There's something satisfying about a big plate of pasta after a hard week at work or school. If you agree, chances are your family has a favorite Italian place they visit as often as possible. Who could resist the plates overflowing with lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo, and of course those delicious cannolis for dessert? But, what if you could make two Italian dishes at home, plus appetizers and dessert for less? Not only would you please the entire family, but there would be leftovers for the next day. Let's see how you can save money by enjoying family night at home with delicious Italian food.

A typical dinner for four at an Italian restaurant would include the following:

Appetizers $10
Drinks $8
Entrees $48
Dessert $20

Total: $86

That's quite a total. Let's see how much we can shrink it.

Appetizers (Cheese Sticks):
Mozzarella cheese $3
Eggs $2
Seasoned bread crumbs $2
Total: $7

Drinks:
Water $0
2-Liter of soda $2
Total: $2

Entrees (Chicken Alfredo and Spaghetti with Meat Sauce):
Dry Fettuccini $2
Alfredo sauce $3
1 pound of boneless skinless chicken $5
Dry Spaghetti $2
1 pound of 93% lean ground beef $5
8 ounces of sliced mushrooms $3
Spaghetti sauce $3
Garlic bread $4
Total: $27

Dessert:
Cannolis from an Italian bakery $5

Total $41

Less than half of what you would pay at an Italian restaurant! Best of all, these dishes are easy to prepare. Plus, if you enjoy having Italian night at home, you can save even more money by investing in a pasta machine and a good Italian cookbook.

Another perk is being able to enjoy entertainment while having Italian night at home. You could pick out some Italian movies to watch. If the kids are older, you could choose gangster films, but if they're younger, why not go with the classic +Lady and the Tramp+?

Family night doesn't have to be expensive to be enjoyable. In fact, spending time together at home gives families more time to bond. Stop paying expensive restaurant prices and gather your family around the table at home. When your children are grown and gone away to college, you'll be glad you did.

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.

When you think of Italian food, what comes to mind? You may think of cheesy, meaty lasagna or a large plate of spaghetti. Both sound delicious and are a big hit with kids, but they can be a bit high in carbs and calories. This doesn't mean that every Italian dish has to be loaded with calories. There are ways to create delicious Italian inspired meals that are actually quite healthy. Best of all, your kids won't turn their noses up in disgust.

Veggie Spaghetti
Serves 4

• 1 spaghetti squash
• Olive oil
• 16 ounces of sliced mushrooms
• 2 large onions, sliced
• 1 large bell pepper, sliced
• Sea salt, to taste
• 16-ounce jar of organic pasta sauce
• ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

1. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and remove seeds.
2. Bake skin side up for 30 to 40 minutes or until fork tender.
3. In the meantime, sauté the mushrooms in olive oil and season with salt after they've taken on color.
4. In another skillet, season the onions and bell pepper with salt and sauté in olive oil.
5. Combine the vegetables with the sauce and heat through.
6. When the squash is done, scrape the flesh to create strands that resemble spaghetti.
7. Top the squash with veggie sauce and parmesan cheese.
8. Serve with whole wheat garlic bread.

Whole Wheat Garlic Bread
Serves 4

• ½ loaf of whole wheat Italian or French bread
• Olive oil
• 2 large garlic cloves
• Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
• ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

1. Cut the bread in half lengthwise and brush with olive oil.
2. Broil until the bread is golden brown.
3. Cut the garlic cloves in half and pierce with a fork.
4. Rub the garlic on the toasted bread, season with pepper and sprinkle with cheese.

There's no need to grab your running shoes after eating this meal. This is an Italian inspired feast you can actually feel good about feeding your family.