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.

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?

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.