Food Monster

We all cringe or crave when we hear the high sodium words “Ramen Noodles”. Without them some of us may of never gotten through college. To this day it’s a staple in my weekly meals, some weeks it’s all I decide to eat. By the end of that week with all that salt intake, I’m bloated as I’ll get out. I would also get tired of eating the same flavors over and over again. So what did I do? I decided to “Gussy” it up, throw a bit of this, a bit of that, and maybe a few of those in it. WOW it was on another playing field!

I happen to eat this meal so frequently I found a microwaveable bowl specifically made to make ramen for around 8 bucks. I purchased mine at Hy-Vee, however you can purchase it online here www.containerstore.com (I am in no way affiliated or endorsed by any store mentioned).

This bowl comes with reusable chopsticks and top lid storage. I ended up throwing out the chopsticks it came with and use my own. They were too stiff and never opened wide enough for my big bites. It also has two lines in on the side of it. After you put your noodles in, they are to guide how soupy you want you noodles. The really cool thing about this bowl is if you follow the water guide lines it won’t boil over. If you’re like me there’s nothing worse than having to clean up that, weird smelling sticky water out of the microwave. When cooking also take the lid off or it will boil over.

Let me get to the good part not that, that bowl wasn’t exciting because I was stoked when I seen it. Anywho the good part how I like to gussy my ramen up. When I eat gussied up ramen I normally use chicken or creamy chicken as my base and only fresh produce. I’ll typically add spinach (add a lot – it’s not much when it wilts in the boiling water), Bok Choy Cabbage (same as the spinach), mushrooms (Baby bella, or shiitake but shiitakes can get pricey), green onion tops, couple cloves of garlic, and bean sprouts (YUM) also you can’t forget crushed red pepper and soy sauce (which I are kept from times I’ve ordered take out). That’s what is pictured on the left. On the right is pretty much the same but I added basic seasoned shrimp. Now if you’re fancy and make them on the stove you can add an egg or do some fanciful trick like that.

So there is a science to cooking these in the microwave (which I normally do because I work night shift), and to make them taste not so salty especially since i have to add soy sauce. So I’ll go through it step by step on how I personally do it.

1. Put noodles in bowl and fill to the most soupy water line, and heat for 5 minutes.
2. While the noodles are doing their thang. In an 8oz cup I mix the seasoning packet and crushed red pepper with hot hot hot water. (My work has a weird second super hot water spigot).
3. After the 5 minutes are up, I add all my fresh produce and put it in for another 1-2 minutes.
4. Drain the water out of the bowl.
5. Add seasoning and water mixture and stir in soy sauce
6. Time to Eat!

So don’t be afraid to make your cheap boring food fun and exciting. Add chicken, veggies, leftover meats, etc. just get crazy and enjoy you meal.