick your children by creating fun meals for them and serving them in a fun way. This week, let's save money in the kitchen, while still making dinnertime fun.

First things first; think about which meals your children love most. This will give you an idea of what recipes to start looking for and how to go about creating a healthy version they will love. For example, if they like macaroni and cheese, use whole wheat pasta and a low-fat or fat-free cheese that melts easily.

Of course, we can't forget about presentation. One idea that seems to go over really well is lunchroom trays. These trays can easily be found at many department stores for around $2 each. This is a fun presentation because it makes little kids feel grown up. Another plus is that it keeps all the food separated and every parent knows how important that can be.

This really is easy to do. Just start with their favorite meals and make them yourself. You can feel proud serving your children healthy meals and your wallet will love the extra cash you have leftover each week. Of course, what would this blog be without a recipe to get you started?

Healthy Bagel Pizzas
Serves 2

4 mini whole wheat bagels
8 tablespoons organic pizza sauce
½ cup 2% shredded mozzarella cheese
16 slices of turkey pepperoni

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Split the bagels open and top each half with 1 tablespoon sauce, 1 tablespoon cheese, and 2 slices of pepperoni.
3. Bake until the cheese melts, about 10-15 minutes.
4. Serve with vegetables, fruit, and fat-free pudding.

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.