Unlock Your Pantry's Potential with Online Meal Planning Tools

Recipe and food-related Web sites have recently exploded in popularity, in part due to consumers who have cut back on dining out. Online resources like AllRecipes.com and TasteofHome.com have experienced a 10 percent rise in traffic, with more cooks searching by ingredient rather than by recipe, according to a 2009 eMarketer study.

The Internet is full of recommendations for inspirational meals, suggestions for planning dinners in advance, or tips on everything from organizing and sharing recipes to calculating ingredient quantities. Here are some places to get started, even if it's 5 p.m. and everyone's asking, "What's for dinner?"

"The Dinner Wizard" from Rice-a-Roni: Transform the staples in your pantry into a delicious meal with the Rice-A-Roni "Dinner Wizard" at www.ricearoni.com. Mushroom Beef & Rice Skillet may sound complicated, but the ingredients required are likely sitting in most kitchens right now. Whether trying something new or making a tried-and-true recipe for your family, a value-friendly meal solution will instantly add flavor.

Mushroom Beef & Rice Skillet

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Recipe yield: four servings


Ingredients

1 package (6.8ounces) Rice A Roni Beef

1/2 pound 90 percent lean ground beef

1 cup sliced mushrooms

2 medium garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup chopped red pepper

1/2 cup corn, fresh or frozen

1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion (optional)



Directions

Prepare Beef Rice A Roni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef, mushrooms and garlic about two minutes. Stir in red pepper. Continue cooking four to six minutes or until beef is cooked through and no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Combine beef mixture with cooked rice-vermicelli mixture; stir in corn and let stand two minutes. Garnish with green onion, if desired.

Nutritional information

Calories 330, calories from Fat 100, total fat 11 grams, saturated fat 3 grams, trans fat less than 1 gram, cholesterol 35 milligrams, sodium 810 milligrams, total carbohydrate 41 grams, dietary fiber 3 grams, sugars 4 grams, protein 17 grams


Recipe organizer: Get rid of those recipe cards hidden around the kitchen and organize recipes in one place such as WeGottaEat.com. This online social network is home to thousands of members who share new recipes daily. It's a great tool to ensure you'll always have fresh ideas and a digital place to keep them handy.

Online recipe quantity calculator: Ever find yourself estimating quantities when it comes to halving or expanding a recipe? Visit HalfRecipe.com to use a convenient tool that automatically converts quantities of each ingredient.

Courtesy of ARAcontent