Quick Easy & Healthy Fall Meals

The temperatures are getting cooler as fall approaches. It's a time for football games and other fall activities, and with it comes fall foods. The search for healthy fall recipes can seem pointless but combining taste, economy and a hearty meal isn't difficult with a little effort.

Fall foods are often crockpot foods. Slow cooked hearty stews, soups, chili and BBQ. Use good ingredients and make old favorites sparkle again. Here's a few of my favorites!

Get a good ground beef and brown/crumble it, stirring in a couple handfuls of oatmeal. Mix thoroughly. Stir in a jar of Big Butz BBQ sauce with 2 pounds ground meat, stirring thoroughly to cover. Serve on hamburger buns topped with shredded cheese. This can be made and kept warmed in a slowcooker for after the game parties, and it's easily doubled if there's more than expected numbers show up to eat.

Another easy fall recipe is in the slowcooker - alternate layers of chicken leg quarters with salsa or Trent Willmon's Beer Man BBQ sauce and cook on low until done. Slow cooked for 4-5 hours lets that salsa or BBQ cook in - serve with fries, beans and/or cornbread. Tasty!! If there's any left over, pull off the bone and use the leftovers in chicken wrap, topped with cheese, or fajitas.

Are you looking for a hearty but easy casserole for a few people? Mix up 1-2 packages of cornbread mix and put in pan as normal to bake. Top with shredded cheese, browned ground beef, salsa and even leftover vegetables - pop it in the oven and bake as normal. It's easy to make, inexpensive and filling. Leftovers are easily heated for lunches - if there's any leftovers!

Looking to stretch the budget? Start a soup bucket. Use a clean 'recycled' ice cream bucket in the freezer - every time you have a cup or two of leftover vegetables or meats that you don't want to throw out but it's "not enough to save" toss it in the bucket. When it gets full put the whole thing in the crockpot with a can of beef or chicken broth and seasonings to taste. The big thing about this is no two will ever be quite alike, and it's a way to use food that you'd otherwise throw away. Many are surprised how much food they were throwing out. With it in the freezer it doesn't spoil - thaw slightly, toss in the slowcooker for a couple hours on low. Top with some shredded cheese or croutons.

These are just a few ways to get tasty meals on the table without a lot of fuss.