How many times have you opened your freezer door, hoping that the contents would inspire you and give you ideas on what to cook for the next meal? If you're freezer looks anywhere like one on the photo, well, good luck. I'm sure for creative cooks out there, it is possible to whip something up, perhaps with a few additional ingredients from the pantry.

But for mortal cooks like the rest of us, you'd need to stock up your freezer a bit more wisely for those days when you're running out of ideas what to prepare for dinner. Heed this tip from Real Simple and stock up on these freezer staples:

* Chicken breasts
* Italian sausage
* Bacon
* Shrimp
* Tortellini (or some other stuffed pasta)
* Dumplings
* Peas
* Corn
* Spinach
* Edamame
* Crusty bread

What culinary treats can possibly result from these, you ask. Here is a list of possibilities: Lemon-Honey Chicken With Olives, Smoky Corn Chowder, Pan-Seared Dumpling Salad, Chickpea and Sausage Stew, Tortellini With Peas and Tarragon, Salt and Pepper Shrimp With Thai Fried Rice.

The culinary staff at Wellspring Camps has created the following recipes for delicious and healthy snacks that the family can enjoy this National Nutrition Month (March) or anytime of the year:

Chinese Chicken Salad

Ingredients

12 ounces Boneless, skinless chicken breast
10 ounces Iceberg lettuce
4 ounces Cilantro
8 each Green Onions
1.5 ounces Cellophane rice noodles
2 Tbl Kikkoman FF Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing.

Method:

1. Roast or boil chicken breasts until done. Allow to cool.

2. Shred iceberg lettuce, trim cilantro, slice green onions.

3. Toss iceberg, cilantro, and green onions.

4. Cut chicken breasts in strips.

5. On a plate place 3 ounces of lettuce mix.

6. Top with 3 ounces of chicken breast.

7. Garnish with cellophane noodles.

8. Drizzle 2 Tbl. of Fat Free Salad Dressing over chicken.

Yield: 4 servings

Nutritional Information:

239 Kilocalories
28 grams Protein
1.7 grams Fat
12 grams Carbs.

Read more of Healthy & Tasty Recipes for National Nutrition Month

A lot, if not most, of the readers frequenting this weblog are not veteran cooks. Most are just like me, an average Jane, wanting to try out new recipes, on the lookout for useful kitchen gadgets and time-, money- and energy- saving tips for preparing meals. For those of you who would like to hone your cooking skills and are looking for online cooking lessons, fret not. Here are some leads:

FoodNetwork has a library videos can watch episodes of your favorite tv chefs, such as Paula, Barefoot Contessa, etc.

VideoJug also has a great collection of cooking tutorials. If you're unsure what it means to "fold a batter" or "temper the egg mixtrure", video tutorials are just what you need!

Check out this list of free online cooking classes compiled by Jamie Littlefield.

If you'd like to take it a notch higher and are considering going for certificates, WorldWideLearn lists online courses and colleges where you can get online degrees on culinary arts, gourmet cooking and catering. Of course, if you're lookign for a brick-and-mortar school, there are many options. For our readers in Canada, check out Canada 411 for a list of the best cooking schools in Canada to learn how to channel Julia Child and cook like a pro!

I love, love, love the dishes featured at Eating Well's "Dinners in Less Time Than Pizza Delivery" series. You can whip up these meals in about 20 minutes, and not only are they healthier, some of the dishes are be a lot cheaper than having food delivered, too!

Be sure to bookmark the page for those days you're running out of time (when aren't we?). Oh and another tip from Eating Well: Be sure to keep your fridge, freezer and pantry well-stocked with the basics so you can easily whip up quick, satisfying meals in a jiffy! Check out these coupon codes so you can save a few bucks on your next shopping trip!

I love Curtis Stone. And I love his show on TLC, Take Home Chef. Curtis Stone is a also a book author. His fourth cookbook is "Relaxed Cooking With Curtis Stone: Recipes to Put You in My Favorite Mood".

He says of his book:

"For me, there are few things that are more relaxing than lingering at the table with good friends. But I know that for a lot of people, putting together a meal, especially for guests, is the opposite of relaxing.

The goal of his fourth cookbook is to give home cooks a way to relax with the people they love, "instead of slaving away in the kitchen."

"Relaxed Cooking With Curtis Stone: Recipes to Put You in My Favorite Mood" is available on Amazon. Do check it out.