Save Money Right from Your Kitchen

I was just about to begin browsing the internet to search for an idea for this post, when I realized my muffins needed to come out of the oven.  And, thus, I begin a blog post about saving money from your kitchen.  All you need is some determination and some ingredients.
1.  Have a dinner party.
It is almost always less expensive to have friends over, compared to meeting friends out for dinner.  Not only do you save on tip, drinks, and food, but you're also not paying higher prices for atmosphere.  Clean your kitchen, light some candles, and have your friends over for a delicious, home-cooked meal.  And you could always have a potluck!  If you want to save even more.
2.  Cook your own food.
The term "cook" has come back into vogue recently, as it was almost replaced by "microwave" not too long ago.  But, now, people are beginning to realize that they can eat higher quality food without sacrificing cost, if they're willing to cook it themselves.  So shun those microwaveable rice dishes and ignore TV dinners in the grocery store aisles.  Instead, look for fresh produce (even fresher if it's from a farmer's market, and sometimes cheaper, too!) to cook up alongside a protein, and wow yourself!
3.  Love the icebox.
Okay, yes, now we call them "freezers," but we don't always use them the way we should.  If you are a busy person, what makes life easier than re-heating leftovers?  Don't just store pre-packaged foods in the freezer, store your own homemade, self-packaged foods in the freezer.  I pulled vegetable soup out of my freezer just last night, and it was delicious once we warmed it up and added salt and pepper.  So cook five portions instead of two, and keep it in the freezer until you need it.
4.  Start an herb garden.
Fresh herbs are expensive, so most of us end up buying canisters of dried herbs from the supermarket, but you could jazz up your meals and save money by starting an herb garden in your kitchen.  We grow rosemary, basil, mint, sage, thyme, and oregano in our kitchen herb garden, and it not only saves us money at the market, but it gives a delicious smell to our home!
5.  Eat vegetarian. (Or somewhat vegetarian.)
Meat is a very expensive food, especially when compared to other protein sources such as beans or tofu.  If you want to keep eating meat, eat less of it.  If you fill up on salads and produce, you won't need as much meat, and this will not only be cheaper for you, but it will also be healthier!