Flavor, savor and save this summer by creating delicious at-home meals for friends and family that stretch your budget and save you time. Whether recreating a restaurant favorite or finding a new family favorite, cooking appetizing and savory meals can be simple and affordable when you have simple and smart meal solutions at your fingertips.

As both a mom and the author of the "Kitchen Coach" series, Jennifer Bushman understands the challenges of keeping dinner ideas fresh, easy to prepare and budget friendly.

"I believe cooks at every level can become mealtime magicians by simply keeping a well-stocked refrigerator, freezer and pantry that include versatile and easy-to-prepare ingredients. By overcoming mealtime monotony, you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the company of friends and family," says Bushman.

Try these meal time tips to flavor, savor and save at the dinner table:

Quickly add flavor to any meal with ingredients that do double- or triple-duty in a flash. Delicious as a salad dressing and a great-tasting marinade, try topping the season's freshest vegetables with Italian dressing for a robust roasted vegetable tapas dish. For summer's freshest fare, use yellow squash, zucchini or cucumbers, or choose year-round favorites like carrots, bell peppers and mushrooms.

Kids away for the night? Skip the Italian restaurant and have a night in that can be just as (or even more) special. Start with tomato and basil sauce and sliced eggplant for a restaurant favorite that can be easily prepared at home: baked eggplant parmigiana.

Who thought tea could be an ingredient to make a sweet, fruity end to a delicious meal? Try using cup-sized tea bags and butter spread to create tasty tea baked apples. The tea in this mouthwatering dish, which contains flavonoid antioxidants, will leave you and your guests feeling indulgent.