Recipes to try at home instead of dining out

Dining in is the new dining out.
According the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association, the average household spent more than $2,700 on dining out in 2009.  Eating at home can save your family thousands of dollars a year.  But it doesn't have to mean long hours in the kitchen.

Kristin Brittle, a registered dietitian, offers these recipes to trade in "ho-hum" for "yum" when it comes to home cooking.

Slow Cooker Fresh Veggie Lasagna


Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 5 hours
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:

nonstick cooking spray
1 1/2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup part-skim Ricotta cheese
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup low-sodium, fat-free marinara sauce (plus additional for
serving)
1 medium zucchini, diced
4 no-boil lasagna noodles